In This Issue
Quick Links
How to submit comments on the proposed Produce Safety Rule:

2.) Written comments may be faxed to the FDA at 301-827-6870 or you may mail them to:
 

Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Outbreaks & Recalls
Orange County Produce, LLC Recalls Bell Peppers Due to Possible Health Risk
 

OC Produce is voluntarily working with the Food and Drug Administration and California Department of Public Health to coordinate a recall of fresh red and green Bell Peppers for potential contamination with Salmonella. The FDA has advised that a random sample of OC Produce Bell peppers has tested positive for Salmonella. For more information, visit the FDA recalls website.

 

 

October 11, 2013 
Hello Produce Safety Alliance Members!
 
While the government may be shut down for the time being, we can assure you, we are still here and working diligently on the PSA curriculum. In addition, we want to remind and encourage EVERYONE to get their comments in on the proposed Produce Safety Rule as the November 15th deadline is rapidly approaching. Thought you were off the hook for commenting because of the government shut down? Not the case! You can still submit your comments, both online and via snail mail! We welcome you to read on for your monthly dose of PSA news!
Comment period for proposed Produce Safety Rule closing November 15, 2013!

As the comment period closure is rapidly approaching (36 days left!), we urge you to submit your comments to the proposed rule now before it is too late. Although we may be starting to sound like a broken record here, it is imperative that you encourage farmers and affiliated organizations to get involved. Comments that are thoughtful and substantive, containing real life examples and solutions will assist the FDA in creating a document the better suits the needs of fresh produce farmers across the country.

 

If you have any questions about what is currently proposed in the Produce Safety Rule, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Produce Safety Alliance so that we can make sure you have the facts before submitting your comments. We have outlined a list of resources that may help answer many of your questions related to the proposed rule below.

Have you procrastinated on reading the proposed Produce Safety Rule?

Don't worry, we won't tell. The most important thing is to get you up to speed - and quick - so that you can submit your comments before the November 15th deadline. Check out the resources below to get you started.

 

FDA Resources

PSA Resources

PSA Curriculum Update

On September 25th we sent Module 5: Agricultural Water out the door for review to our Executive and Steering Committees. That means just two other modules remain. We are ever hopeful all curriculum modules will be out for final review by the end of the year. We would love to be conducting train-the-trainer workshops in early 2014, but in order to begin, the curriculum needs to be complete as well as a plan for issuing certificates to those who want become trainers. We continue to work on all of these details. As always, you can follow our progress at the PSA website and through our newsletters, but let us know if you have any questions.

 

As a reminder, the PSA learning objectives are posted on our website and serve as the primary framework as we develop content for the curriculum.

New Media for GAPs Education and Training

With an increasing presence of smart phones, iPads, and other technology being used in agriculture, it is only fitting that on-farm food safety education and outreach cater to the growing popularity of new age media. This month, we highlight two unique resources for farmers; so get the popcorn ready and enjoy learning about food safety audits and GAPs right from the comfort of your very own home (or office)!

 
 
University of California,
Cooperative Extension Fresno County

Richard Molinar and Shermain Hardesty of UC Cooperative Extension have put together an informative video for those interested in participating or preparing for a third-party audit for food safety. The video contains background information on audit types as well as clips from an actual audit. For additional information about the Food Safety GAPs Audit video and other available resources, contact Richard at rhmolinar@ucanr.edu.
University of Minnesota
Agricultural Safety & Health Program
 
Michele Schermann of the University of Minnesota has put together a great video collection of How To's for basic GAPs on the farm. From building a handwashing station to sampling water sources for testing, the UMN On Farm GAPs video library is a great resource for both beginning and seasoned farmers! For additional information or to obtain the video file for training purposes, contact Michele at scher019@umn.edu.
Same newsletter, new look!


Like our new look?  We recently transitioned the PSA listserve over to provide a fresh, new look and to allow you more flexibility to update your contact information or unsubscribe (we hope you don't!) from our listserve on your own. Did you have trouble opening the e-mail or seeing the photos? Click on the 'Having trouble viewing this email?' tab at the top of the e-mail newsletter!

 

At the bottom of this newsletter, you will find links to update or add your contact information. We promise to maintain the integrity of our e-mail listserve (no spam!) and continue to be a source of the most up-to-date information on produce safety education and outreach.

 

Our general listserve is still the best way to stay in touch with the PSA! To sign up, please visit our website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/ or use the link included at the bottom of this e-mail message

 

Already signed up? Please share this newsletter with friends and colleagues who might also be interested in produce safety - we are always looking to expand the PSA's reach!

 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, comments, or ideas.

 

Take care,

 

Gretchen & Betsy

Gretchen L. Wall, M.S.

Produce Safety Alliance Coordinator 

Elizabeth A. Bihn, Ph.D.

Produce Safety Alliance Director 

Cornell University - Dept. of Food Science

186 Stocking Hall

Ithaca, NY 14850

Phone:  607.255.6806

Email: glw53@cornell.edu

Hedrick Hall - NYSAES
630 W. North Street
Geneva, NY 14456
Phone: 315.787.2625
  
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