Training course will help farmers become compliant with produce rule

The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training course, which ensures farms are compliant with the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, is scheduled to be held at 10 locations throughout the state between Dec. 13 and March 21.

The rule requires at least one supervisor or responsible party from each farm complete food safety training. The training must use standardized curricula recognized by the Food and Drug Administration.

Compliance deadlines vary according to the size of the farm. Farms with more than $500,000 in annual revenue needed to be compliant at the beginning of the year. Farms with annual revenue totaling between $250,000 and $500,000 must be compliant in January, and farms with annual revenue totaling between $25,000 and $250,000 must be compliant in January 2020.

Interested participants must register by calling 877-345-0691 or online at extension.psu.edu/fsma-grower-training.

The course costs $150 per person and is payable by credit card, debit card or check. Commercial growers can receive a discounted price of $20 per person through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. One discounted fee is available per farm.