Continuation of the Produce Safety Alliance to Enhance Understanding and Compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule - Project Abstract/Summary The project proposes to continue the work of the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) to educate growers, packers, and other stakeholders involved in the U.S. fresh produce supply chain as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) continues to evolve. The PSA develops effective and accurate educational resources to enhance understanding and implementation of the FSMA PSR requirements and Good Agricultural Practices. The goal of the PSA since 2010 is to promote the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables by leveraging partnerships and collaborations to make required training (21 CFR §112.22(c)) available to covered farms and other stakeholders in the form of high-quality and engaging PSA Grower Training (GT) Courses. The PSA GT Course is available in three formats (online, remote, and in-person) and multiple languages. The PSA Train-the-Trainer Course, Lead Trainer Application review, and Trainer-of-Trainers development process ensures that a sufficient cadre of qualified PSA Trainers are available to provide covered farm personnel and others with access to the PSA GT Course domestically and internationally. The PSA supports the current cadre of 3,645 current PSA Trainers, Lead Trainers, and Trainers-of-Trainers in their efforts to stay current with FSMA PSR changes and scientific understanding. The PSA works to provide growers and packers with consistent information for implementing produce safety practices at their operations by making educational materials concise, readable, and accessible on the PSA websites in many formats (e.g., videos, factsheets, illustrations) to support different learning styles. As the FSMA PSR and guidance documents are revised, the existing PSA GT Curriculum also will need to be revised to incorporate regulatory changes, evolving policies, and guidance. The expanded budget in Years 2 and 3 will allow for the development of an updated PSA GT Curriculum and supplemental educational materials, in English and Spanish. The PSA will update past PSA GT Course participants, the PSA Trainer cadre, and other stakeholders through a coordinated outreach effort that includes update trainings in multiple formats. In addition, a proposed expansion of the PSA Team will reverse attrition and allow the PSA to increase efforts to mentor training teams, host continuing education efforts such as monthly Educators’ Calls, and support diversity and inclusion with enhanced outreach to traditionally underserved groups and others with limited access to the PSA GT Course and produce safety educational materials.
