Produce Safety
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course
Course Description
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) sets minimum food safety standards for the production of fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts. The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course was developed to educate produce growers and handlers about the PSR and assist with the implementation of produce safety practices.
Completing this course fulfills the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement 21 CFR 112.22(c) that states "at least one supervisor or responsible party from your farm must have successfully completed food safety training equivalent to that received under a standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."
Cost to Attend
The California Department of Food and Agriculture Produce Safety Program is offering web-based, remote PSA Grower Trainings at no cost to California produce growers and handlers.
These courses are limited to individuals that live and/or work in the State of California. Participants will be asked to provide a California mailing address to receive their course materials on the registration form.
Each course registration includes the PSA Grower Training Manual ($60 value) and Certificate of Course Completion from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO)* ($35 value).
*Course requirements must be met to receive the Certificate of Course Completion (see below).
Course Requirements
Active course participation is required and will be monitored by the trainer(s). Courses will be offered via Zoom requiring a computer with reliable internet access, webcam, microphone, and speakers. To be eligible for the PSA / Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) Certificate of Completion, participants must be present for all PSA course modules, actively participate in the online discussions, have their videos on, and be visible throughout the duration of the course. A separate Zoom link to log into the course will be provided to the email submitted during registration.
Upon registration confirmation, you will be shipped the PSA Grower Training Manual and handouts prior to the course. These materials must be present during the course and will be verified at the start of each day. Participants who do not have their materials present will not be able to continue with the course and will be asked to register for another session.
Who Should Attend?
Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety.
What to Expect during a PSA Grower Training Course
Courses will be held over two consecutive days in real-time with live instructor(s).
The PSA Grower Training curriculum includes the following modules. Trainers will review the modules with time available for participant questions and discussions throughout the course.
Day 1
- Module 1: Introduction to Produce Safety
- Module 2: Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Module 3: Soil Amendments
- Module 4: Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
Day 2
- Module 5.1: Agricultural Water: Production Water
- Module 5.2: Agricultural Water: Postharvest Water
- Module 6: Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- Module 7: How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
Benefits of Attending the Course
The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
- Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
- How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
- Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
- Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them
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. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course. Participants must be at least 14 years of age to receive the AFDO certificate. At the end of the course you will be asked to complete and upload the course evaluation.
2025 Registration – Offered at No Cost for California Residents
| February 19-20 | Remote via Zoom | Register Online for the February 19-20 Course |
| February 25-26 | Remote via Zoom | Register Online for the February 25-26 Course |
| March 11-12 | Remote via Zoom | Register Online for the March 11-12 Course |
| March 25-26 | Remote via Zoom | Register Online for the March 25-26 Course |
| April 22-23 | Remote via Zoom | Register Online for the April 22-23 Course |
2025 Additional courses offered by University of California Cooperative Extension
Additional courses are available on the Produce Safety Alliance Website
CDFA Resources
- CDFA Produce Safety Program: Learn More About a Produce Safety Rule Inspection
- CDFA Produce Safety Program Inspection Procedures
- CDFA Technical Assistance Program
- CDFA On-Farm Readiness Reviews
- CDFA Produce Not Covered by the Produce Safety Rule Fact Sheet
PSA Grower Training Resources
- Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Website
- PSA Recordkeeping Templates (PDF)
- PSA Recordkeeping Templates (Word)
- PSA Worker Health & Hygiene Training Video (Available in English, Spanish, Creole, Hmong)
- PSA Tool: EPA-Labeled Sanitizers for Produce
- PSA Introduction to Selecting an EPA-Labeled Sanitizer Fact Sheet
- PSA Cleaning vs. Sanitizing Fact Sheet
- PSA Farm Food Safety Plan Template
FDA Produce Safety Rule Resources
- FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule Website
- FDA Coverage and Exemptions/Exclusions Flow Chart
- FDA Fact Sheet "Rarely Consumed Raw" Produce
- FDA Fact Sheet Dropped Covered Produce
- FDA Fact Sheet "What to Expect of a Regulatory Inspection"
- FDA Final Rule on Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water
- FDA Agricultural Water Assessment Builder
- FDA Webinar on the FSMA Final Rule on Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water
- FDA Requirements for Harvest and Post-Harvest Agricultural Water
- FDA Fact Sheet Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin (BSAAO)
Additional Resources
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) of FSMA Produce Safety Rule
- List of Laboratories in California for Food Safety Water Testing
- UC Small Farm Food Safety: Resources for small farms
- UC Small Farm Food Safety Agricultural Water Quality, Treatment & Testing
This publication was made possible by Grant Number 5U18FD005914-03 from FDA. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the FDA.
Consistent with Food and Agricultural Code §42653, proprietary information obtained for the purposes of the Produce Safety Program (PSP) is confidential and shall not be disclosed except when required by court order in a judicial proceeding. This information may include but is not limited to information contained in individual inspection reports, names and addresses of farmers, growers, producers, handlers or cooler operators, sales data, and noncompliance observations obtained during a PSP inspection.