July 13, 2020
This month, we would like to highlight some new educational resources available to trainers for use in the PSA Grower Training Courses, new job postings, and a paid focus group opportunity for produce growers. 

Have a safe and happy summer!
The PSA Team
New Educational Resources Available
As many PSA Grower Trainings have moved to remote delivery, trainers have reached out to the PSA team for suggestions on how to make remote trainings more engaging and effective. The PSA website hosts a number of teaching tools and optional resources organized by curriculum module that trainers may want to utilize during PSA Grower Training Courses. These are located under the Trainer Resources or General Resources pages. A few newly added resources are highlighted below. Many of these resources are also available in Spanish on the Trainer Resources and General Resources pages!
General Resources
This resource includes optional questions in PowerPoint format for engaging audiences during the training. There are suggestions in the resource for question placement to facilitate their use within the course.
Module 1 – Enforcement discretion supplemental material
The following slide sets explain enforcement discretion policies outlined by FDA.
  • Qualified End User Enforcement Discretion during COVID-19 slides (English, Spanish)
  • Hops-Grapes-Pulses-Almonds Enforcement Discretion slides (English, Spanish)
Module 3: Soil amendment activity
The soil amendment activity is intended to help course participants explore different types of soil amendments commonly used on produce farms and their potential food safety risks.
Module 6: Cleaning vs. Sanitizing
This fact sheet explains the difference between cleaning and sanitizing activities on farms and in packinghouses.
Job Postings
FDA Jobs
Two job announcements have been posted in USA Jobs for Produce Safety Network positions within the FDA Division of Produce Safety, Fresh Produce Branch. Please see the announcements below on USA Jobs for additional information. These postings are only open for one week and applications are due by 7/16/20 or when 200 applications are received.
Direct Hire Announcement for a Biologist, GS-0401-12/13
USDA Jobs
The USDA is seeking a candidate to fill a position for an Agricultural Marketing Specialist (Program Coordinator). In this position, the successful candidate will serve as a Program Coordinator in the Audit Services Branch, Inspection Services, Specialty Crops Inspection Division. This branch is responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing new audit programs which contribute to the Division's ability to facilitate trade in fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and related products as well as audit and audit-based programs related to food safety. Applications will be accepted between 7/10/20 – 7/17/20.
For more information and to apply visit the USA Jobs website .
Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS)
The Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) is seeking a Research Specialist to coordinate and administer several activities of their regional Preventive Controls for Human Foods Workgroup and national produce safety evaluation efforts. This is a full-time, work from home position that can be located anywhere within the Northeast region.
For more information and to apply, visit the UVM Jobs website . 
Focus Group Opportunity
National Young Farmers Coalition
Farmer-Led Food Safety Focus Groups
This summer, the National Young Farmers Coalition has been holding online food safety focus groups with produce growers from across the country. These focus groups have enlightened both the Coalition staff and fellow young farmers on the challenges and successes surrounding produce safety. The group is continuing to schedule focus groups and are hoping to connect with even more growers. Each hour-long virtual focus group features a farmer co-facilitator who discusses their operation and systems, and up to eight farmers who ask the lead farmer questions and sharing their own experiences. The farmer co-facilitator and participants will be paid for their time ($250 and $50, respectively) and receive a copy of the food safety guidebook: A Small Farmers Practical Guide to Food Safety. If you or someone in your network is interested, please check out youngfarmers.org/focusgroups for more information. All of the focus groups are being recorded and will be posted on the website for other farmers in the network and beyond to listen and learn from. If you have any questions, please reach out to maggie@youngfarmers.org .
Visit the website to view and participate in the upcoming focus groups.
‌