Last call for winter Michigan FSMA-defined grower safety training

Day-long training courses addressing sound food safety and environmental practices satisfying the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule certification requirement will be offered 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2018 Winter Program locations:

• Benton Harbor – Mar. 1, 2018 – Tatter Center, 1737 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
• Grand Rapids – Mar. 15, 2018 – Kent County MSU Extension, 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• Sault Ste. Marie – Mar. 21, 2018 – Bayliss Public Library, 541 Library Drive, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 (For Sault Ste. Marie ONLY registration and training will begin at 10 am.)

The seven-part course, developed by the Produce Safety Alliance, provides a foundation for growers to identify and manage potential risks, develop a food safety plan and to comply with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. Upon completion, attendees are eligible for a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). Under the rule, at least one responsible person from produce farms covered by the FSMA Produce Safety rule must take such a course.

FSMA compliance deadlines for most produce are as follows based on three-year average gross sales/farm:

All other businesses (>$500K)	1/26/2018
Small businesses (>$250K-500K)	1/28/2019
Very small businesses (>$25K-250K)	1/27/2020

Water-related compliance dates have been extended beyond those originally announced.

Thanks to a grant from Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the training program, materials and certification process are included without charge. Lunch is on your own.

Pre-registration is required. Because of space and funding limitations, please limit participation to one person per operation. Registration and program details are available at https://events.anr.msu.edu/2018WinterPSA/.

Producers who have questions about whether they are exempt or covered by FSMA requirements may consult the Produce Safety Alliance FSMA information page, or the FDA key FSMA requirements page.  An operation which produces a crop that is rarely consumed raw, is processed with a kill step and/or has sales less than $25,000 are among those that may be exempt. Consult the Standards for Produce Safety FDA Coverage and Exemptions flowchart for more information.

Grower training is sponsored by Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, Michigan Farm Bureau,  U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Produce Safety Alliance.