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.

Grant Number: 5U01FD008283-02
NIH Institute/Center: FDA
Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Bihn