Colorado Gets Grant to Boost Produce Safety

Colorado Gets Grant to Boost Produce Safety

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett

Colorado's Department of Agriculture has won a 3.5 million dollar grant from the USDA to help train producers of covered produce in the new Produce Safety Rule.

The Produce Safety Rule is part of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Large farms, with over 500-thousand dollars in sales over a three year period, will need to comply beginning in January. Medium farms must comply by January 2019 and small farms in 2020.

Steve Bornman with The Department of Ag says they are creating an inventory of all covered produce farms and all is providing mandatory trainings in the new rules.

Produce Safety Alliance's training is required. When they take that course, they will get a good understanding of the rule and all the requirements of the rule. We will also be starting next growing season to do what we call On Call Readiness Reviews. So we will come out with CSU Extension and see how close they are at complying with the rule.

The goal of FSMA is to work to prevent food-borne illnesses. Educational materials and a training schedule will be available online at www.coproducesafety.org. CDA will also be contacting produce farmers to share information about the Produce Safety Rule.

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