AUGUSTA — Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is presenting a daylong Product Safety Alliance training for Maine produce growers.

It is for those interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices, and co-management of natural resources and food safety.

The training will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 21, at Maine Forest Products Council Building, 535 Civic Center Drive, Augusta, and is co-sponsored by MDACF, UMaine Cooperative Extension and Maine Association of Conservation Districts.

The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined state law, which says, “At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.”

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials that verifies they have completed the training.

Trainers will spend approximately eight hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:

• Introduction to produce safety worker health;

• Hygiene, and training soil amendments;

• Wildlife, domesticated animals, and land use;

• Agricultural water in two parts: Part I, Production water; Part II, Post-harvest water;

• Post-harvest handling and sanitation; and

• 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 module.

Cost of the training is $25 with lunch and morning/afternoon snacks; or $10 with snacks only. Registration is required by July 14 and is limited to 25 participants.

Registration forms, brochure, additional training dates, and information to help people determine if they are required to become certified are available at www.kcswcd.org .

For more information, call Dale Finseth, Kennebec Soil and Water Conservation District, 207-622-7847, ext. 3.

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