A Primer To The Produce Safety Rule For Small And Very Small Farms In Washington State

The overall goal of this proposal is to deliver effective training to small and very-small underserved growers across the state of Washington on: 1) the basics of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), 2) third party audits vs. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Regulations (PSR), 3) compliance with PSR (overview), 4) development of food safety plans, and 5) PSR covered produce and exemptions. This work focuses on educating small growers, including those in remote locations, across Washington. On-line content will be delivered in English and Spanish. This proposal will provide small grower instruction and assistance to increase compliance with PSR regulations, increase food safety practices and awareness, and secure and expand the market value of their crops.Project objectives will be accomplished by:Objective 1. Developing training content focused on third party audit systems and the Produce Safety Rule noting differences while providing information about and implementation of the PSR regulations, in English and Spanish. Objective 2. Developing train-the-trainer content to accompany grower training content (objective #1)Objective 3. Delivering training workshops online and in-person.