BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Do you have concerns about safety in your produce operation? Are you concerned about compliance with Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)? Do you want to know more about the difference between FSMA and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)? Then, the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training might be for you! On Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., University of Illinois Extension will be holding a Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training workshop at the DoubleTree Hilton, 10 Brickyard Dr., Bloomington, Illinois, 61701.
The PSA training is being offered as part of the Local & Regional Food Conference taking place Nov. 5-7 at the DoubleTree in Bloomington. The conference, hosted by Illinois Farm Bureau, is aimed at helping farmers learn how to increase their profits, develop a sustainable business and grow market demand to build long-lasting family farms. Usually, the PSA Grower Training costs $115. However, for those attending the Local & Regional Food Conference, this cost is included with conference registration, including the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) certificate fee. To learn more or to register for the Local & Regional Food Conference, visit www.ilfb.org/livelocal.
The PSA Grower Training course will satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement that states, “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.”
At the PSA training, you can expect trainers to spend about 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: 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.
The course will provide a foundation of GAPs 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 should 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.
Participants who attend the full course will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion from AFDO. 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.
Registration closes on Oct. 17 or when the course is full. There are a limited number of seats available for this training. No walk-ins will be accepted. Cancellation of the registration will forfeit the payment in full. Refunds will not be issued. For questions on the PSA Grower Training, contact Laurie George at (618) 242-0780 or ljgeorge@illinois.edu.
— Laurie George, University of Illinois Extension Educator
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