PSA Training Opportunities & Updates FSMA: Produce Safety Rule Gretchen L. Wall, M.S. Produce Safety Alliance Coordinator Cornell University

2 Key Goals for Today Outline what the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) is doing to support growers and trainers Provide resources to prepare educators to assist growers

FDA Food Safety Modernization Act & Proposed Produce Safety Rule Draft released January 4, 2013 Proposed Produce Rule: Focus on the growing, harvesting, and post-harvest handling of produce Focus is on the prevention, not detection of issues First ever regulation for the production, harvest, and handling of fruits and vegetables

Proposed Produce Safety Rule Supplemental First comment period closed Over 15,000 comments received during the first open comment period Key provisions reopened for comment on September 29, 2014, including:  Water quality standards  Raw manure and compost  Mixed use facilities  Procedures for withdrawing the qualified exemption for certain farms Final comment period closed Dec. 15, 2014

Produce Rule: Areas of Focus – Agricultural water – Biological soil amendments – Domesticated and wild animals – Personnel qualifications, training, and health and hygiene – Equipment, tools, buildings, & sanitation

FSMA Time Frame Draft Rule Released Final rule published in Federal Register Large growers (>$500K) comply - 2 years Small growers ($ K) comply - 3 years Very small growers ($25-250K) comply - 4 years Jan 2013 Nov 2013 Oct Public Comment End November 22, 2013 Supplemental Comments Due Dec. 15th Fall We are here Add an additional 2 years to each business size for compliance with the water standards

Cooperative agreement between Cornell University, FDA, and USDA Established in 2010 Focused on outreach and education to assist growers with meeting regulatory and market food safety requirements Produce Safety Alliance

Fresh produce growers, packers, and grower cooperatives with special emphasis on small and very small scale farms and packinghouses – Not to the exclusion of any farmer! Regulatory personnel All others interested in produce food safety, GAPs, and co-management Target Audience

Primary Goals Develop a standardized educational curriculum to increase understanding of produce safety – As proposed, training will be required – (c) At least one supervisor from the farm must complete food safety training at least equivalent to the standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA Build national networks Train trainers to build cadre of qualified instructors Conduct grower trainings Collaborate for international training

PSA Curriculum Development Process Identify GAPs Challenges Set Goals Develop Learning Objectives Create Content Evaluate Programs LaunchLaunch  Educational Materials Conference  Working Committee Process  10 WCs  72 WC Meetings  178 Unique Members  549 Total Members  Educational Materials Conference  Working Committee Process  10 WCs  72 WC Meetings  178 Unique Members  549 Total Members

PSA Curriculum Development Process Identify GAPs Challenges Set Goals Develop Learning Objectives Create Content Evaluate Programs LaunchLaunch  8 Nationwide Grower Focus Groups

PSA Curriculum Development Process Identify GAPs Challenges Set Goals Develop Learning Objectives Create Content Evaluate Programs LaunchLaunch  Based on WC and Focus Group Recommendations  Educational Materials Conference as resources  Proposed Produce Safety Rule Requirements  Based on WC and Focus Group Recommendations  Educational Materials Conference as resources  Proposed Produce Safety Rule Requirements

PSA Curriculum Development Process Identify GAPs Challenges Set Goals Develop Learning Objectives Create Content Evaluate Programs LaunchLaunch  Pilot Train-the-Trainer  December 2014  Geneva, NY  38 attendees  14 states and Canada represented  Pilot Grower Training  January 2015  Hershey, PA  33 attendees  Pilot Train-the-Trainer  December 2014  Geneva, NY  38 attendees  14 states and Canada represented  Pilot Grower Training  January 2015  Hershey, PA  33 attendees

PSA Curriculum Development Process Identify GAPs Challenges Set Goals Develop Learning Objectives Create Content LaunchLaunch Evaluate Programs  PSA TTT’s Held  June 2015  Kalamazoo, MI & Harrisburg, PA  PSA TTT’s Scheduled  None until after regulation is final and edits are incorporated into materials  Final Launch: 2016  PSA TTT’s Held  June 2015  Kalamazoo, MI & Harrisburg, PA  PSA TTT’s Scheduled  None until after regulation is final and edits are incorporated into materials  Final Launch: 2016

PSA Grower Training Curriculum Seven hours of dedicated instruction that can be delivered in one day: Introduction to Produce Safety Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training Soil Amendments Wildlife and Domestic Animals Agricultural Water Postharvest handling & Sanitation How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan *Completion of course results in certificate from Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) ($35)

Costs: PSA Grower Training Course PSA Grower Training Manual: $50 PSA/AFDO Certificate: $35 Replacement Certificates: $15 All other fees may vary depending on location, venue, host funding, meals, etc. Intent is to keep costs as low as possible All registered trainings will be posted on PSA and AFDO websites with cost and location so growers can choose

Funding Availability Funding streams seem more likely to become available for produce safety training – Specialty crop block grants – RMA grants – Industry groups – Private organizations Education will be more accessible to ALL growers

PSA Train-the-Trainer Program Goals  186,000 produce farms in the U.S. that may need training  Build a large body of instructors through Train-the-Trainer program  Accommodate diverse educational backgrounds of trainers  Incorporate new regulatory information

Challenges to Finding Qualified Trainers Prospective trainers must have: – Time – Funding – Support to be involved – Background knowledge in competency areas Most importantly, WANT to be involved Rural locations are at a disadvantage

Qualified Trainers & Competencies Produce Safety Scientific Knowledge – Basic understanding of bacteria, viruses, parasites Fruit & Vegetable Production Knowledge – Understand produce safety risks in an agricultural environment Effective Training Delivery – Ability to present technical scientific information and regulatory language to a nontechnical audience 4 FSMA Produce Safety Rule – Understand new regulations, how they apply to growers, and where to find technical assistance

PSA Train-the-Trainer Curriculum Two-day training course Day 1: – Review of FSMA Produce Safety Rule – Key Concepts: PSA Grower Modules (1-5) – Principles of adult education – Training Resources Day 2: – Key Concepts: PSA Grower Modules (6-7) – Multi-day Training Options & Partnerships that work – FDA & USDA Presentations – PSA Training Protocol & Logistics *Completion of course results in certificate from Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) ($50)

PSA Train-the-Trainer Certification Step 1: Fill out the trainer application to attend the two day PSA TTT Course (no one will be turned away) Step 2: Completion of 2-day Train-the-Trainer Course results in certificate from Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) as a PSA Certified Trainer Two Types of PSA Trainers 1.PSA Certified Trainer 2.PSA Certified Lead Trainer ATrainerCertificationProcess pdf

What Can I Do as a PSA Certified Trainer? Deliver any of the seven PSA curriculum modules during a PSA Grower Training Course under the supervision of a PSA Certified Lead Trainer Register PSA Grower Training Courses with AFDO, as long as you have a PSA Certified Lead Trainer on your training team who is present for the entire course Proceed with scheduling an interview to become a PSA Certified Lead Trainer

Step 3: Becoming a PSA Certified Lead Trainer 1 Schedule an interview with the PSA Interview Committee 2 Interview committee reviews your original TTT application, coordinates date and time for interview 3 Committee of not less than two, but no more than three will evaluate the trainer using a rubric designed to evaluate trainer competency areas 4 Interview committee will decide if trainer is qualified to become a PSA Certified Lead Trainer

What to Expect: PSA Certified Lead Trainer Interview Interview should be no longer than one hour Held via toll-free conference call Trainers will be asked questions and scenarios relevant to produce safety training by PSA Interview Committee Interviewees will be provided a rubric after the interview process and will be notified whether they have qualified, likely within two weeks

How Can I Prepare for the PSA Certified Lead Trainer Interview? Review all seven curriculum modules, learning objectives, and teaching notes Review the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and associated documents to assure familiarity with regulatory requirements Read the additional literature provided in the teaching notes if content in a particular module is new or unfamiliar

Is there a fee associated with the PSA Certified Lead Trainer Interview? Yes. We are currently evaluating the costs of the interview process. It is likely that two fees will apply. – $200 for the interview – covers PSA Interview Committee’s time – $25 for an additional PSA Certified Lead Trainer Certificate from AFDO Final decision has not yet been made

Common Training Questions Can growers who have attended previous GAPs trainings attend for only part of the day and still receive their PSA/AFDO certificate? – No, credits for previous GAPs or produce safety courses other than through PSA registered trainings will be recognized (i.e. grandfathering) Is there a process for curriculum equivalency if I want to use my own? – The AFDO/PSA Certificate of Course Completion will only be available to individuals who attend a registered PSA Grower Training Course – There is a provision in the proposed FSMA Produce Safety Rule, issued on January 16, 2013 and published in the Federal Register, that states equivalent curriculum materials may be developed

Common Training Questions Will the educational materials be available in other languages? – Yes, after the FSMA Produce Safety Rule is final in Oct Can I change the PSA curriculum module slides or agenda? – Yes, to some extent. We have built in flexibility to change photos to reflect regional, commodity specific, or audience preferences. The training agenda can also be extended to a multi-day program.

PSA Next Steps Awaiting final FSMA Produce Safety Rule – Update and reprint educational materials Host Train-the-Trainers around the country – Training courses tentatively scheduled for Jan Make grower trainings widely available and accessible – Prepare growers to meet market demand and regulatory requirements, Jan Continue to expand collaborative networks

PSA Team & Regional Extension Associates Southwest: Donna Pahl, M.S. Midwest: Don Stoeckel, Ph.D. Northeast: Betsy Bihn, Ph.D. Gretchen Wall, M.S. Michele Humiston Mark Kogut Southeast: Offer pending Northwest: Reviewing applicants

The Key to PSA’s Success: Collaboration! Produce Safety Education Extension Research Produce Industry Growers Regulatory

Technical Assistance & The PSA Educator’s Group PSA hosts monthly meetings for produce safety educators Toll-free conference call Provide training updates, opportunities to learn more about FSMA, new resources, discuss other challenges in GAPs Contact Michele Humiston: to be added to the listserv

The PSA Website The PSA Website You can even ‘friend’ us on Facebook! Join the listserv!

Questions? Gretchen L. Wall, M.S. PSA Coordinator Elizabeth A. Bihn, Ph.D. PSA Director Carl Warner