DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — Are you a produce grower in the state of Maine? Do you want to learn more about produce safety and FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule? Are you a fully covered farm under the Produce Safety Rule? If you answered yes to any of these, then this training is for you!
Come join us for the FDA-approved training that covers fundamentals of produce safety, how to apply produce safety principles in a farm context, and what the Produce Safety Rule requires. We’ll cover best practices and basic requirements, and share resources you can use on your farm to feel confident that you’re protecting your farm and the health of your customers.
This PSA Grower Training is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule training requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires that:
“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.”
All farms that are fully covered under the Produce Safety Rule will need to comply with this training requirement.
**If you are not sure whether your farm is fully covered or eligible for exemptions, give Leah Cook a call at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry to find out your coverage status. She and her team can be reached at 207-764-2100.**
Training Topics Include:
- 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
There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. 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.
Upcoming Training Dates:
Dover-Foxcroft: March 29, 2019 (Snow date Apr 4)
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Congregational Church in Dover-Foxcroft
824 W. Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
Registration closes March 22, 2019
Limit: 28 attendees
Farmington: April 5, 2019 (Snow date Apr 19)
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM UMaine Farmington—Olson Memorial Student Center
111 South Street, Farmington, ME 04938
Registration closes March 29, 2019
Limit: 28 attendees
Cost: $25/attendee
To Register:
Contact Theresa Tilton at theresa.tilton@maine.edu or 207.942.7396 or register online.
**PLEASE NOTE: These may be the last training sessions offered by UMaine Cooperative Extension that meet FSMA requirements until next fall. Produce growers due for their compliance inspection this summer should plan on attending a PSA Grower Training prior to their compliance inspections which will begin in June 2019.**
–Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
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