Tag: training

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

Posted in Announcements, EducationTagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
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.

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.”

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/.

CDFA Produce Safety Program Presents on FSMA Agricultural Water Final Rule Across California

Posted in Education, Implementation, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
CDFA logo above four images of staff at various outreach events

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.