Are you thinking about developing a food safety plan for your farm before planting season? Have you taken the Food Safety Modernization Act- Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training and now you want to implement a food safety plan on your farm?
To assist fruit and vegetable growers in Michigan, Michigan Farmers Union has developed a free virtual workshop focused on food safety plans.
“Develop Your Farm Food Safety Plan” is a free virtual learning workshop that can be completed in the comfort of your own home, fuzzy slippers and all. This course is designed to complement, not replace, the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course for FSMA certification. While a written Farm Food Safety Plan is not required by FSMA, it provides an excellent path to compliance for your farm.
This multi-day, interactive virtual learning event is a combination of video presentations, live zoom meetings, and time to collaborate with other farmers after a bit of homework. This course is designed to be completed in 6 hours online, with additional time for “home/farm work” on your own in-between live Zoom meetings.
Two separate sessions will be offered, participants are required to attend all Zoom meetings, as material will build throughout the course. We designed two different workshop options, select the Option which works best for your schedule. Those who attend all sessions will receive a certificate of completion.
Option 1 – (must participate in all meeting times)
Part 1: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Part 2: Friday, March 12, 2021 – 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Part 3: Monday, March 15, 2021 – 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Part 4: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 – 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Option 2 – (must participate in all meeting times)
Part 1: Thursday, March 18 – 9:30 – 10:30 am & 1 – 2:30 pm
Live Zoom meetings will provide the opportunity to learn the components of a food safety plan and interact with others in the course. The live sessions will be followed up with “home/farm work” exercises which will help you build your food safety plan.
Topics covered:
- Perform a Risk Assessment
- Write Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Record Keeping: What does FSMA require and why?
- Documenting: If it is not written down, you didn’t do it
- Product Traceability
- Prepare for an FDA farm inspection
The course materials include dedicated time to review the Farm Food Safety Plan Template developed by MDARD Produce Safety Team. Other materials in the course included resources, documents, and templates from other trusted food safety experts to incorporate into your individualized farm food safety plans.
TRAINING IS FREE!!
The workshop information is applicable throughout the USA. If you farm in a state other than Michigan we invite you to attend and share the practices from your part of the country.
There is no cost to attend the event, however, PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration is limited to keep the course engaging, so register today!
This training will assist with developing the necessary compliance items of the FSMA rules. It will NOT meet the training requirements to obtain the certificate required under the FSMA Produce Safety Rules. Attending a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Certification Course prior to taking this training is recommended but not required. You will receive a certificate for your records following completion of the workshop.