Mar 13, 2019

Food safety training offered by Colorado fruit, vegetable group

The Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) has partnered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union to provide Produce Safety Alliance courses that satisfy the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule requirement. Two grower training opportunities remain prior to growing season, April 4 in Colorado Springs and April 9 in Greeley.

This training provides valuable food safety information to Colorado produce growers,” said Glenn Hirakata, Hirakata Farms, Rocky Ford, Colo., who chairs CFVGA’s Food Safety Committee. “In addition, for many farms, this or an equivalent course is required under the new FSMA rules.”

Martha Sullins, Colorado State University (CSU), who is one of the trainers and also co-chair of the CFVGA Food Safety Committee said: “This course provides a foundation on FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information. It is well worth a produce growers time to participate.”

The cost of the course is $50 and includes training materials, breakfast, lunch and a certificate verifying course completion. The cost for additional registrants from the same farm is $15 per person. The April 4, 2019 course will be held at the CSU Extension Office in Colorado Springs. Registration: https://april04psa_growertraining.eventbrite.com The April 9, 2019 will be held at CSU Extension-Weld County (Greeley) Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/april-9-fsma-produce-safety-rule-psa-grower-training-course-registration-56388322992

In addition, a Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop is offered 9am-4pm Monday, March 18 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. It will cover the difference between Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)and FSMA requirements, walk growers through strategies for working with different templates, and offer hands-on assistance writing some of the more challenging portions of a food safety plan for the harmonized GAPs audit, including wildlife, traceability, agricultural water, cleaning and sanitizing. Registrations are still being accepted at: https://march18_fsp_developmentworkshop.eventbrite.com.

For additional food safety events and training, please reference the calendar at the bottom of the front page on the CFVGA website https://coloradoproduce.org or see the Resources/Food Safety tab.

The CFVGA is comprised of more than 250 members, including growers of all sizes and types of production throughout the state, as well as representatives of allied industries. The Colorado fruit and vegetable growing sector contributes nearly $485 million to Colorado at the farm gate and is multiplied as it goes through the distribution chain. Over 90,000 Colorado acres are in fruit and vegetable production.