Assessments available for produce growers

     Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will conduct voluntary on farm assessments to help Iowa growers prepare for FDA farm inspections conducted under the Food Safety Modernization Act, Produce Safety Rule (PSR).

     The ISU Extension and Outreach On Farm Produce Safety Team will offer in the 2018-2019 growing season, 20 voluntary On Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR) assessments of Iowa farms that grow, harvest, pack and hold vegetable and fruit for human consumption and use diverse production practices.

     The purpose of the OFRR process is to:

     • Prepare Iowa farmers for implementation of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

     • Help growers better understand how to translate the PSR on their farm.

     • Help growers assess their readiness for implementation of the FSMA PSR.

     • Provide guidance on how to get individual farms into compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

     The On Farm Readiness Reviews are free of charge and are done on a voluntary basis and take less than two hours to complete. There are two pre-requisite requirements for interested growers: 1) At least one person on the farm must have been trained and received the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training certificate; and 2) On Farm Readiness Reviews are done when produce is being grown, harvested or post-harvest handled.

     To sign up for On Farm Readiness Reviews visit https://iastate.qualtrics.com/OFRR. Future Produce Safety Alliance Grower trainings can found at http://www.safeproduce.cals.iastate.edu/fda-produce-safety-rule.

     This project is funded by the State and Territory Cooperative Agreement to Enhance Produce Safety in Preparation of Implementation of FDA’s Rule: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption, through FDA grant 1U18FD005810- 01 (CFDA #93.102-Food and Drug Administration Research).

 

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