Education – Produce Safety Rules!

CDFA Food Safety Series: Produce Safety Program Protecting California Food Safety through 2,770 On-Farm Inspections since 2019

September 17, 2026Posted in EducationTagged CDFA, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, Inspections, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Program, Produce Safety Rule, PSP

CDFA’s Produce Safety Program recognizes September as National Food Safety Education Month.

California is committed to keeping our food safe. In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, CDFA will be sharing more information about the programs that help make sure food grown and processed in California is as safe as possible.

California plays a major role in feeding the nation. We grow about half of the country’s vegetables and three‑quarters of its fruits and nuts. Because of this, CDFA takes food safety seriously. Our responsibility is to make sure the food produced here meets the highest standards, and we hold ourselves accountable to those expectations.

One of the key programs leading this work is CDFA’s Produce Safety Program (PSP). Created in 2017 through an ongoing partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), PSP supports California farmers in meeting the requirements of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

About the Produce Safety Rule

FSMA, passed in 2011, marked the nation’s first major produce safety law. It shifted food safety efforts from reacting to problems to preventing them. In 2015, FDA finalized the Produce Safety Rule, which established basic national standards for how fruits and vegetables should be grown, harvested, packed and stored. When the rule took effect in 2017, California created the Produce Safety Program to help farmers meet these new requirements.

About the Produce Safety Program

Under its cooperative agreement with FDA, the Produce Safety Program carries out several important responsibilities. One of the biggest responsibilities is on-farm inspections. These inspections are meant to ensure farms are compliant with all the harvesting, packaging and storing requirements from the federal Produce Safety Rule.

The Produce Safety Program also supports farmers and farmworkers through hands-on training. These sessions teach simple, practical steps, like safe irrigation and good hygiene practices, that help prevent accidental contamination.

For smaller or newer farms preparing for their first inspection, PSP offers On-Farm Readiness Reviews, giving growers a chance to ask questions and feel confident before the official visit. PSP also provides technical assistance through its partnership with the University of California Cooperative Extension, ensuring farmers have trusted experts they can turn to.

This layered system of training, guidance and support helps farmers and their communities work together to keep food safe at every stage, from growing and handling to harvesting and packaging.

Since 2019, PSP has conducted more than 2,770 farm inspections, offered 665 Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training courses and completed over 190 On-Farm Readiness Reviews for small farms that are about to be inspected. The program has become a national model in helping farms grow, harvest and pack produce safely. Through these efforts, CDFA works every day to help ensure the produce grown in California is safe for everyone.

Click here to view the original CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.

CDFA Offers No-Cost Produce Safety Alliance Training in Fall 2026 for California Produce Growers and Handlers

September 14, 2026Posted in EducationTagged CDFA, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, Grower Training Course, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Alliance, Produce Safety Program, Produce Safety Rule, PSA Grower Training Course, PSP

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Banner with information that training manual and certificate are included

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program is offering the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course on September 29-30, 2026, and November 17-18, 2026, at no cost for California produce growers and handlers.

To learn more and register for the course, please visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/producesafety/growertraining/.

The PSA Grower Training Course covers Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule requirements that set food safety standards for the production of fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts.

Each free course will be offered in a web-based, remote format over two consecutive days with live instructors to provide convenient accessibility for individuals located across California. Each registered course participant will receive a training manual and informational handouts. Upon course completion, participants are eligible to receive a Certificate of Course Completion from the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

Completion of the PSA Grower Training Course fulfills the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement 21 CFR 112.22(c) that states “at least one supervisor or responsible party from your farm must have successfully completed food safety training equivalent to that received under a standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.”

Additional course dates will be announced on an ongoing basis.

CDFA’s Produce Safety Program (PSP) conducts on-farm inspections on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to verify FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance. To stay up to date with news related to CDFA’s Produce Safety Program, sign up for the Produce Safety Program Mailing List by checking the Inspection Services Division (ISD) / Inspection and Compliance Branch / Produce Safety Program box.

CDFA Produce Safety Program Presents at 2026 California Walnut Conference

March 11, 2026Posted in EducationTagged California Walnut, CDFA, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, Produce Safety Program, Produce Safety Rule, PSP, Walnut, Walnut Conference

Produce Safety Program staff share food safety educational resources at an information booth at the California Walnut Conference in Turlock.

On Feb. 19, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) presented at the 2026 California Walnut Conference in Turlock. PSP Environmental Scientist Trevor Goldsberry spoke to attendees about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and how to prepare for a regulatory inspection including factors affecting farm coverage status, requirements for worker health and hygiene, agricultural water standards, soil amendments, cleaning and sanitation, and requirements around domestic animals and wildlife.

PSP Outbreak Specialist Peiman Aminabadi joined Goldsberry to host an informational booth providing educational resources and engaging with conference attendees on regulatory requirements.

Photo caption: (L-R) Produce Safety Program team members Environmental Scientist Trevor Goldsberry and Outbreak Specialist Peiman Aminabadi provide food safety educational resources at the 2026 California Walnut Conference in Turlock.

If you are interested in partnering with CDFA PSP for a conference or food safety training event, please contact producesafety@cdfa.ca.gov. To stay up to date with news related to CDFA’s Produce Safety Program, sign up for the Produce Safety Program Mailing List by checking the Inspection Services Division (ISD) / Inspection and Compliance Branch / Produce Safety Program box. To learn more about CDFA’s Produce Safety Program, please visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/producesafety/.

Fresno State Smart Farm University Hosts Free Monthly Educational Workshop Series

February 20, 2026Posted in EducationTagged CDFA, Food Safety, Fresno State, Fresno State University, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Program, Smart Farm, Smart Farm University, Smart Farm University Project, workshop, workshop series

The Fresno State Smart Farm University Project is hosting a series of no-cost educational workshops in 2026 covering various topics applicable to agriculture and farming practices.

The Smart Farm University Project aims to provide education, training and assistance to farmers, ranchers and foresters throughout the California Central Valley region by hosting a series of monthly workshops with varying topics. The workshops are at no cost and open to farmers of all experience levels with a focus on agricultural business, conservation and technology, with the goal of promoting business growth and developing market opportunities.

To register for a workshop or learn more information about the project, please visit the Fresno State Smart Farm University Project website. Upcoming workshops will cover topics such as U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency loans (Feb. 27) and Seasonal Crop Selection (Mar. 6).

If you have questions about the Produce Safety Rule, please contact producesafety@cdfa.ca.gov. To stay up to date with news related to CDFA’s Produce Safety Program, sign up for the Produce Safety Program Mailing List by checking the Inspection Services Division (ISD) / Inspection and Compliance Branch / Produce Safety Program box. To learn more about CDFA’s Produce Safety Program, please visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/producesafety/.

UCANR Offers Reduced-Cost Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Courses for California Produce Growers and Handlers

January 6, 2026January 6, 2026Posted in Announcements, EducationTagged Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, FSMA Grower Training, Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training, Produce Safety Program, PSA, PSA Course, PSA Grower Training, PSA Training, psr, training, ucanr

CDFA Produce Safety Program & University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources logos above text: UCANR Offers Reduced-Cost Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Courses for California Produce Growers and Handlers

Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Courses are available at a reduced cost for California produce growers and handlers through June 2026. These courses are provided by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) in sponsorship by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

Courses will be offered in a web-based, remote format over two consecutive days with live instructors to provide convenient accessibility for individuals located across California. The course registration fee is $10.00 for California residents. If you are a California resident, be sure to select the “California” registration option on the event registration page to receive the reduced registration cost.

To learn more and register for an upcoming course, please visit: ucsmallfarmfoodsafety.ucdavis.edu/events/produce-safety-schedule-2025-2026.

Questions regarding the UCANR courses can be sent to Zann Gates and zgates@ucdavis.edu.

To learn more about the PSA Grower Training Course, please visit: www.cdfa.ca.gov/producesafety/growertraining/.

Additional produce safety resources are available on the UC Small Farm Food Safety website.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule sets minimum food safety standards for the production of fresh fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts. The PSA Grower Training Course provides participants with information on the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to assist with the implementation of on-farm produce safety practices.

Prepare For Your Upcoming Inspection with a Free On-Farm Readiness Review

December 18, 2025Posted in Education, ImplementationTagged CDFA, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, OFRR, On Farm Readiness Review, On-Farm Readiness Review, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Program, Produce Safety Rule, PSP

Are you familiar with produce safety regulatory inspection requirements? Are you wondering how the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) applies to your farm and food safety practices?

Get answers to these questions and more by scheduling a free On-Farm Readiness Review!

Produce farms nationwide that are required to comply with the federal FSMA Produce Safety Rule are subject to mandatory regulatory inspections as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In California, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) inspectors are authorized to conduct on-farm produce safety regulatory inspections on behalf of the FDA.

CDFA PSP provides the opportunity for producers to request an On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR) to prepare for their initial produce safety inspection. An OFRR is a free, voluntary, customized assessment conducted before an initial regulatory inspection. An OFRR includes a farm walk-around and one-on-one conversations with CDFA PSP staff to discuss how the Produce Safety Rule applies to your operation.

An OFRR aims to help prepare you for your upcoming produce safety inspection and discuss enhanced food safety practices tailored to your unique farm needs. Farms that request an OFRR will receive a free OFRR produce safety manual, FSMA Produce Safety Rule regulatory pocket handbook, and recordkeeping templates. “Small”^[1] and “Very Small”^[2] farms that have not yet undergone an initial FSMA Produce Safety Rule regulatory inspection can especially benefit from an OFRR to aid in the preparation plan for the subsequent initial inspection.

Farm operators are encouraged to request a free OFRR assessment after completing the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course. Scheduling an OFRR is easy! Simply email producesafety@cdfa.ca.gov or call us at 916-654-0466. When requesting an OFRR, please be prepared to provide the following information to support a seamless scheduling process:

Farm name and location
A contact person and how to contact you
What produce do you grow, harvest, pack, or hold?
When are you harvesting?
Have you completed the PSA Grower Training?

The CDFA Produce Safety Program is a unit operating under the CDFA Inspection Services Division with a mission to ensure California produce farmers understand how to comply with the requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, resulting in a safer food supply for the people of California and beyond.

Under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, farms sizes are classified by the average annual gross produce sales adjusted for inflation over a three-year period. Click here to learn more about the FSMA Inflation Adjusted Cut Offs. “Large” farms have average annual produce sales above $500,000 adjusted for inflation.

^[1]“Small” farms have average annual produce sales above $250,000 and up to $500,000 adjusted for inflation.

^[2]“Very Small” farms have average annual produce sales above $25,000 adjusted for inflation and up to$250,000.