The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules and provisions are already in effect, and Western Growers is providing resources and offering training to help members stay in compliance. 

Many of the final rules may impact Western Growers’ (WG) members depending on their size, commodities produced, type of operation and activities conducted, including the donation or sale of by-products for use as animal food. WG has developed the FSMA Resources Portal to assist members with the implementation of applicable rules in their operations.

Additionally, WG will start offering trainings on a continual basis. Upcoming trainings will address food safety on produce operations subject to the FDA’s food safety regulations, now in effect as result of FSMA. Four classes are now scheduled and there are more to come.

The first training will be for the new FDA Preventive Controls for Human Food rule, which is intended to ensure safe manufacturing/processing, packing and holding of food products for human consumption in the United States. The regulation requires that certain activities must be completed or overseen by a “preventive controls qualified individual.” One way to meet the requirements for a “preventive controls qualified individual” is to complete the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Preventive Controls for Human Food Course. This course, developed by the FSPCA, is the “standardized curriculum” recognized by FDA. In addition, it will feature examples relevant to produce packinghouses covered by this rule; however, fresh-cut produce operations and other food facilities will benefit from this course, as well.

This training, which is geared for members of the produce industry, is hosted by Western Growers (WG) in collaboration with UC Davis and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). Dr. Trevor Suslow with UC Davis, the main FSPCA lead instructor of this class, will be joined by lead FSPC instructors Dr. Jim Gorny with PMA and Sonia Salas with WG.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: October 19 – 21, 2016

Location: Monterey County Farm Bureau
1140 Abbott Street, Suite C (upstairs)
Salinas, CA 93901 (between Merrill St and Growers St)

Registration Details:

Registration includes training materials and certificate, light breakfast, snacks and lunch. Members of the Produce Marketing Association and Western Growers will get a discounted price and have registration priority.

Register by October 17th to secure a spot, as the class size is limited.

Registration Fees & Cancellation Policy:

PMA & WG members: $700.00

Others: $1,050.00

A fee of $35 will be charged if a cancellation request is received before October 10th. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

Registration: REGISTER HERE

For registration questions contact Ivan Martinez at [email protected] or by phone at (949) 885-4789 for additional information about the class content or the FSMA Resources Portal, contact Sonia Salas by email at [email protected] or by phone at (949) 885-2251.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

FSPCA Course for Human Food (one way to meet the requirement of a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual)

• Yuma, Arizona on January 4 – 6, 2017
• Brighton, Colorado on February 1 – 3, 2017

PSA Train-the-Trainer Class (to teach the Produce Safety Alliance Training developed for growers)

• Irvine, California on November 14 – 15, 2016
• Salinas, California on November 17 – 18, 2016

Western Growers is collaborating with Hartnell College to offer a train-the-trainer course on November 14-15, 2016, in Irvine and on November 17-18 in Salinas. This training effort is meant to develop a cadre of trainers able to teach the PSA training for growers.

The Produce Safety Rule, which is now in effect, establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. This rule requires that at least one supervisor or responsible party for each farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the FDA. The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) has developed this “standardized curriculum” recognized by the FDA through a nationwide collaboration including produce growers, extension educators, researchers, produce industry representatives, and government personnel. The PSA Train-the-Trainer course will enable participants to become a PSA trainer or PSA Lead Trainer who are able to train fresh produce growers to meet the regulatory requirements in the FDA’s Produce Safety rule.

If you are a produce safety educator, work with fruit and vegetable growers or are just interested in becoming PSA Trainer or PSA Lead Trainer, this course is for you. This two-day session will provide detailed information about Good Agricultural Practices, co-management of natural resources and food safety, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and a review of the seven module PSA Grower Training curriculum. The course will also cover principles of adult education, how to incorporate the PSA curriculum into other extension trainings, developing working partnerships, expectations for trainers and how to register a PSA Grower Training Course with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

EVENT DETAILS

IRVINE TRAINING
Date: November 14-15, 2016
Location:
University of California, Irvine
California Institute for Telecommunication and Information Technology (Calit2 Building, Room 3008)
4100 E. Peltason Dr.
Irvine, CA 92617
(on E. Peltason Dr., between Gabrielino Dr. and Los Trancos Dr.)
Registration Details: Registration includes training materials and certificate, light breakfast, snacks and lunch. Register by November 7th to secure a spot, as the class size is limited.

REGISTER HERE

Registration Fees & Cancellation Policy:
Registration cost: $450.00
A fee of $35 will be charged if a cancellation request is received before October 31st. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

SALINAS TRAINING
Date: November 17-18, 2016
Location:
Hartnell College Alisal Campus
1752 East Alisal Street, Salinas CA
Registration Details: Registration includes training materials and certificate, light breakfast, snacks and lunch. Register by November 7^th to secure a spot, as the class size is limited.

REGISTER HERE

Registration Fees & Cancellation Policy:
Registration cost: $450.00
A fee of $35 will be charged if a cancellation request is received before October 31st. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

For questions about these courses, contact Sonia Salas at (949) 885-2251. For more information about scheduled PSA Train-the-Trainer Courses, please visit the PSA website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu.

Western Growers is collaborating with Hartnell College to offer a train-the-trainer course on November 14-15, 2016, in Irvine. This training effort is meant to develop a cadre of trainers able to teach the Produce Safety Alliance training for growers.

The Produce Safety Rule, which is now in effect, establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. This rule requires that at least one supervisor or responsible party for each farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the FDA. The Produce Safety Alliance has developed this “standardized curriculum” recognized by the FDA through a nationwide collaboration including produce growers, extension educators, researchers, produce industry representatives, and government personnel. The PSA Train-the-Trainer course will enable participants to become a PSA trainer or PSA Lead Trainer who are able to train fresh produce growers to meet the regulatory requirements in the FDA’s Produce Safety rule.

If you are a produce safety educator, work with fruit and vegetable growers, or are just interested in becoming PSA Trainer or PSA Lead Trainer, this course is for you. This two-day session will provide detailed information about Good Agricultural Practices, co-management of natural resources and food safety, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and a review of the seven module PSA Grower Training curriculum. The course will also cover principles of adult education, how to incorporate the PSA curriculum into other extension trainings, developing working partnerships, expectations for trainers and how to register a PSA Grower Training Course with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

EVENT DETAILS

IRVINE TRAINING
Date: November 14-15, 2016
Location:
University of California, Irvine
California Institute for Telecommunication and Information Technology (Calit2 Building, Room 3008)
4100 E. Peltason Dr.
Irvine, CA 92617
(on E. Peltason Dr., between Gabrielino Dr. and Los Trancos Dr.)
Registration Details: Registration includes training materials and certificate, light breakfast, snacks and lunch. Register by November 7th to secure a spot, as the class size is limited.

REGISTER HERE

Registration Fees & Cancellation Policy
Registration cost: $450.00
A fee of $35 will be charged if a cancellation request is received before October 31st. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

For questions about these courses, contact Sonia Salas at (949) 885-2251. For more information about scheduled PSA Train-the-Trainer Courses, please visit the PSA website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu.

Western Growers is collaborating with Hartnell College to offer a train-the-trainer course on November 14-15, 2016, in Irvine and on November 17-18 in Salinas. This training effort is meant to develop a cadre of trainers able to teach the PSA training for growers.

The Produce Safety Rule, which is now in effect, establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. This rule requires that at least one supervisor or responsible party for each farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the FDA. The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) has developed this “standardized curriculum” recognized by the FDA through a nationwide collaboration including produce growers, extension educators, researchers, produce industry representatives, and government personnel. The PSA Train-the-Trainer course will enable participants to become a PSA trainer or PSA Lead Trainer who are able to train fresh produce growers to meet the regulatory requirements in the FDA’s Produce Safety rule.

If you are a produce safety educator, work with fruit and vegetable growers or are just interested in becoming PSA Trainer or PSA Lead Trainer, this course is for you. This two-day session will provide detailed information about Good Agricultural Practices, co-management of natural resources and food safety, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and a review of the seven module PSA Grower Training curriculum. The course will also cover principles of adult education, how to incorporate the PSA curriculum into other extension trainings, developing working partnerships, expectations for trainers and how to register a PSA Grower Training Course with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

EVENT DETAILS

IRVINE TRAINING
Date: November 14-15, 2016
Location:
University of California, Irvine
California Institute for Telecommunication and Information Technology (Calit2 Building, Room 3008)
4100 E. Peltason Dr.
Irvine, CA 92617
(on E. Peltason Dr., between Gabrielino Dr. and Los Trancos Dr.)
Registration Details: Registration includes training materials and certificate, light breakfast, snacks and lunch. Register by November 7th to secure a spot, as the class size is limited.

REGISTER HERE

Registration Fees & Cancellation Policy:
Registration cost: $450.00
A fee of $35 will be charged if a cancellation request is received before October 31st. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

SALINAS TRAINING
Date: November 17-18, 2016
Location:
Hartnell College Alisal Campus
1752 East Alisal Street, Salinas CA
Registration Details: Registration includes training materials and certificate, light breakfast, snacks and lunch. Register by November 7th to secure a spot, as the class size is limited.

REGISTER HERE

Registration Fees & Cancellation Policy:
Registration cost: $450.00
A fee of $35 will be charged if a cancellation request is received before October 31st. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

For questions about these courses, contact Sonia Salas at (949) 885-2251. For more information about scheduled PSA Train-the-Trainer Courses, please visit the PSA website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu.