Idaho Produce Safety Alliance

Two-Day Remote Training Course

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on in-person learning, 2020-2021 PSA courses offered through UI Extension will be taught in a remote, online format over a two-day period.

The following courses listed below are FREE for Idaho growers.

Two-Day Course Dates – Via Zoom

November 12 – November 13, 2020

January 12 – January 13, 2021

January 28 – January 29, 2021

February 16 – February 17, 2021

March 9 – March 10, 2021

All courses will be 9:30 am MST – 2:00 pm MST (this is 8:30 am – 1:00 pm PST)

(approximately four hours of content per day)

Register for a course at University of Idaho Extension.

Course requirements include reliable internet connection, a web camera, and a computer. Participation will be monitored through Zoom for the entire duration of the course via webcam. If you are not able to access these requirements and need further accommodation, please contact Lu Hauger at the contact information detailed below.

Who Should Attend? 
Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR), Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety.  The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

If you are unsure if this class is required for your operation, UI has developed a Decision Tool resource – an anonymous self-guided online questionnaire – which can help determine your coverage under the PSR.  It can be accessed at http://bit.ly/psrdecisiontool. The course is open to anyone, regardless of coverage.

Have You Had Personnel Changes in the Last Year?
Remember: If the person who completed this training in the past is no longer working for your operation, you must have their replacement trained by completing the course again.

Virtual Learning Details
The virtual courses offered in 2020-21 are free of charge for Idaho growers. If you are out of state, contact Lu Hauger for pricing and registration details. Course materials and certificates are included with registration and will be sent via mail prior to the course. The cost associated with manuals and certificates is sponsored in full by a grant from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

To receive an AFDO certificate, participants must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course. Participation will be monitored by trainers over Zoom for the duration of the course. After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course

What We Will Cover
The trainers will spend approximately eight hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety
• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
• Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Post-harvest Water)
• Post-harvest Handling and Sanitation
• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module.  There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

Lu Hauger
Associate Educator, Commercial Produce Safety
University of Idaho Extension, Boise
(208) 364-4579
322 E Front St, Suite 120, Boise, ID 83702
University of Idaho Extension Produce Safety Website