Food Safety for Farmers: Recent Episodes

FOG

Florida Organic Growers addresses food safety requirements for farmers from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Courtenay Simmons, Program Specialist at the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, about the Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP).

Hear about:

  • The program’s history and what it does

  • Types of projects the program supports

  • The 4 regional centers for food safety

  • How to access resources and get involved with the FSOP community

Resources:

Learn more about the Food Safety Outreach Project on the USDA’s website: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/food-safety/food-safety-outreach-program

Reach out to policy@usda.gov for comments or questions.

Find information and contact the 4 regional centers using the links below:

  1. Southern Center for Food Safety Training, Outreach and Technical Assistance at the University of Florida (UF/IFAS): https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu | Contact: southerncenter@ifas.ufl.edu and keiths29@ufl.edu

  2. Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) at the University of Vermont: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/necafs | Contact e-mail: necafs@uvm.edu

  3. North Central Region Center for FSMA Training, Extension and Technical Assistance (NCR FSMA) at Iowa State University: https://www.ncrfsma.org | Contact e-mail: ncrfsma@iastate.edu

  4. Western Regional Center to Enhance Food Safety (WRC) at Oregon State University: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/wrcefs | Contact -email: wrcefs@oregonstate.edu

Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma

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Dr. Ramkrishnan Balasubramanian, Food Safety Expert and Inspector and Chief Executive Officer of Quality Certification Services, explains 3rd party certification and how it is used to guarantee that food meets our food safety regulations. 

Tune in to hear about: 

  • Types of certification 

  • 3rd party certification for domestic and international produce 

  • When domestic farmers need certification 

  • The audit and certification process  

Resources: 

Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/ 

For more information about food safety, visit the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu 

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

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Daniel Miranda is Director of Sales at Legacy Greens, a microgreen farm located in Tallahassee, Florida. In this episode, Daniel joins us for a conversation about his experience completing two On Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs).

Hear about:

  • Why Legacy Greens decided to request each OFRR

  • Participating in the Produce Safety Alliance Training

  • The OFRR process and how it was beneficial for the farm

Resources:

Learn more about On Farm Readiness Reviews on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Website: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Fruit-and-Vegetables/Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-Produce-Safety-Rule/On-Farm-Readiness-Review

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Schedule in Florida: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Fruit-and-Vegetables/Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-Produce-Safety-Rule/FSMA-Produce-Safety-Training

Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

For more information about food safety, visit the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma

Learn more about Legacy Greens: http://www.legacygreens3.com/

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Kirby Quam, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Produce Safety Outreach Coordinator, speaks with us about the On Farm Readiness Review (OFRR) process for farmers.

In this episode, hear about:

  • What is the On Farm Readiness Review

  • Who manages and participates in the On Farm Readiness Reviews in Florida

  • What farmers can expect prior, during and after an OFRR

  • Some common issues inspectors often see on farms

  • Where to sign up and find resources

Resources:

FDACS On Farm Readiness Review Website: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Fruit-and-Vegetables/Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-Produce-Safety-Rule/On-Farm-Readiness-Review

Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

For more information about food safety, visit the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma

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In this episode, Dr. Keith Schneider, Professor and Extension Specialist in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida, introduces the Preventive Controls for Human Consumption Rule.

Learn about:

  • The history of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HAACP)

  • What the Preventive Controls for Human Consumption Rule establishes

  • The Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance (FSPCA)

  • Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Training

Resources:

FSMA Final Rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-preventive-controls-human-food

FDA’s Temporary Policy during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Regarding the Qualified Exemption from the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption: https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/temporary-policy-during-covid-19-public-health-emergency-regarding-qualified-exemption-standards#:~:text=FDA%20is%20issuing%20this%20guidance%20to%20announce%20flexibility,the%20duration%20of%20the%20COVID-19%20public%20health%20emergency.

Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance (FSPCA): www.ifsh.iit.edu/fspca

Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

For more information about food safety, visit the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma

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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Keith Schneider, Professor and Extension Specialist in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida, about the FSMA Agricultural Water Rule and the proposed changes that farmers need to be aware of.

Hear about:

  • What proposed changes are being debated

  • Enforcement of current and proposed changes to the rule

  • What farmers need to do in the meantime

  • Common questions from farmers

Resources:

FDA Agricultural Water Assessment Builder: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/agricultural-water-assessment-builder

Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

For more information about food safety, visit the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma

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We welcome Billy Mitchell, FSMA Training Coordinator for the National Farmers Union, for a conversation about questions he commonly hears from farmers about food safety.

Tune in to hear about:

  • Why food safety certification has become more common
  • Is this certification voluntary for certified organic growers and small farms?
  • How long it takes to prepare a farm for an audit
  • The average cost of a food safety audit

Resources:

Learn more about FOG’s upcoming food safety-related podcast, events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

Learn about the National Farmers Union on their website: https://nfu.org

Find information on food safety on the Produce Safety Alliance website: https://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu

For more information about food safety, visit the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma

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Dr. Michelle Danyluk, Professor and Extension Specialist, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida, clarifies the relationship between the Food and Drug Administration and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), highlights proposed legislation yet to be finalized, and provides insight into 7 major FSMA rules including: 

  1. Produce Safety Rule 

  2. Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) 

  3. Sanitary Transportation Rule 

  4. Protection Against Intentional Adulteration 

  5. Accredited Third-party Certification 

  6. Preventive Controls Rules for Human and Animal Food 

  7. Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) 

Resources: 

Learn more about food safety and upcoming events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

Learn more about food safety on the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu

Learn more about FSMA on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

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We welcome back Dr. Keith Schneider, Professor and Extension Specialist, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida, for a discussion on post-harvest water use. Dr. Schneider shares strategies to keep produce safe.  

Tune in to hear about: 

  • Why harvest and postharvest water quality is important 

  • How cross-contamination can occur  

  • Which mitigation strategies are effective 

  • The use of sanitizers and their role in growing safe produce 

Learn more on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/ 

For more information about food safety, visit the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu 

For the latest news on FSMA, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

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In this episode, Dr. Keith Schneider, Professor and Extension Specialist, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida, discusses microbiology concepts that help farmers better understand how to produce food safely. 

Tune in to learn about: 

  • The Produce Safety Rule
  • Problematic foodborne pathogens
  • The role of indicator organisms and methods to test for their presence
  • Preventative controls

Resources:

Learn more about food safety and upcoming events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

Learn more about food safety on the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu

Learn more about FSMA on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma

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In our new podcast series, we will be providing information on food safety topics that farmers can use to better understand how to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations.  

Tune in to hear about: 

  • What is Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 

  • Topics we will cover in our podcast series 

  • How farmers can use this podcast as a resource 

Resources: 

Learn more about food safety and upcoming events and webinars on our website: https://foginfo.org/food-safety-for-producers/

Learn more about food safety on the UF/IFAS Southern Center for FSMA Training website: https://sc.ifas.ufl.edu 

Learn more about FSMA on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website:
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma 

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