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Covered Produce Farms

Contents

Covered Produce Farm Definition

A covered produce farm is a farm subject to the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. In Vermont, covered produce farms undergo routine inspections conducted by an Agency of Agriculture produce safety specialist.

Produce Safety Rule Requirements

Covered produce farms must meet Produce Safety Rule requirements.

*Contact the Agency to request a pocket-size Produce Safety Rule booklet (limited supply).

Key Requirements

Inspections

A produce safety specialist will reach out to schedule inspections on covered produce farms during the growing season. The inspector will ask to observe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding activities as well as required records.

Farms are encouraged to prepare for inspections by:

Compliance

Farms are encouraged to submit a corrective action report to the Agency describing how they have corrected or plan to correct any produce safety violations noted on an inspection form. Farms may used the Corrective Action Report form for this purpose.

Produce Safety - Corrective Action Report form

Resources

Access produce safety resources to enhance produce safety practices on your farm and to assist with regulatory compliance.

Produce Safety Resources

Education & Technical Assistance

Produce Program staff can provide one-on-one education and technical assistance on regulatory requirements and produce safety best practices.

Contact Us

About the Produce Safety Rule

The Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based minimum food safety standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables. The Rule was adopted in Vermont statutes under Title 6 Chapter 66: Produce Inspection.

Compliance dates for covered farms (other than sprout farms) went into effect beginning in January 2018 for farms with produce sales greater than $500,000, in January 2019 for farms with produce sales between $250,001 and $500,000, and in January 2020 for farms with produce sales between $25,001 and $250,000.

Rule Updates for Covered Farms

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