BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Are you a farmer interested in produce safety? Are your markets asking for food safety plans or third party verification? Do you want to understand produce safety issues as they relate to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, third party audits, or Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)? Join Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome & Oneida counties, in partnership with the Eastern NY Horticulture Team and the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA), as they offer a remote version of the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training via Zoom.
This will take place Tuesday, June 9th, through Thursday, June 11th, from 12:30-3:30pm each day. Registration due by June 2nd.
Participation in this training will give you the tools to create an on-farm food safety plan and complete the training requirement for FSMA.
PSA Trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in the area of worker health, hygiene, soil amendments, wildlife, agricultural water, post-harvest handling and sanitation, along with how to develop a Farm Food Safety Plan. NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets inspectors will also be present during one day to discuss the inspection process and what a farm should expect, as well as current grants available to offset costs of a third-party food safety inspection, such as GAPs.
Each participant farm will receive a manual. The manual includes curriculum module slides and slide notes divided by tabs with learning objectives. Additionally, references, a glossary, and FSMA-specific information is included.
All participants that attend the entire course (all 7 modules) are eligible to receive a certificate from AFDO (Association of Food and Drug Officials) that verifies they completed the training course. Please note the following when considering whether you can attend this online training over the course of three days:
• This is a “Zoom” course. The Zoom link and instructions to join the class will be provided after registration.
• Technology requirements of participants = computer software, audio, video, and internet resources and proficiency
• Participant attendance and engagement will be monitored by course instructors.
• Participants will only be eligible for the PSA/AFDO Certificate of Course Completion if they are present for all modules of the course.
Registration is at a cost of $15 for a single attendee and $20 for two attendees from the same farm. Refunds are not available.
If you are uncertain whether the course is for you, you are welcome to contact Bonnie Collins bsc33@cornell.edu , or 315/736-3394 ext.104 or Laura Biasillo at lw257@cornell.edu or (607) 584-5007. To register for this virtual training by June 2nd, click here: http://cceoneida.com/events/2020/06/09/psa-growers-safety-training-virtual.
–Bonnie Collins, Cornell Cooperative Extension