DIVERSIFIED FARM FSMA TRAINING INITIATIVE

The overall objective of the Diversified Farm FSMA Training Initiative curriculum is to prepare producers to meet specific third-party standards or regulatory requirements, as they relate to the Produce Safety Rule, in order to be in compliance with the identified market or regulatory standard. We will do this by launching an FDA-approved PSA-equivalent training program nationwide that will include training curriculum for farmers, trainers, and an administration plan for institutions and organizations using the PSA- equivalent training. Specifically, we will:Objective 1: Conduct a walkthrough of the training with the project team, stakeholders of the National Farmers Union's Local Food System Collaborative, subject matter experts, USDA AMS, state regulators, and FDA; and conduct two pilot trainings for farmers. The walkthrough will be the final step in FDA's process for validating the DFFTI curriculum as PSA-equivalent. Farmer participants in the two pilot trainings will be asked to complete pre/post-test questionnaires and a training survey in order to determine the course's effectiveness. The team will then incorporate feedback from participants into the curriculum and then submit it to the FDA for final approval.Objective 2: Develop Train the Trainer curriculum for the DFFTI curriculum that will include both an instructor's guide and a student guide. The curriculum will be submitted to the FDA for review.Objective 3: Conduct one Train the Trainer course for 20 program participants. Program participants will be required to complete an evaluation form at the end of the course in order to determine the course's effectiveness.Objective 4: Partner organizations will conduct a total of six DFFTI curriculum trainings in years two and three in California, New Mexico, North Carolina, and South Carolina for 120 program participants (6 trainings x 20 participants per training), with the partner organization in each state as hosts and logistical coordinators for each training event. Program participants will be required to complete an evaluation form at the end of the course in order to determine the course's effectiveness.Objective 5: Develop an administration plan for institutions and organizations conducting the DFFTI training that will include a review and monitoring process, a plan for issuing course completion documents for participants, and a long-term curricula management plan to ensure it is updated when necessary.Objective 6: Evaluate the curriculum and training courses using a TOP Model approach. Evaluation results will be used to continually improve program implementation.