Produce has risen to the top of the list of food commodities associated with foodborne illness. As a result, programs have arisen to encourage fruit and vegetable farmers to adopt safe production, harvest and post-harvest practices.
For information about Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), GAP audits, the Produce Safety Rule or general information about produce safety, go to Food Safety in Connecticut for Farmers and Growers.
To be placed on the Produce Safety Email list, contact indu.upadhyaya@uconn.edu.
2024 FSMA Produce Safety Alliance Remote Grower Training Course
2024 FSMA Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course:
Date/Time/Location of Event:
March 6 & 7 (Snow date: March 8)
Wednesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 7, 2024: 8:30am - 3:30pm (Snow date: March 8)
Middlesex County Extension Center
1066 Saybrook Road
Haddam, Connecticut 06438
Contact Person Phone and Email:
Indu Upadhyaya
860-786-8191
Instructors
- Indu Upadhyaya, Ph.D., Food Safety Specialist, UConn Cooperative Extension
- Diane Hirsch, MPH, Food Safety Specialist, UConn
- Jacqueline Kowalski, Urban Agriculture Specialist, UConn Cooperative Extension
Course Summary:
The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course has been designed to provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices knowledge that includes emphasis on co-management of food safety and environmental management goals, while outlining the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
In order to obtain a certificate that provides evidence of compliance with the training requirements of the rule, you must be present for the entire two-day course. Do not make plans for the snow date.
· No more than 2 people from the same operation should register for the course.
· Please provide the correct shipping address for shipping of manuals to reach you before the course. This is a requirement.
Registration Types and Their Associated Fees
Course registration fee (includes all course materials and certificate): $50
The preferred method of registration/payment is by paying with a credit card. Please include both a work and cell/home phone number and regularly used email address in case of emergency or cancellation.
To register:
s.uconn.edu/inpersonproducesafety
Registration is first come, first served, so please register early. You must pre-register. Space is limited. Registration materials must be received by February 12, 2024.
Cancellation Policy:
No refunds or cancellations will be accepted after the respective deadlines.
If you have further questions regarding the course, please contact indu.upadhyaya@uconn.edu
If you are an individual with a disability and need accommodations, please contact Indu Upadhyaya at indu.upadhyaya@uconn.edu or call her at 860-786-8191 as early as possible prior to the event to help us ensure availability. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the University to arrange. A good faith effort will be made to provide accommodations up until the time of the workshop.
UConn Extension is an AA/EEO employer and program provider.
GAP
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit programs are non-regulatory programs that may be required by a produce buyer, including distributors, school systems, institutions, government agencies who purchase food or larger retail operations. GAP audits are conducted by USDA and by private auditing firms. Generally, the programs require farmers to attend a training program and to develop and implement a food safety plan which is used as a basis for the audit.
University of Connecticut Extension offers training programs to help farmers learn about Good Agricultural Practices and to develop and implement food safety plans.
FSMA Produce Safety Rule
The Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule was implemented in 2016. This Rule requires farmers that are not exempt from the Rule to attend an approved training program. The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) developed an approved course. University of Connecticut Extension offers the PSA course, using approved lead trainers.
Farmers who may be exempt from the Produce Safety Rule and who do not sell to customers requiring a GAP audit are still encouraged to attend a produce safety training course. Any outbreak tied to a fruit or vegetable farm in Connecticut can have negative consequences for both the individual farmer and the industry as a whole.