
Produce Safety Rule Draft Guidance Chapter 2
This video is the second in a series to attempt to shed light on the FDA draft Guidance to Industry in interpreting the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). This video will only cover Chapter 2.
This video is the second in a series to attempt to shed light on the FDA draft Guidance to Industry in interpreting the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). This video will only cover Chapter 2.
This video is the first in a series to attempt to shed light on the FDA draft Guidance to Industry in interpreting the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). This video will only cover Chapter 1.
A poster summarizing the conditions that support the growth of microbial pathogens: food, acidity, time, temperature, oxygen, and moisture.
The following worksheets are intended to serve as templates to cover most of the documentation and record keeping that will occur as part of a typical fresh produce food safety program.
Five Step Plan to Developing a Farm Food Safety Plan.
Inspecting irrigation water systems is something that often happens without much thought to recordkeeping. This video covers much of the concerns of a water system inspection from a food safety perspective, and points out those areas specific to FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance.
Technical consultant and Thermal Process Authority. Over 20 years working with small-scale food entrepreneurs. BS Cornell University '80, MS University of California- Davis '86, PhD University of Wisconsin '03. Member: Institute for Thermal Processing Specialists, International Association for Food Protection. Acidified Foods (21 CFR §117) - both thermally processed and...
This document summarizes and standardizes terms related to training and educational programs and materials related to food safety (Produce Safety Rule and Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule). Terms defined include FSMA Standardized Curriculum, Other FDA Recognized Training Curricula / Alternate Curricula, Modified Curriculum, Modality, Minor Accommodation, and Equivalent Curricula.
Mark has vast knowledge of the food industry, FDA, USDA, FSIS, OSHA and Environmental Regulations, an in-depth technical understanding of RTE fresh produce, baked goods, seafood, meat and poultry, beverages, internal auditing programs, labeling regulations and committed to cost effective resource management and budgetary accountability. He is the recipient of the 13th annual DuPont Food...
Short animated video by the Produce Safety Alliance on handwashing
Short video stepping the viewer through the FDA Flow Chart
This Produce Safety Alliance fact sheet includes information to support agricultural water quality monitoring as outlined in the PSR.
Fact sheet on how the Food and Drug Act and FSMA deal with grapes intended for processing into wine, juice, must, and nectar.
In this publication, topic areas are divided into worker training, pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest activities, records and visitors and u-pick customers. Covers Table Grapes specifically.
This online course reviews the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) requirements of 21 CFR Part 117– Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food. It addresses the revisions made to the previous GMPs regulation, 21 CFR Part 110, as part of the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule.
Includes best practices based on state-by-state regulations. The add on includes definitions and tested recipes. Covers 12 North Central states
The add on covers best practices for pets and working animals around produce fields.
Guidance document to assist those who run Farm Stands and U Pick sites. The topics covered include signage; bathrooms; parking; money; samples; and more.
Guidance document for orchards. Topics include worker health and hygiene; pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest activities; required records; and visitors.
Guidance on handling wildlife on the farm and a checklist to assess a farm
This Checklist can provide documentation to the buyer that GAPs were followed on the farm, and that the buyer took reasonable care when purchasing fruits and vegetables directly from a grower.
State by state regulations for the processing and selling of pickled vegetables. Includes definitions and tested recipes.
The Produce Grower Information Binder is a quick reference guide that contains key information sheets and recordkeeping templates.
As a Principal Public Health Promotion Specialist at the Center for Food Protection within the Rhode Island Department of Health, I lead our quality improvement projects (including website enhancements and GIS), manage our inspection software contract, supervise the Compliance, Evaluation, and Standardization program and the Beach Program, and serve as agency liaison to the Produce Safety Program.
ConnectFood offers a step-by-step food safety plan generator to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act and HACCP with On-Demand plan reviews and development. One month free with code: PEAKCORE
25+ years of nationwide consulting in Food Safety, Business, and Nutrition: Experience includes: PCQI Lead Instructor in Human Food Production; HACCP/Food Safety Planning, Auditing, and Training; Nutrition and Allergy Plans; R&D; Nutrition Education; Sanitation; Food Manufacturing and Processing / SQF Implementation; SOP develpment; Financial and Operational Performance. * HACCP / Food...
State by state regulations on what processors can sell with or without licenses or permits for fermented foods. Also includes definitions and tested recipes.
This resource document outlines the steps of cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces and offers examples of policy and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) statements that you can adapt to write a harvest container policy for your farm that is in compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and the FSMA PSR.
In some cases, a service provider may want to promote the On-farm Readiness Review. This video can serve as a commercial of sorts, with a grower testimonial.
This resource document will help you understand the necessary components of a field visitor policy and how to craft one.
This video covers the basics of worker training as outlined by FSMA.
Receptionists at labs need an at-a-glance guide to help growers calling in with sampling questions. This resource can easily be tacked up next to their phone for reference.
State by state regulations that cover processing and selling Jams and Jellies. Includes definitions and tested recipes.
Guidance for handling bodily fluids in the field and in the pack house.
FSMA Compliant On-Farm Thermophilic Composting: A Safe Way to Enrich the Soil
Case 000134162. Seeking clarification of what FDA intends by saying "the farm where the produce was grown"
TAN Question: Question regarding the training requirements for growers (solely sprout grower as well as sprouts and other produce growers). Does the SSA training cover all subparts of the rule or just sprouts? Or would a sprout grower need to do both the PSA and SSA trainings (cause the PSA...
Recently hired produce inspector with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. Previous experience in agricultural production and agricultural education.
This Checklist will help you organize your materials and assess your current food safety preparedness for processing human food. The Checklist is NOT itself a plan.
Summary of Water Testing Methods recently added by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to Produce Safety Rule’s Agriculture Water Testing Module
Videos, manuals, and quizzes for those in charge of university farms
Videos, manuals, and children's activities for leaders of school gardens
List of Certified Water Testing Laboratories in Iowa
Information for Farms that are Exempt or fall under the Modified Requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule
Includes an Exemption Worksheet and Exemption Guide to help growers determine their status under the Produce Safety Rule.
Looking for an easy way to document that you and your workers are ready to harvest? Use the NCR Pre-Harvest Checklist.
Managing post-harvest water is an essential part of reducing farm food safety risks and ensuring quality produce. This video describes an SOP for triple-rinsing about 100 lbs of salad greens, with use of a sanitizer to reduce cross-contamination.
Cleaning and sanitizing are not the same thing—a surface cannot be sanitized without first being cleaned. This video describes the appropriate way to clean and sanitize food contact surfaces, such as tables, tools and harvest bins, using the 4-step process: Rinse/clear debris, wash with detergent, rinse with potable water, and sanitize.
A standard operating procedure, or SOP, like a recipe, is a step-by-step guide to completing a task to get the same results each time. This video describes how to construct an SOP for farm procedures to help train employees, ensure consistency and improve efficiency and quality.
Developing good procedures for cleaning and sanitizing harvest equipment and post-harvest facilities is critical for ensuring high-quality product and reducing food safety risks. This video describes how to develop a strategy for cleaning post-harvest areas.
This exemption survey tool assists growers in determining of they are exempt, qualified exempt or covered by the produce safety rule.
I am a food safety extension agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension. I am housed in Loudoun County (Northern Virginia). I am a trainer for the PSA grower course and do work with produce safety.
Wooden root barrel washers are a great tool for removing field soil from root crops. The soil and vegetative debris can become lodged on the equipment making the task of cleaning difficult unless enough time and proper cleaning techniques are used.
This is a checklist of areas on and within a typical conveyor/brush washer/absorber equipment line set-up. These points are noted, tools to clean the equipment reasonably, and methods of cleaning are described.
The goal of this document is to provide more detail on setting up an efficient wash/pack facility with a focus on farm food safety and maintaining post-harvest quality. The idea here is think about the way to use a space to your best advantage and for more efficient cleaning.
An interactive flowchart to help determine whether a farm is covered by the Produce Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Contains links to general produce safety resources to help anyone follow best practices.
This article discusses what crop infiltration is, why it must be avoided and how to prevent it.
UVM Extension/NECAFS staff, small farmer (not covered by FSMA rule)
Vegetable production educator with 25 years experience having run a small farm then an Extension educator for U. KY, NC State, and Cornell U. as well as research fellow at UMN. involved in farm food safety training in GAPs/HGAPs and now PSR for 12 years. Newly trained for On Farm Readiness Review. Research interests in wash/pack line equipment cleaning, facility design, and post harvest handling.
This document has been developed for educators to help growers understand the importance of selecting a labeled sanitizer and using the right sanitizer for their operation.
TAN Question: Hello, a cuadruple question regarding "dropped produce". I have read relevant responses to commentators, and still am unclear. We have cucumbers, eggplants and peppers in our farm. 1. Since the wording in the law says that the covered produce must drop to the ground "before"...
This guidance is being distributed for comment purposes only. This draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA or we) on this topic. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and...
Standard operating procedures used in combination with planned training and regular performance feedback lead to an effective and motivated workforce. Farm managers and advisers benefit from consistent work performance and predictable results. Workers benefit from increased confidence and a clear sense of achievement.
TAN Question: I have a question regarding §112.114 "What requirements apply to dropped covered produce?" The rule states: "You must not distribute dropped covered produce. Dropped covered produce is covered produce that drops to the ground before harvest. Dropped covered produce does not include...
Mushroom growing practices are highly specialized compared to other specialty crops. This article provides information and resources the mushroom growers, packers, and slicers need to follow Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and to comply with Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety and Preventive Controls for Human Food regulations.
30 years experience with NYSDAM including conducting GAP audits, USDA fruit and vegetable grading, USDA poultry, shell egg and egg products inspection, COOL reviews, USDA PDP and MDP sampling, Produce Safety Program Office Administrator
TAN Question: I'm working with a coop that meets the definition of a farm in the PC Rule and the definition of a retail food establishment. Since they meet both of those definitions, are they covered under the PSR and may count as a QEU for farms selling to them? There is confusion because it is...
Many organizations have a desire to build a dynamic, accessible list of water labs for their clientele. In some cases, growers near state boundaries would benefit from having seamless mapping among states. This document can serve as a template to create a seamless National map.
The purpose of this article is to describe: • Specific agricultural water testing requirements from the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, • How these requirements might impact analysis requests to water testing laboratories, and • How agricultural water testing may be different from the testing needs of more traditional laboratory clients such as drinking water utilities, wastewater utilities, water...
I am the Produce Safety Program Coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and the FDA Produce CAP co-PI. I have experience in PSA, OFRR, Cooperative Extension Service teaching, meat further processing verification, egg grading/inspection, poultry grading, and farming. I have a M.S. degree in Agricultural Economics and in the current IFPTI fellowship cohort.
TAN Question: For the purposes of 21CFR 112.22(c) and 112.23, who can serve as responsible party for the farm? -- Can a full-time non-supervisory employee of the covered farm, such as a book keeper, serve in the role(s)? -- Can a consultant, such as AgSafe in California, serve in the role(s)...
Designed to be part of a comprehensive worker training program, this 15-minute video offers guidance to workers on proper hand washing and toilet use, with emphasis on how their health affects the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Hygiene topics discussed in this video are reinforced in the Field Hygiene Poster Series. Available in DVD and VHS formats, each video contains both the English/...
The Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requires growers to initially establish a Microbial Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for each untreated agricultural water source used during growing activities of covered produce (other than sprouts) using a direct water application method and conduct annual surveys for that water source in subsequent years. Listed here are several tools that were developed to make it...
Implementation of the Produce Safety Rule provides unique opportunities and challenges, including recognition of regional differences in growing practices, and increased reliance on state regulatory partners. To achieve the goal of high rates of industry compliance, FDA created the Produce Safety Network (PSN). The Produce Safety Network is comprised of seven produce safety experts and one team...
TAN Question: Re: 21 CFR 112 Scenario: a business has >$500k worth of annual sales and sells primarily vegetable starts (e.g. whole produce plants that are sold to costumers, often to be transplanted out into a garden). In this scenario, do vegetable starts contribute to the business’s...
Four videos on cleaning and sanitizing in Hmong language. Subtitles are in English.
TAN Question: Good morning, Are the answers provided by the TAN for FSMA legally binding? Than you.
Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO) are biological soil amendments which consist, in whole or in part, of materials of animal origin, such as manure or non-fecal animal byproducts including animal mortalities, or table waste, alone or in combination. FDA created fact sheet walks through some frequently asked questions regarding BSAAO.
Color 12"x18" Wash your Produce sign in Spanish. Highlights the hows and whys consumers would want to know to wash produce.
12"x18" color sign to let consumers know how and why they wash their produce-English
B.S. - Biology, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA M.S. - Nutrition & Food Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT Ph.D.- Biology with a concentration in Human Nutrition, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA RESEARCH INTERESTS Dr. Henley's current work, focuses on nutrition and food safety education for community members. Her more current teaching activities involve GAP, FSMA...
This blog post, PDF publication and video provide background on some of the key features to consider when thinking about a spinner including cost, capacity, power, space and sanitary design. Manual spinners, washing machine conversions and commercially available electric spinners are described with links included for more information. An outline of a cleaning and sanitizing SOP is also included...
USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program, Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division Audit Programs offers voluntary independent audits of produce suppliers throughout the production and supply chain. The Harmonized GAP Standard was recently aligned with the FSMA PSR.
CREATE A CUSTOMIZED FOOD SAFETY PLAN Based on harmonized GAP standards, this tool utilizes a number of decision trees that help you assess and address areas of food safety risk that are unique to your operation. Using this tool will help you develop a food safety plan that you can print and implement on your farm. It can also help prepare you for a food safety audit should you decide to pursue...
This document covers the California Cannery License timeline for business manufacturing, processing, and/or storing of low-acid and acidified canned food products in California. This web version has live links to various websites.
This document covers the California Cannery License timeline for business manufacturing, processing, and/or storing of low-acid and acidified canned food products in California.
This document covers the Processed Food Registration (PFR) permit timeline for business manufacturing, processing, and/or storing food in California. This web version has live links to various websites.
This document covers the Processed Food Registration (PFR) permit timeline for business manufacturing, processing, and/or storing food in California.
FDA has determined that the following methods are scientifically valid and at least equivalent to the method of analysis in § 112.151(a) - Method 1603 - in accuracy, precision, and sensitivity in quantifying generic Escherichia coli in agricultural water.
This playlist explains the features and benefits of the AZS Rinse Conveyor. A small-scale vegetable wash line for multiple crops
This fact sheet shares guidance on floor design for vegetable wash pack and storage areas.
This article discusses the food safety risks associated with crops impacted by flood waters as well as the steps to recover the affected areas and produce.
This is a list of eight water testing laboratories in and around Maryland
Background in horticulture and produce safety.
TAN Question: Could you help me determine if the water used to sprout mushrooms is agricultural water? The logs are soaked in spring water, typically a week passes before the mushrooms begin to grow.
TAN Question: How to sample on a property that has hundreds of wells, only a few of which are used in a given year. How to sample on leased property.
A five-minute video showing best practices to clean and sanitize crates.
TAN Question: Thank you for your response to our question assigned to Case 00146080. In this response, FDA wrote "If finalized, these compliance dates would mean, for example, that a farm that is not small or very small must begin sampling and testing untreated surface water in accordance with §...
TAN Question: Good morning. At a recent training PSA Grower Training several participants asked questions related to sprouts, and coverage of various products under subpart M. We reviewed the preamble statements related to sprouts and the general information that if the product is separated...
TAN Question: Are hops exempted from the FSMA Produce rule when used in the making of beer?
TAN Question: This question specifically is directed to the definition of a qualified end user under the Produce Safety Rule and being eligible for the qualified exemption. In this case, I am working with a produce grower who sells more than $25k (over three years average in produce sales), but...
TAN Question: Would pit toilets where all the waste is collected in a large dug hole be allowed under FSMA toilet facilities requirements (112.129) and (112.131) control and dispose of sewage requirements? If the toilet is set up in a location that is not too far from the field, but far enough...
TAN Question: I have received a question about the current status of product tracing requirements under FSMA. Specifically, this question is related to what would be the responsibility of vendors selling produce at farmers markets to have records of where that product came from? Some vendors may...
TAN Question: This is about the how the final produce safety rule will apply to distribution facilities called 'produce auctions'. These are commonly used by Amish and Mennonite growers in eastern US. My understanding is that these facilities are exempted from the preventative controls human food...
TAN Question: Hello. This question is about FDA's Proposed Rule "Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption; Extension of Compliance Dates for Subpart E" (9/13/17). The proposed rule states "As part of this proposed extension, we also propose to...
TAN Question: Field coring is given as an example of harvesting in section 117.3. If the cabbage are removed from the field, and then cored inside a building, is this then considered cutting and an example of manufacturing, therefore subject to the FSMA PCHF requirements in section 117.20(b)? ...
This resource aims to aid farmers interested in producing value-added products in understanding the multiple state and federal regulatory requirements for selling processed food products.
Basic Properties and Key Points for Effective Disinfection
Key learnings from annual CPS Symposium.
Key learnings from the 2016 Center for Produce Safety Symposium, held in Seattle, WA.
Key Learnings and summary of the research presented at the 2017 Center for Produce Safety Symposium.
Produce Safety Alliance PSA question and answer factsheet on aduits versus regulation.
Un Diagrama de Flujo para Agricultores y Empresas de Alimentos. The following document displays multiple flowcharts under the produce rule and preventive control under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in SPANISH.
This factsheet briefly summarizes the food safety plan requirements for National Organic Program (NOP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety and why it is important to document a food safety plan in Spanish. Equilibrando la Inocuidad Alimentaria y Requisitos Orgánicos para: Planes Escritos
This factsheet covers information on the National Organic Program (NOP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Hoja Informativa Introductoria de esta Serie Acerca de Cómo Equilibrar la Inocuidad Alimentaria y los Requisitos Orgánicos
This factsheet covers the recordkeeping requirements for the National Organic Program (NOP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety in spanish. Equilibrando la Inocuidad Alimentaria y Requisitos Orgánicos para: Mantenimiento de Registros - Fincas Completamente Cubiertas
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Kansas.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Wisconsin.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in South Dakota.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Ohio.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in North Dakota.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Nebraska.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Missouri.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Minnesota.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Michigan.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Indiana.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Illinois.
An interactive quiz to help growers understand what is legal to sell/process in Iowa.
A four-minute video showing best practices to clean a walk-in cooler.
This factsheet covers the recordkeeping requirements for the National Organic Program (NOP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety.
This factsheet briefly summarizes the food safety plan requirements for National Organic Program (NOP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety and why it is important to document a food safety plan.
This factsheet summarizes what organic farmers will have to do for FSMA on training workers, worker health and hygiene, and visitor health and hygiene if they are fully covered by the Produce Rule.
This factsheet summarizes the requirements from National Organic Program (NOP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety for land risks and assessments such as manure, animal material and pathogenic sources.
This factsheet summarizes the requirements from National Organic Program (NOP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety for monitoring and recordkeeping of livestock.
This factsheet summarizes the requirements from National Organic Program (NOP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety concerning wild and domestic animals and reducing pathogenic contamination.
Maria works for Penn State Extension’s Horticulture and Food Safety teams. She has been extensively reaching out to the Latino Community nationally and internationally. She has been expanding the program’s efforts to reach out the Latino Community by developing and adapting new, culturally-appropriate outreach materials, delivering trainings in Spanish and English and assessing the needs of the...
This guide is written for people who would like to learn if their farm is covered by the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule. This guide will help you understand how to comply with food safety regulations and explains how practicing food safety on your farm benefits your business and your customers. It also provides numerous resources for further reading and preparation.
The second edition of the Bad Bug Book, published by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides current information about the major known agents that cause foodborne illness.
Fruits, Vegetables and FSMA Compliance: Multilingual Audiovisual Food Safety Training For Farms And Packinghouses, (#2017-04941). Bihn, E. A.. N Y Agricultural Expt Station, Geneva, New York
This guide was developed to inform domestic and foreign food facilities about the PCHF regulation and how to comply with it. It contains important information that may affect your firm.
This guidance was created to inform domestic persons in the U.S. who manufacture, process, pack, transport, distribute, receive, hold, or import food for humans or animals, and foreign persons who transport food in the U.S., about final regulations that establish requirements regarding the establishment and maintenance of records.
The purpose of this document is to state the intent of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, we, or the Agency) not to enforce certain regulatory requirements as they currently apply to certain entities and/or activities. The applicable requirements are established in our regulations entitled “Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food...
FDA prepared this guidance to restate the legal requirements in section 304(h) of the FD&C Act. Previously, this guidance restated the legal requirements for FDA’s administrative detention regulation at 21 CFR Part 1, Subpart K, implementing section 304(h) of the FD&C Act.
We have prepared this Small Entity Compliance Guide in accordance with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (Pub. Law 104-121). This guidance document is intended to assist small entities in complying with the rule set forth in 21 CFR Part 112 concerning Produce Safety. The rule is binding and has the full force and effect of law.
mportantly, several of the regulations that FDA has issued under FSMA provide exemptions that are related to the LACF requirements in part 113. This guidance addresses those exemptions.
This guidance represents the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) conclusion on the necessity of food product categories in food facility registrations submitted to FDA under section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 350d), as added by section 305 of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Bioterrorism Act) and...
This guidance document provides updated information pertaining to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority to access and copy records under sections 414 and 704 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) (Public Law 111-353) was signed into law on January 4, 2011. Section 101 of FSMA amends section 414(a) and 704(a)(1)(B) of...
This guidance is intended for persons who participate in certain “co-manufacturing” agreements in the production of human or animal food.
This guidance document is a restatement of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) current requirements for registration of food facilities presented in simplified format and language. As guidance, it is not binding on either FDA or the public.
This guidance is intended for those persons who are subject to the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food Rule (81 FR 20091), published on April 6, 2016.
Kali provides food safety technical assistance to farmers as they further develop their practices to meet new requirements. In addition to her background in diversified vegetable production, she recently studied food safety, local food systems, and food and agriculture policy while completing her graduate degree in Public Health Nutrition from UC Berkeley.
Strengthening Food Safety Education And Outreach For Kansas And Missouri Fruit And Vegetable Producers, (#2016-07415). Nwadike, L.. Kansas State Univ, Manhattan, Kansas
FSMA Education And Gap Training Targeting Small And Limited Resource Specialty Crop Growers, (#2017-04954). Chembezi, D. M.. Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama
Local Produce Safety Initiative, (#2017-04935). Mcswain, K.. Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro, North Carolina
Building Institutional Capacity For Assisting Producers And Processors In The New Food Safety Regulatory Landscape, (#2016-07430). Fouladkhah, A.. Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee
Revision And Expansion Of The Florida "Build Your Own Farm Food Safety Manual" Program, (#2017-04936). Chapin, T. K.. University Of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Food Safety Development, Education, And Local Technical Assistance Program (Fsdelta), (#2017-04932). Fisk, J.. Winrock International Inst. For Agric. Development, Arlington, Virginia
Seeds For Increasing Tribal Knowledge In Food Safety, (#2016-07318). Rock, C.. University Of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Related Food Safety Education And Outreach For Hard-To-Reach Audiences In The Pacific Northwest And Alaska Using Current Land-Grant University Extension System, (#2016-07428). Kim, J.. Univ Of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
WVSU Cold Chain Initiative, (#2016-07417). Stewart, M.. West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia
Empowering Small On Farm And Limited Resource Processors With Custom Fsma Training, (#2016-07324). Mcreynolds, R.. Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro, North Carolina
Identifying Food Safety Risks On Indigenous Food Sovereignty Gardens, (#2017-04962). Blakey, D. W.. University Of California, Davis, Davis, California
Bilingual Produce Safety Educational Programming For Hispanic/Latino Fresh Produce Growers And Farmworkers In Pennsylvania, (#2017-04984). Gorgo-Gourovitch, M. A.. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
Aiding Veterans In Agriculture To Understand Food Safety - With An Emphasis On Veterans With Disabilities, (#2016-07305). Brightwell, R. L.. University Of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
A Multistate Effort To Integrate And Expand Farmers Market Food Safety Materials Across The Southern Region To Increase Food Safety Culture, (#2016-07426). Boyer, R. R.. Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia
Food Safety Management Training For Small And Emerging Food Businesses: Integrating A Food Safety Culture From Concept To Commercialization, (#2017-04978). Kinchla, A. J.. University Of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
Expanding Food Safety Education In Massachusetts And Shifting From Voluntary To Regulatory Compliance, (#2016-07322). Mckeag, L. A.. University Of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
Environmental Assessments To Customize Food Safety Training For Very Small To Small Strawberry Producers In The Southeastern United States, (#2017-04973). Gibson, K.. University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Food Safety Training And Assistance For The Cottage Law Home Baker, (#2017-04938). Graves, A.. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Food Safety Hazards And Preventive Control Education For Beginning And Early-Stage Small-Sized Food Entrepreneurs, (#2016-07312). Ahn, S.. University Of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Community Accreditation For Produce Safety In Vermont, (#2016-07338). Grubinger, V.. University Of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
FamilyFarmed: On-Farm Food Safety Website Translation And Food Safety Training Expansion, (#2017-04956). Pirovano, J.. Familyfarmed, Chicago, Illinois
Develop & Implement A Hybrid Workshop In Fsma Produce Safety & Preventive Controls Rules For Stakeholders Growing & Processing High-Risk Produce, (#2016-07335). Tikekar, R.. Univ Of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
Preventive Controls Training For Small Alabama Fruit And Vegetable Processors Subject To FSMA, (#2017-04945). Wang, L.. Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
Farm Food Safety For North Dakota Specialty Crop Growers, (#2017-04980). Mawby, H.. Dakota College At Bottineau, Bottineau, North Dakota
Bridging The Gap: Effective Risk Mitigation Through Adoption Of Agricultural Water Treatment Systems, (#2016-07427). Wszelaki, A.. University Of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville, Tennessee
Practical Tools For Food Safety On Small, Diversified Fruit & Vegetable Farms, (#2017-04959). Koppa, K.. Global Growers Network Inc, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Food Safety Bites: A Weekly Food Safety Podcast, (#2017-04982). Silva, E. M.. Univ Of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Equipping Quality Urban Agriculture Leaders (E.Q.U.A.L.): Food Safety Training Customized For Urban And Community Food Production Systems, (#2016-07327). Cullen, E.. California State Polytechnic Univ, Pomona, California
A Pilot Project On Food Safety Outreach For Produce Growers And Processors In Southern Illinois, (#2016-07418). Choudhary, R.. Southern Illinois Univ, Carbondale, Illinois
Artisan Dairy Producer Food Safety Initiative, (#2016-07304). Umhoefer, J. T.. Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, Madison, Wisconsin
Mobile Produce And Practicing Food Safety Project, (#2017-04963). Small, V.. Best Brothers Exelling With Se, Greensboro, North Carolina
Development Of An Alternative FSMA Compliant Produce Safety Curriculum For Plain Sect And Other Smaller Fresh Produce Growers, (#2016-07340). Laborde, L. F.. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
Hands-On Food Safety Training For Small Farms In Fresno County, (#2017-04957). Dahlquist-Willard, R.. University Of California, Davis, Davis, California
Food Safety Modernization Act Outreach And Technical Assistance For Current And Emerging Entrepreneurs, (#2017-04975). Reddy, C.. Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee
Hawaii Roots Food Safety Outreach Project, (#2016-07325). Odom, S. K.. Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Honolulu, Hawaii
Expansion And Integration Of Fsma Education And Outreach For Beginning And Socially Disadvantaged Sustainable Organic Producers, (#2016-07331). Frazier, M. D.. Grow Food, Burlington, Washington
National Dairy Food Safety Plan Coaching Workshop, (#2017-04951). Alcaine, S. D.. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Expanding Food Safety Outreach And Education To Small And Mid-Sized Farms In New York And Vermont, (#2016-07330). Wallis, B.. Northeast Organic Farming Association Of New York, Inc., Fultonville, New York
Fulfilling FSMA Requirements: PSA Training Courses & Technical Assistance For Small And Organic Growers, (#2017-04979). Calfo, C.. California Certified Organic Farmers Inc., Santa Cruz, California
Integration of FSMA Produce Safety Outreach And Education Into Extension Initiatives In Oregon, (#2017-04976). Kovacevic, J.. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Practical Tools For Food Safety On Small Diversified Fruit And Vegetable Farms, (#2016-07333). Chanin, R.. Global Growers Network Inc, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Providing Small Farms An Integrated Approach To Meet FSMA, GAPS, And NOP Requirements Through Education, Outreach, And Technical Support, (#2016-07339). Suokko, K.. Local Food Hub, Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia
Cultivate Kentucky Parternship Expansion, (#2017-04983). Brislen, L.. University Of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Adapting Food Safety Curriculum And Training Materials To Support Comprehensive Technical Assistance Programming Targeting Diverse Beginning Farmers In Massachusetts, (#2016-07316). Dellaroman, M.. Third Sector New England, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts
Food Safety Education And Outreach Program For Small And Socially-Disadvantaged Farmers, (#2017-04934). Vaughan, B.. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama
Food Safety Education And Outreach Programming For Plain Growers, (#2017-04949). Ilic, S.. Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio
Customized Food Safety Intervention Strategies For Hard To Reach Producers, (#2016-07319). Marshall, S.. Texas Organic Farmers And Gardeners Association, Elgin, Texas
Enhancing The Safety Of Locally Grown Produce For Veterans In Agriculture, (#2017-04961). Brightwell, R. L.. University Of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Expanding Food Safety Outreach And Education For Local Food Systems In California, (#2016-07342). Runsten, D.. Community Alliance With Family Farmers Foundation, Davis, California
To ensure safe food and adequate sanitation programs, the facility and surroundings in which food processing and handling operations are conducted must be designed and constructed with sanitary design principles in mind. Many existing facilities do not have optimum sanitary design and construction.
Implicit Price Deflators for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Several FSMA rules have provisions in which a value is adjusted for inflation and averaged over 3 years. We provide the values based on Price Deflators for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the average for the most recent 3 years for the applicable rules below. The GDP deflator is not a static number, and changes monthly. We intend to...
Whether your winter storage rooms are getting bare or you are making the transition from sweet corn to potatoes, what better time to give your cooler a once over than right now? Download the Farm Cooler Checklist to help guide your walk-through.
This document explains the details of equipment cleaning and sanitizing procedures in food-processing and/or food-handling operations.
The Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL) provides low-interest financing so producers can build or upgrade facilities to store commodities. Eligible commodities include grains, oilseeds, peanuts, pulse crops, hay, honey, renewable biomass commodities, fruits and vegetables, floriculture, hops, maple sap, milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, eggs, meat/poultry (unprocessed), rye and aquaculture.
The FSMA Produce Safety Rule is an important reference for those helping growers understand requirements under the regulation. But weighing in at 216 pages it can be a burdensome document to read, let alone carry around with you. But there is hope. This blog post summarizes some ways of using the PSR on a mobile device.
When considering storage rooms, wash and pack sheds with growers there is one topic that is sure to strike a nerve: RODENTS. This document is intended to provide summary information about measures you can take to reduce crop losses from these pests.
Smooth and cleanable surfaces are an important aspect of areas where produce is washed, packed, stored and processed. This is a summary of some of the finish surface materials that are available, their pros, cons and pricing at this time.
EQUIPPING QUALITY URBAN AGRICULTURE LEADERS (E.Q.U.A.L.): FOOD SAFETY TRAINING CUSTOMIZED FOR URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. Cullen, E. CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIV POMONA, CALIFORNIA
SEEDS FOR INCREASING TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE IN FOOD SAFETY, Rock, C., UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA,TUCSON, ARIZONA - USDA FSOP Funded Project
A web-based fact sheet from the FDA providing an overview of the final rule. Also, links to the final rule in various forms. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety rule is now final, and the earliest compliance dates for some farms begin one year after the effective date of the final rule. The rule establishes, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the safe...
Resources and trainings for people growing fruits and vegetables in Iowa
I have an Bachelors in Science degree from the University of Delaware, with a concentration in Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Managment. I am also working towards a Masters in Public Administration with a mixed concentration in State and Local Government as well as Emergency Managment. I have also worked on a large farm my entire life, with a passion for Food Safety developing many years ago.
I have an MS in plant sciences and come from an environmental science and policy background. Half of my job here at the University of Maryland is within the realm of water recycling and managing plant pathogens in nurseries and greenhouses. The other half is food safety education. I have been leading Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) trainings in Maryland for the last two years and have recently...
Brenden St John works as a Food Safety Specialist with Produce Food Safety Services. PFSS is a program of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Brenden helps farmers, packers, shippers, and processors by developing customized food safety plans and paperwork, FSMA compliance, HACCP Plans and risk assessments, 2nd Party Audits, Pre-audit assessments, audit escorts, and education...
Maintaining a concentration of chlorine bleach in your sanitizing solution can be challenging. This video will teach you how to calculate the amount of chlorine bleach to add to a volume of water to effectively sanitize tools and containers.
This is a fillable template for creating a food safety recall plan.
This bulletin describes how to draft a food safety recall plan. While it has a Maryland flavor, it can be used in other states.
Ag Engineering Technician with UVM Extension. Specific knowledge areas are in fruit and vegetable post-harvest handling, produce safety and implementing lean principles in relation to individual farms.
The North Central Regional Center’s specific aims are to: Establish a sustainable communication network connecting educators and grower/processors throughout the North Central Region (NCR) to facilitate collaboration for FSMA compliance training and build training capacity; Conduct a regional needs assessment and identify the gaps in knowledge for growers/processors and in educational tools/...
This 8-page Penn State fact sheet provides a discussion of farming activities and types of produce that are covered under the rule, key requirements within the regulation, certain exemptions and modified requirements for which farms may be eligible, and deadlines for complying with the rule.
Phil Tocco has served as Extension Educator in Jackson County with Michigan State University for over 12 years. He serves as an educator in food safety on the farm for fruit and vegetable farmers statewide. He has functioned as the state coordinator in on-farm food safety since 2009. He currently serves with several other educators, State Departments of Agriculture and FDA to craft the On-Farm...
I graduated with a B.Sc. in Food Science from Cornell University 2010, and then did my Ph.D. in Food Science under the supervision of Dr. Lee-Ann Jaykus at North Carolina State University. After some time as a postdoctoral research scholar at N.C. State, I did a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017. I joined the faculty of the Department of...
Lynn C. Nakamura Tengan Extension Educator with the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service for 30 years, and working with farm food safety for 19 years. She has a MS from Cornell University. Her primary focus is farm and consumer food safety education programs. She coordinates farm food safety outreach statewide, working with a team of agricultural and nutrition extension educators.
Dr. Schoenfuss owes her love of milk and cheese to raising Nubian goats and dairy replacement heifers in 4-H in San Jacinto, California. She studied Dairy Science at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and studied her Junior year at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. She then received a Master’s in Food Science at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, and a Ph.D in Dairy Science from Louisiana...
Food Safety Manager at White Oak Farms, a 300+ acre diversified fruit and vegetable farm in Midcoast Maine.
My name is Marina Abitia Regulatory Compliance & Food Safety Officer for Porterville Citrus, Inc. a citrus packer affiliated to Sunkist Growers, Inc.
Biotechnology, Food Quality and Food Safety
A series of fact sheets available for viewing in your browser with links to full color formatted PDF documents.
This three-part video series from Penn State presents the best practices for post-harvest washing of fresh produce. This video is available in English and Spanish.
In this video series from Penn State, you will learn what the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is and whether your farm or food business may be affected by it. We’ll look at two of the seven FSMA rules that will affect farms, food processors and packing houses across the nation – the Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule – and help you determine whether your...
If you have read the GAP manual, you are aware of the importance of writing a mission statement. This resource provides a sample mission statement, along with pointers for writing your own.
This fact sheet walks you through the safe and effective use of chlorine as a disinfectant.
This fact sheet walks you through the recommended steps for effective compost use while ensuring GAP and FSMA compliance.
This fact sheet reviews best practices to ensure food safety compliance when using refrigeration.
Pointers for correct washing procedures for fresh produce.
Record keeping is the corner stone of implementing a food safety plan. This document will help you navigate Google Docs as free resource for recordkeeping.
Landing page with general resources pertaining to Food Safety Modernization Act compliance.
This link will take you to the Resource by chapter section of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance website. The site contains 16 chapters of information on Preventative Controls for Human Food.
This fact sheet addresses due diligence for rodent and vertebrate pest control and offers a standard operating procedure (SOP) boilerplate that can be adapted to your farm and help address rodents and other vertebrates in storage and packing areas.
The Agrifood Safety Minute is designed to highlight one small aspect of food safety on the farm every week or two. The focus is on teaching you how to make small changes that yield a significant impact, and allow you to get one step closer to GAP certification with every weekly lesson.
This fact sheet walks you through some considerations regarding livestock that may be kept near your production area.
This fact sheet offers a number of food safety considerations when irrigating your crops.
This fact sheet addresses how to read and understand water testing results and what to do about them.
This fact sheet provides instruction on taking a proper water sample as well as requesting the correct test.
This guidance is intended for all fresh-cut produce processing firms, both domestic firms and firms importing or offering fresh-cut product for import into the U.S., to enhance the safety of fresh-cut produce by minimizing the microbial food safety hazards.
Step by step instructions that will walk you through using Google maps to create an accurate map of your farm.
This fact sheet will walk you through the recommended use and storage of manure to ensure GAP compliance.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Food Safety Plan Builder (FSPB) is a tool designed to assist owners/operators of food facilities with the development of food safety plans that are specific to their facilities and meet the requirements of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation (21 CFR Part 117).
This fact sheet addresses relative risks associated with irrigation water sources and delivery methods. It will also discuss the frequency of testing each source.
Link to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) website.
Fact Sheet includes summaries of some key requirements, compliance dates, and other information on the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.
A listing of all Preventive Controls for Human Food courses being held across the world. The Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation (referred to as the Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation) is intended to ensure safe manufacturing/processing, packing and holding of food products for human consumption in the...
The FSPCA Technical Assistance Network (TAN) is a place where you can ask questions related to preventive controls, and also find information on courses and Lead Instructors.
The Technical Assistance Network (TAN) is a central source of information for questions related to the FSMA rules, programs, and implementation strategies.
These are the compliance dates for the rules that form the foundation of the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Helpful tips on marketing a FSPCA Preventive Controls course.
Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance Bookstore.
Worksheets are recommended to document the product description, hazard analysis and preventive controls. Worksheet is provided as pdf or attached in Microsoft Word format.
This Food Safety Plan template is modeled after forms developed for the FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food curriculum, and can be modified to reflect the need of individual establishment needs.
This Recall Plan template is based on the template in the FSPCA curriculum. It must be modified by a company to develop an individualized Recall Plan.
Trainers of Trainers therefore must be high-level professionals who have extensive experience in food safety systems and training.
The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA), in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hosts quarterly webinars to update stakeholders on the progress of the Alliance.
Visit site to learn about educational and networking opportunities.
This course developed by FSPCA is the “standardized curriculum” recognized by FDA; successfully completing this course is one way to meet the requirements for a “preventive controls qualified individual.”
A person who has successfully completed an FSPCA Preventive Controls course and an FSPCA Lead Instructor Course. A Lead Instructor may independently offer the FSPCA standardized curriculum (PC Course) directly to participants.
Elizabeth Newbold is the Center Administrator for the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS), one of four FDA/USDA funded regional centers tasked with coordinating training, education and outreach related to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and the FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule. Her work focuses on coordination and facilitation of the Northeast regional network to support a...
Chris Callahan is an Extension Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Vermont. His work focuses on the application of engineering and technology to the needs of small and medium-sized farms and food processors in the areas of protected culture production, postharvest handling and storage and sustainable energy. He is also the Director of the Northeast Center to...
The Preventive Controls for Human Food rule clarified the definition of a farm to cover two types of farm operations, primary production farms and secondary activities farms. The same definition is used in the Produce Safety rule (section 112.3(c)). This flowchart has basic criteria that determine whether an operation that meets the definition of “farm” is subject to the produce rule.
The Produce Safety Alliance developed a 'Labeled Sanitizers for Produce' tool to help growers find an EPA-labeled sanitizer suitable for their operation.
Dr. Trujillo is one of eight members for the Produce Safety Network (PSN), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). His function is to collaborate and serve as technical advisor with state representatives and the produce industry in the implementation of the FDA Produce Safety Rule. Previously, Dr. Trujillo served as International...
This project aimed to improve produce tracking and traceability on Vermont farms by reviewing functional requirements for produce record keeping (including FSMA PSR requirements), reviewing available solutions, and developing two tailored near term solutions.
This FDA Factsheet explains the "rarely consumed raw" list under the Produce Safety Rule.
The FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requires a few specific records. This publication summarizes the provisions requiring records and includes template records to help establish records to meet FSMA PSR requirements.
This article is meant to be an introduction to some of the main parts of the water requirements.
This Produce Safety Alliance fact sheet outlines how to perform key mathematical steps necessary to develop a microbial water quality profile (MWQP)
Summary and reference sheets for compliance dates for FSMA rules.
Locate a trainer in your region. This is a complete list of Produce Safety Alliance trainer from across the county and international.
Decision Trees: Farm Food Safety Decision Making Made Easy! The purpose of the Decision Trees is to: - Help you identify risks and practices that reduce risks; - Prioritize the implementation of practices to use limited resources wisely; - Familiarize you with the terms and methods necessary to understand and follow requirements and expectations for food safety from buyers,...
FDA’s Food Safety Plan Builder is a user-friendly, standalone tool designed to assist owner/operators of food facilities with the development of food safety plans that are specific to their facilities and meet the requirement of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation.
The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) is a collaboration between Cornell University, FDA, and USDA to prepare fresh produce growers to meet the regulatory requirements included in the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.
A web-based fact sheet from the FDA providing an overview of the final rule. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Human Food rule is now final, and compliance dates for some businesses begin in September 2016.
The Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) is a broad-based public private alliance consisting of key industry, academic and government stakeholders whose mission is to support safe food production by developing a nationwide core curriculum, training and outreach programs to assist companies producing human and animal food in complying with the preventive controls regulations that will...
This resource provides guidance on wash water discharge planning for vegetable wash and pack facilities in Vermont.