English: producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu

Spanish: es.producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu

June 7, 2023

Dear PSA newsletter subscribers,

Summer is almost upon us! The weather is warming up for many, which means things are busier than ever before in the produce world. We look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming trainings and conferences.

This newsletter includes PSA updates, new resources, survey links to gather your valuable feedback, partner training opportunities, and job postings. Happy reading!

Sincerely,

The PSA Team

NEW RESOURCE

FSMA Produce Safety Rule: Agricultural Water System Inspection is Different from the Proposed Agricultural Water Assessment

This new fact sheet covers the differences between an Agricultural Water System Inspection (§ 112.42) and the proposed Agricultural Water Assessment (AgWA) from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR). This resource highlights differences in compliance dates, required frequency, evaluation parameters, and documentation requirements. This fact sheet is currently available in English and also is being translated into Spanish.

Fact Sheet

FDA Set to End the Temporary Enforcement Discretion Policy Regarding the Qualified Exemption on November 7, 2023

The FDA has announced that the temporary Enforcement Discretion policy regarding the Qualified Exemption is set to end on November 7, 2023. This temporary policy was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide flexibility in the eligibility criteria for the qualified exemption from the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

PSA Advanced Trainer Workshop

A PSA Advanced Trainer Workshop has been scheduled for October 17, 18, and 19, 2023 in Geneva NY.

We are looking for funding to support this workshop. Fill out the form below to be notified when more details are available.

The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Advanced Trainer Workshop has been developed to provide attendees with an in-depth scientific understanding of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and help trainers enrich their PSA training skills. This workshop is a blend of lecture, hands-on activities, and breakout groups separated into six half-day modules:

Micro 101
Soil Amendments and Animals
Production Water
Sanitation
Postharvest Water
Instructor Tips for Participant Engagement

The curriculum development team, comprised of the Produce Safety Alliance and members of the Southern Center for FSMA training, developed this training to give participants an opportunity to perform hands-on activities. These experiential learning opportunities give participants first-hand experience with many of the practices that the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requires of growers.

Prerequisite: Individuals must have attended the PSA Grower Training Course prior to attending the PSA Advanced Trainer Workshop.

Spanish Online PSA Grower Training Pilot

We are looking for Spanish-speaking individuals interested in participating in our first Spanish Language Online PSA Grower Training. If you are interested in participating in the pilot course, please reach out to Yulie Meneses (yem4@cornell.edu).

The Online PSA Grower Training Course is the same curriculum as the in-person PSA Grower Training Course, but offered in an online, asynchronous, 3-week session through eCornell. The pilot Spanish-language online course includes self-check quizzes and six required discussions that can be completed at the participants’ own pace. The online course is expected to take 15-30 hours total for successful completion. For additional information on examples of course format, please visit the current English online course website: https://cals.cornell.edu/produce-safety-alliance/training/grower-training-course/online-course

Educational Opportunities

National Farmers Union Food Safety Training Kit - PSR 101

On June 27, 2023, Food Safety CTS will be hosting a Train the Trainer event in Spanish for instructors/supervisors who want to teach the program included in the Food Safety Training Kit – PSR 101. The Food Safety Training Kit - PSR 101 was created as part of an effort by the National Farmers Union to establish a food safety training program to help growers train employees who work at a farm.

This virtual class is free, registration can be found here: https://www.foodsafetycts.com/PSR-101-TTT/. If you have questions about the training, please contact training@foodsafetycts.com

Free Registration

Surveys

CONTACT: Pre-harvest Agricultural Water Survey

The CONTACT team has created a pre-harvest agricultural water survey to gather information on how production water is used on farms to assist in research and inform extension, outreach, and educational activities. Please fill out this survey or pass along to your community.

Survey

University of Florida Survey to Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Researchers at the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are interested in learning about small-scale agricultural producers’ perception and their engagement in on-farm food safety practices. Your responses are valuable as they will help guide future educational interventions and policies related to on-farm food safety. The UF researchers are asking agricultural producers to participate in a survey which should take no more than 10 minutes and would be greatly appreciated. Please click the link below to participate in the study.

Survey

Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)

Produce Safety Field Inspector based in Yakima, Benton, or Franklin County, Washington

The Produce Safety Field Inspector will conduct field inspections and investigations, provide technical assistance, and participate in training events throughout Washington State. This position will work in collaboration with a wide variety of organizations such as produce growers, local health departments, and federal agencies, as well as commodity commissions and associations to achieve program objectives. This position is approved for a home duty station but will need to reside in Yakima, Benton, or Franklin county. The closing date for this position is June 12, 2023. More details about this position can be found here.