Food Safety Training for Iowa Farmers
Iowa State University offers Produce Safety Alliance workshops designed to comply with the produce safety training requirements of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Who are the trainings designed for?
- Growers, handlers, and processors of fruits and vegetables
- Anyone interested in produce safety
Why should you attend?
- FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule requires that:
“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.” See 21 CFR 112.22(c).
- Iowa State University’s Produce Safety Alliance trainings incorporate an FDA-approved curriculum that will satisfy the requirements of FSMA.
- Whether your farm is covered by or exempt from the requirements of FSMA, certain produce buyers may require you to have completed FSMA-compliant food safety training as a condition of purchasing produce from your farm.
- The trainings will provide helpful information for any fruit and vegetable grower interested in implemented Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) on their farm.
What do the trainings cover?
The course material is presented by ISU staff and other qualified experts. The training lasts approximately 7 hours and will include 7 training modules:
- Introduction to produce safety
- Worker health, hygiene, and training
- Soil amendments and land use
- Wildlife and domesticated animals
- Agricultural water
- Post-harvest handling and sanitation
- Developing a farm food safety plan
What is the cost to attend?
ISU offers the trainings at a cost of $20 per person, including training manual, AFDO certificate, and lunch.
IFU has a limited number of stipends available to help defray the costs of attending – please contact us to see if you may be eligible for financial assistance.
For more information, contact:
- Jonathan Lawrence, IFU Education Director 319-677-0660, [email protected]
- Andre Salazar, Extension Education Specialist – Food Safety, Iowa State University, (515) 294-2552, [email protected].
- To schedule a training or to register for a training, send an email to [email protected] or call (515) 294-6773
