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Indiana Produce Safety

Indiana Produce Safety

Educating fruit and vegetable growers about on-farm food safety

Indiana Produce Safety serves fruit and vegetable growers and consumers in the state by educating them about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. In order to achieve this goal, we have gathered resources that address the FDA, the FSMA, the Produce Safety Rule, the Produce Safety Alliance, water quality and compliance training.​ The Indiana State Department of Agriculture collaborates  with the Indiana Department of Health and Purdue Extension to provide produce safety resources through the Indiana Produce Safety program.

Consumers

Click here for tips and resources to enjoy safe, fresh produce.

Produce Grower Resources

  • The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

    The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was passed on January 4, 2011. The Produce Safety Rule (PSR) is one of the rules within this regulation. The PSR focuses on setting the first-ever federal regulatory standards for the production, harvest, and handling of fruits and vegetables in an effort to prevent microbial contamination and reduce foodborne illnesses associated with fresh produce.

  • Indiana Produce Safety Partners

    A primary resource for information about the Produce Safety Rule relevant training is the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA). The PSA is a collaboration between Cornell University, the FDA and the USDA that aims to prepare fresh produce growers to meet the regulatory requirements included in the Produce Safety Rule.

  • Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training

    Upcoming Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings for 2023-2024:

    • Thursday, 11/30/2023, Vincennes, IN
    • Wednesday, 1/17/2024, Remote/Online
    • Thursday, 2/8/2024, Greenfield, IN
    • Saturday, 2/24/24, Remote/Online
    • Tuesday, 3/19/24, Goshen, IN

    Interested individuals may find registration links and information about content, times, and locations by visiting Purdue's website. All of these trainings will be offered at no cost thanks to a grant awarded to the Indiana Farmers Market Community of Practice.

    Indiana produce growers can receive on-site compliance training as they work to meet Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations and learn more about Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), co-management of natural resources and food safety. The courses are designed to meet the needs of growers around the state. Small private​ training opportunities are available upon request for groups of three or more. Visit Purdue University Extension's Training Webpage to learn more about the training we offer.

    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.'

  • Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Courses

    Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training courses are designed for growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, official Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. These courses represent one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c).

    Each training session includes approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in these 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)
    • Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
    • How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

    The first six modules listed above align with sections outlined in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. The seventh module is focused on helping growers develop a written farm food safety plan. Although the farm food safety plan is not required by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, it is included in the curriculum, because growers expressed a need for a plan. ​

  • Interactive Tools & Resources
  • On Farm Readiness Reviews and Farm Visits

    On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR) are free and are available for Indiana produce growers who have completed the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training course. During an OFRR, produce safety professionals from Purdue Extension, Indiana Department of Health, and Indiana State Department of Agriculture will review your farm's food safety practices. At the end of the review, we will suggest ways that you can improve your farm's food safety practices and comply with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. The review is confidential, and we don't take any notes or photos during the review. It takes approximately 2 hours for us to complete an OFRR, depending on the size of your farm. An OFRR is one of the best ways to prepare for an upcoming FSMA Produce Safety Rule farm inspection.

    Contact Lucy Newell to schedule an On-Farm Readiness Review today!

    Quinton Hayes, Director of Legislative Affairs
    qhayes@isda.in.gov | 317.450.2842

    If you have not yet completed the grower training, or would like a more informal visit, you can schedule a farm visit with the Indiana Department of Health. Contact Quinton Hayes for more information.

Contact Us!

For questions regarding Indiana Produce Safety or the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, contact:

Quinton Hayes, Director of Legislative Affairs
qhayes@isda.in.gov | 317.450.2842

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