Who Should Attend?

Growers, packers, Extension agents, educators, industry suppliers and others interested in learning the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and certification. One way to satisfy § 112.22(c) which requires that at least one supervisor or responsible party from a farm subject to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule 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. This is such a curriculum.

What to Expect at the PSA/GAPs Grower Training Course?

The trainers will spend approximately eight hours of instruction time covering content contained in seven modules. You must be present and participate during the whole course to be eligible for the materials and the certificate. The course will present some parts/examples related to growing, harvesting and handling produce. Updates on the ag water proposed rule and others will be covered, including exemptions. In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions. This training satisfies the training requirement towards requirements for MS USDA and other GAPs certification. There will be an additional module that covers this topic.

Benefits of Attending the Course

The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:

• Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
• How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
• Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
• Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.

After attending the entire course and completing all evaluations/documents, 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.

Host: Mississippi State University Extension and Calhoun County Extension Office and the MS Sweet Potato Council

This effort is supported in part by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce through a FDA CAP grant under agreement #14-SCBGP-MS-0028 and by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2015-70020-24397, and by Mississippi State University and the Mississippi State Extension Service.