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August 06, 2024
Dear PSA Newsletter Subscribers,
We have thoroughly enjoyed getting the opportunity to see and work with many of you this summer. It is always such a refreshing time to collaborate with all of our produce safety partners and begin to plan our fall and winter schedules. We hope everyone is doing well and look forward to connecting again soon.
You will find that this newsletter starts with Subpart E updates, including a correction from our previous newsletter. It also includes PSA updates, a review of the PSA team’s involvement in the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) annual conference, a certification opportunity, and recent job posting that may be relevant for you or someone you know who is searching. Happy reading!
-The PSA Team
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Agricultural Water (Subpart E) | |
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Revisions to Produce Safety Rule Subpart E: Agricultural Water June 2024 Newsletter Correction
In the previous newsletter, we had a misprint in regard to the language around Subpart E compliance dates. The basis for business size class was misquoted for the largest farm category: “sell more than $500,000 total food per year…” but it should have read “total produce”. We apologize for any confusion this may have created.
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Compliance dates start April 07, 2025 for farms that sell more than $500,000 total produce per year (three-year rolling average). Compliance dates are staggered by business size class, as in other parts of the Produce Safety Rule. Remember that compliance dates for sprouts have already arrived for most covered farms and compliance dates for harvest and postharvest water are stepping in now.
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This year's IAFP Annual Meeting in Long Beach, CA, was a great opportunity to share experiences, catch up with colleagues, and learn about research findings, extension efforts, and industry driven advances related to produce safety and more. Many in the PSA Team were fortunate to attend and participate in interesting sessions. | |
PSA Team Past and Present Gather at IAFP! | |
SLEAs convening and participating in an IAFP roundtable
PSA Spanish-Language Extension Associates (SLEAs) Mariana Villarreal Silva and Yulie Meneses organized a roundtable titled ‘Importance of Outreach to Spanish-Speaking Growers and Farmworkers to Ensure Food Safety for U.S. Consumers.’ The panel featured Teressa Lopez (Arizona State Department of Agriculture and LGMA), Oscar Galagarza (CFSAN-FDA), Jason Sharrett (California Strawberry Commission), and Davis Blasini (PSA). They shared their experiences, challenges, and achievements in providing Produce Safety Education and Extension Outreach Efforts, targeting Spanish-speaking communities in the United States and Latin America.
Key outcomes for effective outreach included building strong relationships with key stakeholders; accounting for cultural, socio-economic, and educational differences; developing interactive, accessible, and easy-to-follow training materials; and being mindful and empathetic to the actual needs and challenges of Spanish-speaking growers and farmworkers within and outside the United States.
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Symposia involvement from our director, Betsy Bihn
Betsy Bihn, PSA Director, actively participated in the IAFP Meeting. She presented an ‘Overview of Prevention and Control of Microbiological Hazards in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables from the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting’ during the Global Recommendations on Prevention and Control of Microbiological Hazards in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables from the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting Symposium. Betsy also delivered a very engaging presentation, titled: ‘Food Safety Training Approaches for Low-Literacy Audiences’ during the Training Low-Literacy Groups across Cultures: Balancing Universal Principles and Custom Approaches Symposium session.
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Don Stoeckel at IAFP Marketplace
Don Stoeckel, alongside Annalisa Hultberg (U. Minnesota) and Phillip Tocco (Michigan State) delivered a quick (3 minutes...Phew!) presentation about the Risk-Based Prioritization Tool for Management of Agricultural Water and Practices for Safer Use when Growing Produce, during the Marketplace session. This team has developed multiple educational tools to help growers navigate systems-thinking as applied to agricultural water, expanding to a semi quantitative risk prioritization tool. Produce growers and other stakeholders could use the tool to evaluate water use and management decisions that reduce risks.
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Southeast Region
The Southeast Region has had a very active summer, and it is shaping up to be a packed schedule in the fall. Tommy Saunders is looking forward to many co-training opportunities, partnering on the SRIPs 2025 committee group, as well as continuing to serve the region in any and all capacities. Although, Tommy was unable to attend IAFP this summer, he is looking forward to future collaboration. He was sorry to miss that opportunity to get to catch up with everyone in person and wanted to wish everyone a great rest of the summer!
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Western Region
As Davis Blasini transitions to his new position as our Western Regional Extension Associate, he gladly participated in a Produce Safety Advisory Committee Meeting, held virtually on July 10th, by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, per invitation of their Program Manager, Connie Fisk. Davis and all the PSA team look forward to continuing our collaborations with our stakeholders in the region.
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Northeast Region
Betsy Bihn and Donna Clements (PSA Coordinator) have been setting up new collaborations in the Northeast including one with New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets focusing on on-farm postharvest water management, sanitation, and traceability. They also continuing to provide technical assistance to growers, educators, and others in the produce industry while they plan food safety trainings for this fall.
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Midwest Region
The Midwest Region has a lot going on this summer. Planning is underway for the annual Fall Professional Development meeting, which will be held at Tollgate Farm in Novi, Michigan October 22 and 23. Thanks to Phil Tocco and the Michigan State University produce safety team for hosting this year. Phil and team also cordially welcome colleagues to join them in an ongoing series of ‘book club’ sessions to discuss the Produce Safety Rule revisions to Subpart E – Agricultural Water. Kristin Esch from FDA continues to promote connections between the regulatory community in our region with produce growers, packers, and educators through monthly calls, augmenting the informative monthly North Central Regional FSMA Center check-in calls.
We are happy to report that Laurie George, the Midwest Regional Extension Associate, is doing well and we are looking forward to welcoming her back from leave in the fall. Don Stoeckel is serving the region during Laurie’s absence.
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We are excited to share some recent highlights from our ongoing efforts to enhance food safety practices in Latin America and foster global collaboration: | |
In collaboration with Maria Tavarez and the Trade Safe (TraSa) Project in the Dominican Republic, PSA SLEAs Mariana Villarreal Silva, Yulie Meneses, and Davis Blasini hosted a webinar to celebrate World Food Safety Day. During this seminar, the PSA SLEAs presented a historical overview of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and discussed the scientific principles behind this regulation to an audience of 64 growers from the Dominican Republic. | |
International On-Farm Readiness Review Trainings (iOFRR) in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and Puebla, Mexico | |
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As part of our commitment under the 2024 PSA-FDA Cooperative Agreement, Davis Blasini, Yulie Meneses, and Donna Clements (PSA Coordinator) along with FDA partners successfully conducted two iOFRR trainings in Santiago, Dominican Republic and Puebla, Mexico. These sessions welcomed a total of 54 participants and focused on equipping local revisors with the tools and knowledge to support farmers in adhering to the Produce Safety Rule. The iOFRR program, known for its voluntary, free, and confidential nature, empowers growers to assess their operational practices without the pressure of formal inspections. We are confident that these newly trained revisors will play a crucial role in promoting compliance and enhancing global food safety standards.
We are incredibly thankful for the support and collaboration that continue to drive our efforts forward. Together, we are making significant progress in ensuring safer food practices across communities.
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As part of the PSA's international objectives, PSA SLEAs Mariana Villarreal Silva, Laura Acuña-Maldonado, and Davis Blasini coordinated and delivered a remote PSA Train-the-Trainer (TTT) Course from July 22nd to 25th. This course was tailored for food safety professionals and academics who provide extension and education services to melon, pineapple, and banana growers in Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. As a result of this effort, 17 participants completed the course and became PSA Trainers. This training is essential for motivating new professionals to adopt an educational approach that helps growers, ensuring the widespread adoption of best practices and the continuous improvement of food safety standards within the Central American fresh produce exporting industries. | | |
Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crop Program | |
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is once again offering the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC). The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. For calendar year 2024, this started July 1st and goes through the end of the year. This program will also be available for calendar year 2025. Additional information on the program can be found at The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program. The FSCSC information has also been updated on the USDA GAP Program website. | |
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International Fresh Produce Association:
Director, Food Safety Standards and Regulatory Compliance
The Director of Food Safety Standards and Regulatory Compliance exercises influence internally and externally to shape the direction of food safety and regulatory policy, domestically and internationally, in alignment with the goals of the association. The role contributes to the long-term strategic planning for, and tactical execution of the association’s scientific and policy objectives related to the global harmonization of food safety standards and regulatory compliance.
For more information: https://internationalfreshproduce.bamboohr.com/careers/54
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