On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a constituent update announcing new frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the agricultural water requirements in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, as well as updated information on how it will implement the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements. The FAQs were developed …
Continue ReadingCDFA Secretary Karen Ross and CDFA Inspection Services Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg partnered with Salinas Valley agriculture leaders earlier this week to host a team of federal food safety officials, led by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas. It was an opportunity to spotlight National Food Safety Education Month with a …
Continue ReadingCDFA joins the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in recognizing September as National Food Safety Education Month, with a continued commitment to supporting produce safety and education across California. Produce safety is a high priority in California. The Golden State’s hardworking farmers produce nearly half of the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of the country’s …
Continue ReadingOn August 8, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) attended the Small Farmer Produce Safety Workshop hosted by City Farm San Luis Obispo (SLO) in San Luis Obispo, CA. PSP’s Supervisory Senior Environmental Scientist Benjamin Taylor met with local farmers to discuss the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization …
Continue ReadingCDFA recognizes September as National Food Safety Education Month with a continuing commitment to food safety education across California. For example, the CDFA Produce Safety Program’s goals are to “educate before and while we regulate,” and to support California produce farmers in understanding how to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Earlier this year, Produce …
Continue ReadingThe University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) is hosting a series of free monthly produce safety webinars August 19, 2025 – June 16, 2026. The lunchtime produce safety webinar series is noon to 2 p.m. Pacific Time on the third Tuesday of each month. A guest speaker will join each webinar to provide …
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