Penn State offering produce safety training

Penn State Extension will be offering in-person food safety training for producer growers in northwestern Pennsylvania.

This training will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Penn State Extension Mercer County office, 463 N. Perry Highway, Mercer, PA 16137-0530, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The cost to attend the program is $30. (Cost reduced with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)

Who is this for? Fruit growers, vegetable growers, individuals required to satisfy the Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in Section 112.223(c), individuals interested in learning about the FSMA, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety.

Topics covered include the following: Introduction to best practices for safe produce. Worker health and hygiene training. How to use soil amendments. Wildlife, domesticated animals and land use. How to safely and properly use water for agriculture. Proper postharvest handling and sanitation. FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements and how to meet them. How to develop and follow a farm food safety plan. Microorganisms relevant to safe produce and where they maybe found on the farm. How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm.

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so come prepared to share your experiences and ask produce safety questions.

Certificate available: After completing the course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials. To receive the AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

For more information, contact Rick Kralj at 814-849-7361, ext. 502, or by email at rak15@ psu.edu. To register, call 1-877-345-0691 and ask to attend the Mercer training.

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs are funded in part by the Pennsylvania counties, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Pennsylvania State University encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, contact Penn State Extension at 1-877-3450691 in advance of your participation visit.