By Sam Ebeling, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Do you want to cultivate produce safety culture on your farm? The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is partnering with UVM Extension to host another Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training on March 5-6. The first day of training will be over video call for the morning. The second day will be at the Berlin Extension Office.
We will discuss the regulatory requirements of the FDA Produce Safety Rule and produce safety best practices, with opportunities to connect with other growers. By the end of the training, you will be able to identify and reduce produce safety risks on your farm and will receive a certificate verifying course completion.
This course is open to all growers, farm workers, gleaners, and those who support farms. If you or someone on your farm has already completed the PSA Grower Training, consider attending as a refresher or sending another employee. This opportunity can enrich your farm’s food safety culture and employees’ working knowledge as professional development that they can carry with them throughout their farming careers.
This training satisfies the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Produce Safety Rule requirement for covered farms that “at least one supervisor or responsible party” completes food safety training “recognized as adequate” by FDA (21 C.F.R. 112.22(c)).
The Vermont training will be offered at minimal cost and will include lunch. For more information about the PSA Grower Training Course and other training options, including an online course, visit the PSA website at cals.cornell.edu/produce-safety-alliance/training/grower-training-course.
Contact us for more information at AGR.Produce@vermont.gov or 802-828-2433. Registration information is available on our website at agriculture.vermont.gov/produce.