Safe Produce Indiana is currently offering Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings across Indiana, including one in conjunction with the Indiana Horticulture Congress on Feb. 14.
This training will meet the requirement for produce growers who are covered under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Growers will learn how to safely and effectively manage produce food-safety risks on their farms.
Safe Produce Indiana is a partnership of Purdue Extension, the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and serves Indiana's fruit and vegetable growers and consumers by promoting FDA's Produce Safety Rule.
"The Produce Safety Rule sets standards to help ensure fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption are safely grown, harvested and packed. It takes a more proactive approach to preventing food safety issues, as opposed to simply reacting to problems," said Rhonda Taylor, Purdue Extension food science outreach specialist.
"Our Produce Safety Alliance training courses not only provide valuable information to producers, but also satisfy the food safety training requirement established by the federal government for those growers who are covered by the Produce Safety Rule."
Training programs cover an introduction to produce safety; worker health, hygiene and training; soil amendments; wildlife, domesticated animals and land use; agricultural production water and postharvest water; postharvest handling and sanitation; and how to develop a food-safety plan. In addition to these topics, key portions of the FMSA Produce Safety Rule are outlined in each module.