REMOTE Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course

Monday, Feb. 17 and Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025

8 am - 12:30 PM

Held remotely via Zoom (online)

Registration: $10 per person, open to NY state participants only

Includes printed course manual ($60 value), certificate of course completion ($35 value) and online food safety resources.  

Who Should Attend and Why

All produce growers are encouraged to attend this course to learn more about food safety practices recommended for all farms. This course contains NEW information contained in the finalized Subpart E rule on agricultural water. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires '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.' If you've already earned your PSA certificate, retaking this course is a great way to refresh your memory and learn about the new water requirements!

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.

What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course

The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in seven modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety
• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
• Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water), including NEW REVISED water rules.
• Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

Course Requirements

Note that this is a remote delivery (Zoom) course. Participants must have access to a device (computer or tablet) connected to broadband internet with functioning microphone and video camera capabilities. High-speed internet (>25 Mbps download, >3 Mbps upload) is required. Participant engagement will be monitored throughout the course via audio, visual, and written methods. In order to receive a certificate of course completion, participants must be engaged and present for the entirety of all modules.

Please provide the address at which you will be able to receive your course manual the week of Feb. 10. Manuals will be shipped to you via UPS (PO Boxes not accepted). To receive a certificate of course completion, you must have your course manual on hand during both days of our course.

Questions?

For questions regarding course content and to request accommodations, contact Elisabeth Hodgdon at eh528@cornell.edu or (518) 650-5323. Requests for accommodations must be submitted prior to Feb. 1.

Funding to subsidize course costs was provided by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and the USDA Food Safety Outreach Program.

Agenda

Monday, Feb. 17^th

8:00 AM             Check In, Test Audio and Video

8:15 AM             Welcome, Orientation to Zoom, Introductions, and Course Expectations

                         Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP

8:30 AM             Module 1: Introduction to Produce Safety

                          Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP

9:30 AM             Module 2: Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training

                          Natasha Field, CCE ENYCHP

10:30 AM           Break

10:45 AM           Module 3: Soil Amendments

                          Ethan Grundberg, CCE ENYCHP

11:30 AM           Module 4: Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use

                          Jennifer Stanton, CCE ENYCHP

12:15 PM           Day 1 Wrap-Up, Questions

                          Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP

12:30 PM           Adjourn

Tuesday, Feb. 18^th

7:45 AM             Check In, Test Audio and Video (Optional)

8:00 AM             Day 1 Review and Questions, Overview of Day 2

                          Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP

8:15 AM             Module 5: Agricultural Water - Part I: Production Water

                          Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP

9:15 AM             Module 5: Agricultural Water - Part 2: Postharvest Water

                          Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP

10:15 AM           Break

10:25 AM           Module 6: Postharvest Handling and Sanitation

                          Crystal Stewart-Courtens, CCE ENYCHP

11:15 AM           Module 7: How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

                         Lindsey Pashow, CCE Harvest NY

12:00 PM           What to Expect After the Training

                         Melanie Donlon, NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets

12:15 PM           Final Questions, Closing Statements, and Evaluations

                          Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP

12:30 PM           Adjourn