California 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 Coast Field Inspector Maggie Castro attended the 2025 Western Food Safety Conference in Salinas May 6 – 7 to share with conference attendees educational resources to support compliance with the FSMA PSR. Terrazas presented on the FSMA Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Final Rule requirements and what growers can anticipate during inspections in California to gain actionable insights into meeting compliance standards and ensuring safe agricultural water use for fresh produce.
Between April and May, CDFA PSP partnered with the Western Tree Nut Association, CDFA Technical Assistance Program and University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) to provide in-person workshops across California, spanning from Glenn County to Kern County, focusing on the FSMA Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Final Rule for growers and handlers of California tree nuts. PSP’s Terrazas, Training and Standardization Specialist Briana Russell and Central Valley (North) Field Inspector Carolyn Chandler provided attendees guidance on how the new requirements apply to their operations and how to prepare for a FSMA PSR inspection.
On June 10, Terrazas attended a Ventura County Food Safety Association meeting to present on the FSMA Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Fine Rule requirements. Terrazas answered water safety questions and provided attendees with educational resources to support FSMA PSR compliance.
Visit the CDFA PSP blog post and FDA webpage for more information about the FSMA Final Rule on Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water. If interested in a PSP presentation, 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/.
Pictured: (Left, L-R) PSP’s Angela Terrazas and Maggie Castro host a conference booth at the 2025 Western Food Safety Conference in Salinas, CA. (Middle) Terrazas presents to 2025 Western Food Safety Conference attendees on agricultural water safety requirements. (Top Right, L-R) PSP’s Briana Russell and Terrazas present to workshop attendees in Madera, CA. (Bottom Right) Terrazas presents to Ventura County Food Safety Association attendees in Santa Paula, CA.
