By Scout Nelson
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is partnering with the North Central Regional Center for Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Training, Extension, and Technical Assistance to provide free Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training courses.
These online sessions help growers understand food safety practices and follow federal rules for growing, harvesting, packing, and handling fresh produce. The training aims to improve food safety on farms and help protect consumers from food-related illnesses.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring highlights the importance of these training opportunities for local growers. He explains that the courses provide useful food safety education and help farms meet an important federal requirement.
“North Dakota growers will have access to valuable produce safety education,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “Attending a session will satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement that requires at least one supervisor or responsible party on a farm to complete food safety training recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.”
The training is available free of charge to North Dakota growers. All sessions take place remotely, allowing participants to attend from their homes, offices, or farms. However, participants must have a reliable internet connection to join the online sessions.
Growers must keep their cameras on and actively participate throughout the training to receive a certificate of completion. Course materials are also mailed to participants before the scheduled training.
The sessions cover several important areas of produce safety. These topics help growers understand how farm activities can affect the safety and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Key training topics include:
- Introduction to Produce Safety: Understanding basic food safety practices and the importance of preventing contamination.
- Worker Health, Hygiene and Training: Learning proper handwashing, personal cleanliness, and safe work habits.
- Soil Amendments: Understanding the safe use and handling of materials added to improve soil quality.
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals and Land Use: Learning how animals and nearby land activities can affect produce safety.
- Agricultural Water: Understanding safe water practices for irrigation and other farm activities.
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation: Learning proper methods for handling, cleaning, packing, and storing harvested produce.
- Farm Food Safety Plans: Understanding how to prepare a plan that identifies possible risks and outlines safety practices.
Along with practical farming recommendations, each training topic explains important parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. This helps growers understand federal food safety requirements and apply suitable practices to their daily farm operations.
The training is especially useful for farm supervisors and other responsible workers who oversee produce safety activities. Completing a recognized course helps farms meet the training requirement under the Produce Safety Rule.
Growers interested in participating can check the available course dates and times and complete registration through the North Dakota Department of Agriculture website.
For registration and additional details, visit North Dakota Produce Safety Course.
For questions about the training sessions or the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, participants can contact Jenna Nieters at 701-328-2659 or email localfoods@nd.gov.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: North Dakota, General