Home-based vendors (HBV) in Indiana must follow certain regulations to sell food products made in a non-inspected space, like a home kitchen. HBV regulations require vendors to obtain a food handler certificate and restrict where HBVs may sell their products. Until recently, whole, uncut produce was subject to HBV regulations and requirements. As of July[Read More…]
Food Safety
Dr. Betty Feng’s lab within the Department of Food Science at Purdue University is hosting a series of webinars this March and April. The webinars are free to anyone who wishes to participate and will cover various topics, including on-farm food safety and agriculture soil management. Food Safety Plan (accumulative series of webinars) March 21[Read More…]
Running a CSA can be a long journey throughout the season, requiring one to stay on top of many weekly tasks and decisions. Some are more important to think about than others. Here is a list of what the Purdue Student Farm sees as some of the most essential tasks in the decision-making process and[Read More…]
Water is an essential component of crop production. However, water may also contain or transmit human pathogens. As a result, management of any food safety risks presented by water is critical. As part of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) (21 CFR 112), Subpart E deals with the management of both production and postharvest water on[Read More…]
“My guess is that almost all are still using a dashboard notebook of some sort in combination, of course, with the farm management information system,” says Dennis Buckmaster, Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue as well as a Dean’s Fellow for Digital Agriculture, “but some of those records that were handwritten or in[Read More…]
Course: Online PCQI Certification – Watermelon Packing Dates: May 5 & May 6, 2022 Times: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm EST Online Platform: Zoom Cost: $1000.00 each participant To register: pcqiclasses@gmail.com or text 561-261-9747 Course Info: Kiley will lead a VIRTUAL but interactive training session (via ZOOM) across two days from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm each day.[Read More…]
The Safe Produce IN team is planning Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training courses for winter 2022. This training is for fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. This[Read More…]
During an OFRR, produce safety experts from ISDH, ISDA, and Purdue Extension will visit produce farms in the state to assess readiness for a FSMA inspection. These reviews are free, voluntary, and confidential. An OFRR takes approximately 2 hours, and it is scheduled at a time that is convenient for the grower. The reviewers will[Read More…]
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a temporary policy regarding eligibility for the qualified exemption under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. The policy is designed to provide flexibility to growers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The policy and guidance may be found on FDA’s website at https://www.fda.gov/media/138316/download. Under[Read More…]
As we continue to move toward harvest for many of our produce crops, numbers of workers will continue to increase on produce farms. Management of worker health has been, and continues to be, critical to insuring that farms have adequate labor. The following are a few resources available to growers as they continue to monitor[Read More…]