By Blake Jackson
The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA), in collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), is offering a valuable two-day training event for fruit and vegetable growers across New York State.
This training, set for February 26-27, 2025, is designed to help farmers better understand and implement food safety practices on their farms, with a particular focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and third-party Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audits.
The workshop will address the essential food safety practices required for produce growing, harvesting, packing, and holding to minimize potential risks.
Meeting the FSMA and GAP requirements can often be time-consuming and expensive, creating challenges for farmers.
This training will help participants assess food safety risks on their farms, implement risk-reducing practices, and develop a personalized written Farm Food Safety Plan (FFSP).
On Day 1, attendees will participate in a PSA Grower Training that covers the fundamentals of food safety. Day 2 will focus on developing a personalized FFSP, third-party audits, and the Group GAP program.
This portion will also include a mock audit to help farmers prepare for actual certification. While attendance on Day 1 is required to receive the AFDO PSA Grower Training Certificate of Completion, Day 2 is optional but strongly encouraged for those looking to become GAP-certified and learn more about Group GAP.
The cost for the two-day training is $20, which covers lunch, training materials, and the AFDO/PSA Certificate of Completion. Participants are asked to bring a laptop for Day 2. To secure your spot, be sure to register and submit payment by February 20th.
The training will take place at the Extension Education Center in Liberty, NY. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve your farm’s food safety practices and increase market access through GAP certification.
Photo Credit: istock-elenathewise
Categories: New York, General