CDFA 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 …
Continue ReadingThe California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program is partnering with the CDFA Office of Farm to Fork to provide Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Courses at no cost to California Farm to School Network produce growers and handlers. The free training also is open to all interested California produce growers …
Continue ReadingCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) staff traveled across California this spring to present to stakeholders on the new Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Final Rule requirements and inspection-related topics under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR). PSP’s Produce Safety Rule and Outreach Specialist Angela Terrazas and Central …
Continue ReadingCDFA’s Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) – working with the Inspection Services Division’s Produce Safety Program (PSP) – was recognized with five awards from the California Public Sector Chief Information Officer Academy for stellar work in government technology. Three ITSD staff members received individual awards. Senior Project Manager Ed Lee was awarded for outstanding leadership …
Continue ReadingThe compliance date for the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) has begun for Large Farms[1] starting on April 7, 2025. Compliance dates for Small Farms[2] and Very Small Farms[3] will follow in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Pre-Harvest Agricultural Final …
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