Don’t miss these items in local food and agriculture news from around our region:
The FSMA Produce Safety Rule: An Inspection Preview
Food safety inspections on produce farms are beginning this month, but there are still questions as to what the first round of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule inspections will look like. The fact that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be regulating farms for the first time is concerning for many produce farmers who have never interacted with FDA before on a regular basis. Adding to the anxiety for some producers, is the fact that this will be the first time in history that they will have to deal with regular inspections on their farm.In order to help producers prepare, FDA has provided a preview of what a produce farm inspection might look like. Using the information provided by FDA and our own additional resources, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) details in this post what produce farmers might expect from the upcoming inspections, and provides some best practice tips for getting through the process as painlessly as possible.
* This post is not legal advice. For specific information on how a Produce Safety Rule Inspection might impact your operation, please contact an attorney.
Produce Safety Workshop Series
Where does your farm fall within the PSR?
What are PSR exemptions and exclusions?
What sort of records should you keep?If you have any of these questions, this workshop is right for you!
The RI Produce Safety Program will be hosting a series of three FREE workshops that will focus on demystifying the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and aims to assist you in determining how you can prepare.
Each Produce Safety Rule Workshop will cover:
- Exemptions and exclusions under the PSR
- How to apply for an exemption
- Record-keeping
- Tools for assistance
- The Produce Safety Rule and market access
Please contact Abigail Phillips at abigail.phillips@dem.ri.gov to sign up.
Upcoming Dates
PROVIDENCE — MARCH 21, 2019
1:00 – 4:00pm
RI DEM Headquarters, Room 300
235 Promenade St
Providence, RI, 02908KINGSTON* — APRIL 11, 2019
9:00am – 12:00pm
URI East Farm, Bldg 75
1 E Farm Road
Kingston, RI, 02881BRISTOL — MAY 2, 2019
3:00 – 6:00pm
Hope & Main
691 Main St
Warren, RI, 02885* This training is held in tandem with the Institutional Market Access Training conducted by Cornell University, hosted by RIDEM and the RI Food Policy Council. 12:00 – 4:00pm, lunch included. To register for the Institutional Market Access Training, email: info@rifoodcouncil.org
NSAC Is Seeking a Coalition Director!
Are you deeply committed to public service and are experienced in administration in the field of sustainable agriculture? Would you enjoy leading a passionate, high-performing, member-engaged, and collaborative organization that is dedicated to working for racial equity? NSAC is looking for a new Coalition Director. NSAC offers competitive non-profit salary and benefits and is an equal opportunity employer.
BOSTON LOCAL FOOD
Boston Local Food Festival Registration is Open
The Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN) is excited to announce that registration has opened for the 10th Annual Boston Local Food Festival! This year’s event will be back on the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway and will be on Sunday, September 15th from 11am-5pm.The Boston Local Food Festival is the largest one-day outdoor farmers’ market in New England and attracts around 50,000 attendees each year. The festival is a wonderful marketing and promotional opportunity to connect with hundreds or thousands of people in the Greater Boston area and beyond.
If you are interested in being a vendor, use code EARLYBIRD2019 to save $50 on any full booth until 3/16/19.
It Takes A Region Conference
This year’s It Takes a Region will be held in Jersey City, NJ, on November 7th, 8th, 9th. We hope to see you there
