Penn State will offer a FSMA certification course in January

The FSMA Grower Certification Training is for fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about: produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety.

This course is one way to satisfy the grower training requirement of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule as outlined in Section 112.22(c).

Participants in the course will learn about:

• Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm;
• How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to implement produce safety practices on the farm;
• Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.
  

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course.

This training is presented by the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association (PVGA) and Penn State Extension with support from the Food Safety Ag Resource Center – Penn State University and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.