Jan. 13, 2021
Cooperative Extension Service offers online produce safety workshops to fruit, vegetable growers
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Cooperative Extension Service offers training to help Arkansas produce growers comply with federal rules
- Training covers federal standards for growing, harvesting, packing and handling fresh fruits and vegetables
- Two-day workshops offered Feb. 10-11 and March 31-April 1
- $20 to attend; register at uaex.uada.edu/producesafety
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LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will offer online produce safety training workshops to educate fruit and vegetable producers about new rules for protecting the food supply.
Two online workshops will be offered from 8 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 10-11 and again March 31-April 1. Participants can register at www.uaex.uada.edu/producesafety. Registration closes seven days before each training so that materials can be mailed to participants. The registration deadlines are Feb. 3 for the first training and March 13 for the second.
“Health is more important than ever, and food safety starts on the farm,” said Dr. Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension Food Systems and Safety specialist for the Division of Agriculture, who leads the training. “Implementing good agricultural practices learned in this training can help fruit and vegetable producers guard against the spread of the coronavirus as well.”
Topics covered will include agricultural water, soil amendments, worker health and hygiene, wildlife management, post-harvest handling and food safety plans.
The training, developed by the Produce Safety Alliance and presented by the Cooperative Extension Service, helps growers understand regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, which regulates standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding fresh produce.
Participants will receive a certificate of completion, which satisfies the Produce Safety Rule training requirement. Participants must be present both days of the training and must have Internet access, Zoom video conferencing software, a web camera and a microphone.
Typically, extension offers in-person training at sites across Arkansas.
“We started offering the online workshops in response to COVID-19, and we will continue providing these trainings online until the number of COVID cases is more under control,” Perez said.
No in-person training is scheduled at this time, she said. For more information, contact Perez at 501-671-2228. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Tracy Courage
Director, Communications Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
tcourage@uada.edu