AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) today announced it will hold a series of community meetings across the state to collect input on implementing the new federal law to promote the safety of fruits and vegetables grown across the country. The meetings will serve as a forum to gather public input as TDA develops the rules to administer this comprehensive new federal mandate.“We want to hear from our ag producers,” Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said. “This is a substantial new federal effort, and the Texas Department of Agriculture wants to make sure we work hand-in-hand with our farmers to implement the rules consistently and efficiently. I’ll be at several of the meetings personally to join the conversation and hear any concerns from our ag producers.”
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), specifically the Produce Rule, establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. This is the first time such standards have been implemented. The purpose of FSMA is to shift food safety regulations from a system that focuses on responding to contamination to one that focuses on preventing contamination. FSMA was enacted on Jan. 4, 2011, and it authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take a preventive approach to food safety. TDA is the state agency responsible for implementing the corresponding produce safety program in Texas.
In hosting the meetings in seven locations across the state, TDA wants to give producers an opportunity to discuss the development of the administrative rules as they pertain to farm verification, inspection and enforcement.
Below is a list of locations, dates and times for the Produce Safety Administrative Rule development meetings. In order to make sure we have accurate seating, please RSVP to ProduceSafety@TexasAgriculture.gov with the location and number of people attending.
| Location | Facility | Date | Time |
| Lubbock | Texas A&M Agrilife Extension 1102 E FM 1294 Lubbock, TX 79403 |
Tuesday,
May 1, 2018 |
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| Fort Worth | Hampton Inn (West I-H 30)
2700 Green Oaks Road Fort Worth, TX 76116 |
Wednesday,
May 2, 2018 |
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| Tyler | Hampton Inn & Suites Tyler-South 8962 S. Broadway AvenueTyler, TX 75703 |
Thursday,
May 3, 2018 |
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| Weslaco | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
2415 E. Business 83 Weslaco, TX 78596 |
Tuesday,
May 8, 2018 |
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
| Uvalde | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension 1619 Garner Field RoadUvalde, TX 78801 |
Wednesday,
May 9, 2018 |
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| San Marcos | Hilton Garden Inn
2131 N Interstate HW 35 |
Wednesday,
May 16, 2018 |
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| Rosenberg | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
1402 Band Road Rosenberg, TX 77471 |
Tuesday,
May 15, 2018 |
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
–Texas Department of Agriculture
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