The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Safe Produce Program will host four Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training course events starting in November and concluding in April 2024. The training events provide an opportunity for commercial fruit and vegetable growers, home produce gardeners, and other produce enthusiasts to learn and understand produce safety as defined in the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule and Good Agricultural Practices standards.
PSA Grower Training course events are:
Nov. 16 – In-person, Iowa City.
Jan. 17, 2024 – Remote virtual.
Feb. 28, 2024 – In-person, location TBD. April 3, 2024 – Remote virtual.
Additional information and registration links are available on the Iowa State University Safe Produce website in the Events tab.
Instructional Content and Requirements
Each PSA Grower Training course event outlines and details FSMA Produce Safety Rule and GAP key requirements in the following instructional modules:
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.
PSA instructional modules are taught by PSA qualified ISU Extension and Outreach specialists and consist of approximately seven hours of instruction including time for questions and discussion.
PSA Grower Training course requirements are that attendees must be present during all instructional modules and attendees must possess a PSA Grower Training manual during module instruction. The manual is included in the course registration fee. Exceptions may include two growers/employees from the same farm/company may share a manual and attend the training event together for a single registration fee.
Source: iastate.edu
Photo Credit: istock-elenathewise
Categories: Iowa, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Education