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Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training – MAR. 9 & 10

Due to popular demand, we have added a March Virtual Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training to the calendar. We invite you to join us for this training in conjunction with Virginia Tech on March 9 & 10 from 1-5 PM EST each day. Registration closes FRIDAY, February 19, so that we can get your training materials mailed to you on time! The cost of the training is $25.

REGISTER

We are pleased to offer this course to help produce growers learn about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and help them fulfill the educational requirement associated with the Produce Safety Rule. All non-exempt farms are required to have at least one person on the farm who has attended an approved FSMA PSR training, like this one. How do you know if the Produce Safety Rule applies to your farm? Watch this great video here! Even if you are exempt, you are required to keep specific records, which we will go over in the workshop. There will be time for discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions. From beginners to experienced growers, everyone can benefit from taking the time to think about food safety on their farm!

The course will include remote delivery over two days. Each day, trainers will spend approximately four hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:
• Introduction to produce safety
• Worker health and hygiene
• Soil amendments
• Wildlife, domesticated animals and land use
• Agricultural water (production and postharvest water)
• Postharvest handling and sanitation
• How to develop a farm food safety plan

Dates & Time:
March 9-10, 2021
1:00 PM-5:00 PM EST

Location:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this training is being offered online via remote delivery. In order to participate, individuals must have video and audio capabilities on their computer, and will be required to have both operating during the training. The training will take place via Zoom, which does not require special software. Zoom does have system requirements, which can be found here: System Requirements.

Registration:
Advanced registration is required – with preference given to Virginia and Tennessee stakeholders. Seats are limited to 30 participants.

Registration closes February 19, 2021, so materials can be shipped on-time. Please note: NO substitutions, transfers, or refunds will be issued after the course closes on February 19, 2021.

Cost:
Cost is $25, which includes the training manual, shipping of the training manual and certificate of completion issues by the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

Additional Notes:
It is a Produce Safety Alliance requirement that participants are monitored in order to verify participants’ attendance and engagement. Participants will only be eligible for the PSA/AFDO Certificate of Course Completion if they are present for all modules of the course.

The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Manual v1.2 will be mailed to registrants prior to the training; as well as other training aids – please be sure that the shipping address you provide at the time of registration is current (especially if working from home or remotely) and capable of receiving packages. Please use the email address at which you can be reached, as evaluations and a Zoom link for the training will be sent in a confirmation email prior to the training date.

We hope to see you on Zoom!
Annette Wszelaki, Laura Strawn, Amber Vallotton, Adam Watson and Amy Richards