ITHACA, N.Y. — The 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act updated U.S. food regulation and for the first time outlined regulations for fruit and vegetable farmers. Some of the FSMA regulations will impact small farm owners and processors who have served as the foundation for the expanding local foods movement.
In order to identify and understand the unique needs of producers demanded by the FSMA, the Local Food Safety Cooperative has launched a national needs assessment survey for growers, food processers, food packers and aggregators.
Results of this survey will help direct future resources for the development of educational materials and training programs to assist local food producers to enhance their food safety practices and meet regulatory requirements.
If you are a farmer, food processor, food packer, or food hub manager, please consider taking the LFSC needs assessment survey by 10/31, found here: www.localfoodsafety.org/survey
The survey is voluntary and takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Once completed, you may elect to enter your personal information to be entered in a raffle for one of twenty $100.00 gift cards. Survey results will not be linked with any personal information and your individual information will be confidential.
The LFSC is funded by the Food and Drug Administration and led by the National Farmers Union Foundation. The LFSC partnership includes Cornell University, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Washington State Department of Agriculture, National Young Farmers Coalition, Deep South Food Alliance, and New England Farmers Union.
The project focus is to provide training, education, and outreach to local producers and processors including organic, diversified, sustainable, and identity-preserved agriculture, to enhance their fundamental food safety knowledge, and comply with applicable FSMA regulations.
Passage of the FSMA regulations has put new emphasis on sustainability of farms and other local food operations such as processing, packing, and aggregating businesses. Each of these firms present their own unique safety challenges. And although some small processors and owners are exempt, the FSMA provides them a chance to integrate new food safety practices to expand and grow their market share.
—Cornell University
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
For more articles concerning food safety, click here.
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