Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course

PRODUCE SAFETY ALLIANCE (PSA) GROWER TRAINING COURSE 

May 31, 2017

OARDC, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building, Room 200
1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691 

Lead Trainer: Beth Scheckelhoff, The Ohio State University
Trainers: Sanja Ilic and Melanie Lewis Ivey, The Ohio State University

Who Should Attend 

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety should attend. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘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.’ 

What to expect at the PSA Grower Training Course 

The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in the PSA Grower Training curriculum outlined in the draft agenda. 

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. 

Cost to Attend 

Registration cost is $50. This cost covers course materials, certificate of attendance, and lunch. 

To register, fill out the Grower Training Course registration form and send by mail to Allison Penate (Gourley Hall 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691), email to Allison Penate (penate.3@osu.edu) or call to 330-641-8147. Contact Dr. Sanja Ilic (ilic.2@osu.edu) with questions about the content of this PSA course. 

Benefits of Attending the Course 

The course will provide FSMA Produce Safety Rule training requirements. 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 beginimplementing 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, 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. 

Additional Information 

For more information about the PSA Grower Training Course, please visit the PSA website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu. 

AGENDA 

8:00 AM Registration and Refreshments 

8:30 AM Welcome and Introductions 

9:00 AM Module 1: Introduction to Produce Safety 

9:45 AM Module 2: Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training 

10:45 AM Break 

11:00 AM Module 3: Soil Amendments 

11:45 AM Module 4: Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use 

12:30 PM Lunch 

1:30 PM Module 5: Agricultural Water – Part I: Production Water 

2:30 PM Module 5: Agricultural Water – Part 2: Postharvest Water 

3:15 PM Break 

3:30 PM Module 6: Postharvest Handling and Sanitation 

4:30 PM Module 7: How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan 

5:15 PM Final Questions and Evaluations 

5:30 PM Participants Adjourn – Day 1