Description
This remote, two-half-day training event via "Zoom" is intended for fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule Produce Safety Rule.
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule is the first federally regulated standard for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding fresh produce in an effort to reduce microbial contamination and foodborne illness outbreaks. 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.’
The registration fee includes a hard copy manual that you must have to take the class. We send each manual by US Mail to the mailing address that you provided. If expected date is not within the needed time, the manual is sent priority. We mail them early enough that they should arrive well before each class. But if shipping is delayed, we will make arrangements with you if this happens.
Advanced registration is required – with preference given to Virginia and Tennessee stakeholders. Seats are limited. This training is offered online via Zoom and Canvas. The Canvas course system requires individual registrations. Each user must have their own email address and register for the course with individualized data (one email address per registrant - no duplicate email address usage). If you have any problems with registration, please contact our help line by email at vceprograms@mail.ext.vt.edu.
Outline
The training will be offered online via Zoom and Canvas at 4 different times:
Course Schedule:
Dec 17 & 18, 2024
Jan 28 & 29, 2025
Mar 25 & 26, 2025
May 5 & 6, 2025
1 pm to 5 pm EST each day
This training is being offered by remote delivery. In order to participate, individuals must have video and audio capability, and will be required to have both operating during the entire training. The training will take place via Zoom, which does not require special software. Zoom does have system requirements, which can be found here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-System-Requirements-for-PC-Mac-and-Linux.
Please make sure that your system meets the requirements for Zoom meetings.
What to Expect
The course will include:
- 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: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
Notes
*Cost is $50/$150 dollars, which includes shipping training materials and certificate of completion issues by the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
Additional Notes
It is a Produce Safety Alliance requirement that participants are monitored in order to verify participants’ attendance and engagement. Participants will only be eligible for the PSA/AFDO Certificate of Course Completion if they are present for all modules of the course.
The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Manual v1.2 will be mailed to registrants prior to the training – please be sure that the shipping address you provide at the time of registration is current (especially if working from home or remotely) and capable of receiving packages. Please use an email address that you can be reached at, as evaluations and a Zoom link for the training will be sent in a confirmation email prior to the training date.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Laura Strawn at 714-450-0629 during business hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.