Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training
January 16, 2025 – at the Ag. Trade Show
8:30 AM to 5:30 PM – Specific room TBD
Cost options:
Register here
This workshop is offered in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Taking this class grants 3 pesticide credits!
Note: Grant funded; limited to Maine residents only.
Minimum number of registrations: 10
Maximum number of registrations: 25
Registration closes January 3, 2025
Who Should Attend:
Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, farm food safety best practices, and co-management of natural resources and food safety. 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.”
What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course:
The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
- Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Post-harvest Water)
- Post-harvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
Benefits of Attending the Course:
Participants will receive three (3) pesticide credits upon completion of this workshop.
The course will provide a foundation of farm food safety best practices and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
- Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
- How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
- Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
- Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.
- After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training – Agenda
Augusta, ME – January 16, 2025
8:30-8:40 Check-in and Registration
8:40-8:50 Welcome, Introductions
8:50-9:10 0. The Rule, Regulations, and Exemptions – Lindsay Werner
9:10-10:15 1. Introduction to Produce Safety—Robson Machado
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:30 2. Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training—Robson Machado
11:30-12:30 3 and 4. Soil Amendments/Wildlife, Domesticated Animals and Land Use—Christina Howard
12:30-1:15 Lunch
1:15- 2:45 5.1/5.2 Ag Water—Production Water/Postharvest Water—Robson Machado
2:45-3:00 Break
3:00-4:30 6. Postharvest Handling and Sanitation—Mary Choate
4:30-5:30 7. How to Develop a Food Safety Plan—Mary Choate
Presenters:
Lindsay Werner lindsay.werner@maine.gov
Chrsitina Howard christina.howard@maine.edu
Dr. Robson Machado robson.machado@maine.edu
Check our other classes, and future offerings of FSMA Produce Safety at https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/food-safety/training/
For more information about the training, contact Robson Machado at robson.machado@maine.edu or 207.581.3144.