Mar 4, 2021

New Jersey activates On-farm Produce Safety website

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher announced March 4 the Department’s new Produce Safety website is now active.

The site provides information and frequently asked questions concerning the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the Produce Safety Rule and Compliance and Enforcement, Grower Training and Third Party Audit Training, and includes a Produce Safety Rule survey.

“This website will help answer questions and provide essential information for producers about the inspections that are required by federal law,” Secretary Fisher said. “We have been the leader in the country in produce safety inspections under FSMA and that has allowed us to interact with farmers to help them better understand the process and to provide assurances to all who purchase fruits and vegetables in the Garden State.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized seven major rules to implement FSMA, recognizing that ensuring the safety of the food supply is a shared responsibility among many different points in the global supply chain for both human and animal food. The FSMA rules are designed to make clear specific actions that must be taken at each of these points to prevent contamination.

One of the key aspects of the program is the Produce Safety Rule, which establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.

Along with the FDA compliance timelines and other information about FSMA and the Produce Safety Rule, the website also features links for what to expect during a regulatory inspection, records required by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, an inspection checklist, grower and third party audit training courses, and an on-farm readiness review. There is also a link to a survey for those who grow, harvest, store and pack produce.

The website features a calendar that includes training dates, grower/industry meetings, and events. The site also includes a page for any news that may be important to the industry.

The Produce Safety website address is https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/producesafety/.

For questions concerning the New Jersey On-Farm Produce Safety Program, contact NJDA Chief, Bureau of Inspection and Grading, Chris Kleinguenther at 856-839-3388.