Minnesota Ag Connection - 10 FSMA Workshops Offered Across Minnesota

Minnesota Ag News Headlines

10 FSMA Workshops Offered Across Minnesota
Minnesota Ag Connection - 10/17/2019

Beginning in December, University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and other partners will host 10 FSMA Produce Safety Rule Grower Trainings around the State.

If your farm is not excluded or exempt from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, at least one supervisor or responsible party from your farm must complete a training that uses FDA-recognized curriculum or equivalent. (Read more here to learn whether or not your farm is covered by the Produce Safety Rule.) The courses offered here will satisfy this requirement. Course topics include produce safety regulatory requirements and best practices related to worker health and hygiene, crop inputs (soil amendments), domestic and wild animals, water use and testing for pre- and post-harvest operations, such as irrigation and washing.

While training is required for farms covered by the Produce Safety Rule, all growers interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are encouraged to attend. Learning about and implementing produce safety practices can help protect your farm and business, can help you get a GAP audit if needed, and helps keep our local food safe and healthy for all.

These dynamic courses will be co-led by experienced fruit and vegetable farmers and staff from UMN Extension and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Training participants are eligible to receive a certificate of completion. Farms covered by the rule only need to have a responsible party complete training once to meet the rule's requirements.

Dates and Locations:

Dec. 4 -- Crookston
Dec/ 18 -- Waseca
Jan. 15 -- St. Cloud (Day before Northern Growers conference)
Jan. 30 -- Rogers
Feb. 11 -- Grand Rapids
Feb. 26 -- Farmington
March 10 -- Willmar
March 19 -- Isanti
April 9 -- Winona
April 14 -- Lamberton

Register: www.psp.tix.com. Registration deadline is one week before each class, or until full. Register early - many courses will likely sell out. No walk-ins accepted.

Cost: $35 (This cost is subsidized and will likely rise in the coming years). Fee includes training materials, lunch, refreshments, and a certificate of attendance (participants must be present for the entire training in order to receive a certificate).

Questions? Visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Produce Safety Program page, call (651) 539-3648 or email producesafety.mda@state.mn.us

Other Minnesota Headlines