Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training is a fruit and vegetable farmer food safety education course that meets the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule requirement section § 112.22(c) "at least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration."
PSA Grower Training curriculum includes seven learning modules.
- Introduction to Produce safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
- Agricultural Water (Part I: Preharvest Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
The training provides a foundation in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details to develop a farm food safety plan.
Trainees completing PSA Grower Training are eligible for the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) course completion certificate verifying their compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule section § 112.22(c).
Training course registration fees are $20.00 for produce farmers and produce farm employees in Iowa and $120.00 for other trainees and trainees residing in other states. Registration fee covers PSA Grower Training course attendance, PSA Grower Training manual, AFDO course completion certificate, and lunch (if applicable).
Safe Produce "Events" page contains our PSA Grower Training schedule. Additional information is available at the Produce Safety Alliance.
PSA Grower Training is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007403 funded by FDA/HHS.