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Penn State Extension to host Food Safety Modernization Act trainings

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Is your farm in compliance with food safety standards? The Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule 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.”

The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course is one way to fulfill this requirement. Approximately seven hours of instruction time will be spent on the following modules:

  • Introduction to Produce Safety
  • Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
  • Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
  • Agricultural Water (Part 1: Production Water and Part 2: Postharvest Water)
  • Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
  • How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials verifying that they have completed the training.

The Grower Training Course will be presented on the following dates, at these locations, with phone numbers to register:

Nov. 3 -- Bedford, Bedford County (814-445-8911)

Dec. 5 -- Erie, Erie County (724-627-3745)

Dec. 13 -- Bloomsburg, Columbia County (570-988-3950)

Jan. 18, 2018 -- Leesport, Berks County (610-378-1327)

Jan. 29, 2018 -- Hershey, Hershey MAFVC (717-694-3596)

Feb. 13, 2018 -- Greensburg, Westmoreland County (724-837-1402)

Feb. 13, 2018 -- Philadelphia, Philadelphia County (215-471-2200)

Feb. 20, 2018 -- Center Valley, Lehigh County (610-391-9840)

Feb. 28, 2018 -- Lancaster, Lancaster County (717-394-6851)

March 6, 2018 -- University Park, Centre County (814-865-4027)

March 8, 2018 -- Biglerville, Adams County (717-334-6271)

Not sure if your produce farm is covered under the Food Safety Modernization Act? Visit extension.psu.edu/fsma to learn more.

To register, go to extension.psu.edu/fsma-grower-training or call the number indicated above for the session you are interested in. The standard registration fee is $150 per person; a discounted price of $20 per person (one per farm) is available for Pennsylvania commercial growers through support from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Checks, credit cards and debit cards are accepted. 

For more information about the Grower Training Course, contact Luke LaBorde at 814-863-2298 or by email at lfl5@psu.edu.

Last Updated October 17, 2017

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