BISMARCK, N.D. – The deadline is approaching for produce growers to register for a free training session. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture will accept registrations through March 21, 2023.
“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 should attend,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “Attending a session will satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement that requires at least one supervisor or responsible party on a farm to complete food safety training recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.”
The free session will be held Thursday, March 30, 2023, at the Radisson Hotel Bismarck, 605 E. Broadway Ave., Bismarck, ND.
Topics to be covered include:
- Introduction to produce safety
- Worker health, hygiene and training
- Soil amendments
- Wildlife, domesticated animals and land use
- Agricultural water
- Postharvest handling and sanitation
- How to develop a farm food safety plan
In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each topic. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
The session is a full day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. There will be a one-hour break for attendees to leave for lunch. To register, visit https://forms.office.com/g/F6r4nnnKEt by March 21, 2023.
To ask questions about either the session or the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, please contact Kara Haff, Ag Marketing & Business Development Coordinator, at 701-328-2308 or khaff@nd.gov. To learn more about FMSA, go to www.ndda.nd.gov/fsma. For a complete list of upcoming training sessions, visit www.ndda.nd.gov/lftt.