PSP – Produce Safety Rules!

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.

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/.

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.

CDFA Produce Safety Program Presents at ALBA Produce Safety Training Workshop

December 10, 2025Posted in EducationTagged Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association, ALBA, albafarmers.org, CDFA, Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, margaret castro, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Rule, PSP

Presenter in front of training class with participants

On November 12, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) joined the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) in Salinas, CA, to host a Spanish-language produce safety training workshop.

PSP Environmental Scientist Margaret Castro led the training to discuss the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Castro engaged with attendees covering on-farm food safety best practices and tips on how to prepare for a FSMA Produce Safety Rule inspection.

ALBA is an organization with a mission to create economic opportunities for aspiring organic farmers through land-based education in the Salinas Valley. To learn more about ALBA, please visit: albafarmers.org.

If interested in partnering with CDFA PSP on a food safety training event or to learn more about our no-cost food safety services, 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/.

Check out Webinar on CDFA Produce Safety Rule Inspection Process: What to Expect and How to Prepare

November 4, 2025Posted in EducationTagged angela terrazas, CDFA, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, Inspection, Inspection Process, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Program, Produce Safety Rule, Produce Safety Rule Inspection, Produce Safety Webinar, Produce Safety Webinar Series, PSP, PSR inspection, ucanr, university of california, webinar

UCANR CDFA Produce Safety Program Webinar slide on the PSR inspection process with speaker in upper right hand corner of image

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) Produce Safety Rule and Outreach Specialist Angela Terrazas presented a webinar Oct. 21, 2025, on what to expect and how to prepare for a Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule inspection.

The presentation included an overview of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule inspection process conducted in California and inspection preparation tips about health and hygiene, agricultural water, soil amendments, cleaning and sanitation, and domesticated animals and wildlife. Click here to view the webinar and click here to view the presentation slides.

The webinar was part of the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources (UCANR) Monthly Produce Safety Webinars series. Interested parties are encouraged to register for this free, lunchtime webinar series that runs noon to 2 p.m. Pacific Time on the third Tuesday of each month through June 2026. A guest speaker will join each webinar to provide a 1-1.5-hour presentation on food safety-related topics followed by questions from attendees and a general discussion. Additional produce safety resources are available on the UC Small Farm Food Safety website.

CDFA Produce Safety Program Presents at Fresno State Smart Farm University

October 22, 2025Posted in EducationTagged angela terrazas, Cal State Fresno, CDFA, CSU Fresno, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, Juan Jose Rodriguez, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Program, Produce Safety Rule, PSP, Smart Farm University, Smart Farm University Project

Fresno State Smart Farm University Text on top with speaker on bottom left image and two attendees standing in front of center for irrigation technology building on bottom right image

On October 6, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) joined the Fresno State Smart Farm University Project to present on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and regulatory produce safety inspections conducted in California.

The Smart Farm University Project, led by Fresno State’s Project Coordinator Juan Jose Rodriguez, aims to provide education, training and assistance to farmers, ranchers and foresters throughout the California Central Valley region by hosting a series of weekly 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.

PSP Produce Safety Rule and Outreach Specialist Angela Terrazas shared with attendees on what to expect during a regulatory inspection and best practices on topics including worker health and hygiene, agricultural water, soil amendments, cleaning and sanitation, and domesticated animals and wildlife.

Terrazas also discussed several of CDFA’s no-cost food safety education services including Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Trainings in partnership with CDFA Farm to School Network, On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs), and technical assistance through the CDFA Technical Assistance Program (TAP).

If interested in partnering with CDFA PSP on a future food safety training event or to learn more about our no-cost food safety services, please contact producesafety@cdfa.ca.gov.

FDA Releases New Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Related to Agricultural Water

October 3, 2025October 6, 2025Posted in Education, ImplementationTagged Ag Water, agricultural water requirements, CDFA, FAQs, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, Frequently Asked Questions, FSMA, harvest/post-harvest agricultural water, post-harvest agricultural water, post-harvest water, pre harvest agricultural water, pre-harvest water, preharvest agricultural water, preharvest water, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Program, Produce Safety Rule, PSP

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 to provide information about the agricultural water requirements based on topics covered in the final rules, including the following:

Inspection and maintenance of agricultural water systems,
Pre-harvest agricultural water assessments (including testing as part of an assessment and assessment outcomes),
Harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements,
Corrective and mitigation measures, and
Agricultural water treatment.

The FDA also released updated information about how it plans to implement the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions of the Produce Safety Rule. The updated information focuses on the key elements of the agency’s approach to FSMA implementation, including education (for both industry and regulators), industry training, technical assistance, inspections, and compliance with a commitment to taking an “educate before and while we regulate” approach.

Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Final Rule Compliance Dates

The compliance date for the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule began 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.

Large Farms: April 7, 2025
Small Farms: April 6, 2026
Very Small Farms: April 5, 2027

^[1]Under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, farms sizes are classified by the average annual gross produce sales adjusted for inflation over a 3-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.

^[2] “Small” farms have average annual produce sales above $250,000 and up to $500,000 adjusted for inflation.

^[3] “Very Small” farms have average annual produce sales above $25,000 and up to $250,000 adjusted for inflation.

Additional Resources

Resources including educational materials, Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Trainings, On-Farm Readiness Reviews and the California Department of Agriculture (CDFA) Technical Assistance Program are available to assist you with preparing for the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements.

FDA Links

CDFA and industry partners offer tour of California Agriculture to FDA food safety officials

September 24, 2025Posted in EducationTagged CDFA, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, FSMA, Produce Safety, Produce Safety Program, Produce Safety Rule, PSP

CDFA 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 focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. which establishes science-based federal minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fresh produce for human consumption. CDFA enforces the rule in California via its Produce Safety Program.

The group took a tour that included farms and processing facilities, including Grimmway Farms, D’Arrigo California, Naturipe Farms, and Taylor Farms; as well as a roundtable discussion at the Monterey County Farm Bureau. CDFA offers a special thank you to the tour’s partners and sponsors, including Western Growers, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, and the Monterey County Farm Bureau.

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