HAWAII'S APPLICATION TO ENHANCE SAFETY IN PREPARATION TO IMPLEMENT THE FDA'S RULE: STANDARDS FOR THE GROWING; HARVESTING; PACKING AND HOLDING OF PRODUCE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Project Summary/AbstractProject Title: Hawaii Department of Agriculture Produce Safety Program: Design, Development& DeliveryProject Description: The Hawaii Department of Agriculture will establish a produce safetyprogram to encourage the production of quality, safe fruits and vegetables, ensure producercompetitiveness in the marketplace, and assist FDA in implementing the FSMA-mandated,unified partnership approach toward achieving an integrated food safety system.Project Goals: The proposed project will establish and utilize a multi-year strategic plan toidentify resources needed to implement a produce safety program aligned with FDA?s ProduceSafety Rule (PSR)?including metrics to evaluate its effectiveness?and to develop aninspectional program that meets FDA requirements and promotes public health. This programwill include education and training for produce farmers covered under the PSR as well astraining for inspectors.Expected Outcomes: The partnerships and plans to emerge from this work will create afederal-state relationship that will leverage the existing and future expertise, knowledge, andresources committed to education and implementation of the PSR in Hawaii and demonstratemovement toward the goals of improved produce safety.Project Objectives: (1) Self-Assessment: conduct a jurisdictional self-assessment to determinesize and scope of produce industry, infrastructure needs and beneficial partnerships necessaryto create an education and technical assistance and inspectional program. (2) Farm Inventory:establish a mechanism to develop an inventory of Hawaii farms subject to the PSR, utilizingrelationship development with the produce industry through offering technical assistance,market access, and capital infrastructure support to populate and sustain this inventory. (3)Legal Authority: Evaluate existing regulatory authority related to produce safety and thechanges necessary to establish, operate, and maintain a program aligned with the requirementsof the PSR. (4) Program Infrastructure: Invest in the sustainable implementation of a programthat includes inspection and compliance activities, technical assistance and industry support,producer and regulator training opportunities, and a robust evaluation process. (5) Education,Outreach & Technical Assistance: Promote the development of an educated and informedHawaii produce grower community resulting in knowledge of the PSR and how to achievecompliance. (6) Communication Plan: Develop a communication plan for outreach to industry,partners, and the public about programmatic strategy, implementation efforts, and measurableoutcomes.Budget: Year 1: $561,099; Year 2: $646,148; Year 3: $755,005; Year 4: $769,251; Year 5:$804,223Total: $3,535,726.00 for the five-year cooperative agreement period