Fast Facts:
In-person training Sept. 26 at State Extension Office in Little Rock
Training will cover good agricultural practices to help with audits or inspections
Register at bit.ly/produce-safety-sept-training by Sept. 23
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers will have one more opportunity in 2024 to attend a produce safety training offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The final training of the year will be held Sept. 26 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the State Extension Office in Little Rock.
The training will cover water use, worker training, postharvest handling and sanitation and more. Registration is $25, and participants must register at bit.ly/produce-safety-sept-training by Sept. 23. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension food safety specialist and associate professor of food systems for the Division of Agriculture, said the Arkansas Produce Safety team looks forward to working with the state’s produce growers at the training.
“Our goal is to help farmers, whether new or experienced, understand how to keep the food they grow safe from the farm to the table. We provide practical guidance on food safety, so you can ensure your produce stays fresh and safe for your customers. Farmers market managers should encourage their produce vendors to attend.”
The training, developed by the Produce Safety Alliance and presented by the Cooperative Extension Service’s Arkansas Produce Safety Team, teaches growers about regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. FSMA is the first federally regulated standard for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding fresh produce.
For more information, contact Philyaw Perez at aperez@uada.edu or 501-671-2226.
