Many fruit and vegetable growers are taking part in a program called an On-farm Readiness Review (OFRR). An OFRR is a review of your farm’s practices under the lens of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. MSU Extension and the Conservation Districts have done many OFRRs across the state and some common themes have emerged.

Common Areas where Farms Excel:

Designates Food Safety Person: Many farms we visit have a designated food safety person who has produce safety decision making power and is able to talk with us at length about the farm’s produce safety practices. Being the designated food safety person is not always the only role this person plays on the farm, but this person is responsible for food safety on the farm and is able to work with us to implement produce safety best practices.

Clear Effort Toward Produce Safety: Often when going on OFRRs we find that there is clear effort by the farm toward food safety. Many farms have been eager to implement practices that are safer and are willing to comply with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule...