April 15, 2021
In this issue

FDA Leafy Greens Updates

Produce Safety Grower Training

Learning & Networking Opportunities
Leafy Greens -
FDA Publishes an Investigation Report Following Fall 2020 Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Illnesses

On April 6th, 2021 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an investigation report on the Fall 2020 outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 illnesses linked to the consumption of leafy greens grown in the California Central Coast. The outbreak E. coli strain was found in a sample of cattle feces collected on a roadside about a mile uphill from a produce farm, highlighting the potential risk of produce contamination when livestock are present near produce fields.The FDA also updated new activities for 2021 in the Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan which is available below.

Spring Produce Safety
Grower Training
Upcoming Remote Produce Safety Grower Training:


The training will be split into two days and will take place from 8:00 am to
12:30 pm both days. This training will be conducted live through Zoom.
Who should attend:
Anyone who grows, harvests, packs and handles fresh fruits and vegetables. Registration is limited to 20 participants. Sign up soon to reserve your spot.
Why you should attend:
On-farm food safety practices are vital in the produce industry. Many farms are now required to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. This training will educate growers on the Produce Safety Rule. Upon completion of this training, participants receive a certificate satisfying the requirement 112.22(c) in the Produce Safety Rule.*
What is required to receive a certificate:
You must attend both days of the training. Additionally, you must have the following:
  • Internet access
  • Zoom video conferencing software**
  • Web camera
  • Microphone
When is the registration deadline:
Registration closes at 11:59 pm on April 28th!

Training materials will be mailed to your residence. Registration closes seven days before the training to accommodate ordering materials and mailing them to you.
*Participant attendance and engagement will be monitored. Participants are only eligible for a PSA/AFDO Certificate of Course Completion if they are present for all modules of the course and have the physical training manual with them for the training.

**Once you receive the registration link, you will be prompted to download the free Zoom software. You do not have to create an account to participate.
Learning & Networking Opportunities
Arkansas Blackberry Growers Association Summer Meeting

The Arkansas Blackberry Growers Association will hold its summer meeting on June 9th in Clarksville, AR. For more information about the meeting please contact arblackberrygrowers@gmail.com
Farm to School Connection
Handouts 📄 and Virtual Event Recording 🎥

In case you missed the Farm to School Connection virtual event held on March 18th, the recording is now available to watch! The event allowed schools and farmers to learn how to participate in the Arkansas Farm to School program and to connect with each other.
Additionally, three new resources are available to help school food service programs who want to buy more local food and farmers who want to sell to schools.The resources were created in partnership by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Local, Regional, & Safe Foods Team, and Fayetteville Public School's Seed to Student Program.
Good Manufacturing Practices for Small-Scale Farms & Food Businesses Manual 📖

The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) in partnership with Safe Eats Consulting, and the National Farmers Union's Local Food Safety Collaborative recently offered a Good Manufacturing Practices Course that applies specifically to small-scale farms and food businesses that are making low-risk foods.The manual accompanying the course is now available online.
Looking for more learning opportunities? Check out our online resources!
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