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

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 Offers Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Courses at No Cost for California Produce Growers and Handlers

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) is offering Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Courses at no cost to California produce growers and handlers starting February 2025.

Courses will be offered in a web-based, remote format via Zoom with live instructors to provide convenient accessibility for individuals located across California.

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.

Each registered course participant will receive a PSA Grower Training Manual and informational handouts to support compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. Upon successful completion of the course, participants are eligible to receive a Certificate of Course Completion from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

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.”

To learn more and register for an upcoming course, please visit: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/producesafety/growertraining/