Extension to host last produce safety training of 2024 in September
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Sept. 5, 2024
Fast Facts:
- In-person training Sept. 26 at State Extension Office in Little Rock
- Training will cover good agricultural practices to help with audits or inspections
- Register at bit.ly/produce-safety-sept-training by Sept. 23
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LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers will have one more opportunity in 2024 to attend a produce safety training offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The final training of the year will be held Sept. 26 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the State Extension Office in Little Rock.
The training will cover water use, worker training, postharvest handling and sanitation and more. Registration is $25, and participants must register at bit.ly/produce-safety-sept-training by Sept. 23. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension food safety specialist and associate professor of food systems for the Division of Agriculture, said the Arkansas Produce Safety team looks forward to working with the state’s produce growers at the training.
“Our goal is to help farmers, whether new or experienced, understand how to keep the food they grow safe from the farm to the table. We provide practical guidance on food safety, so you can ensure your produce stays fresh and safe for your customers. Farmers market managers should encourage their produce vendors to attend.”
The training, developed by the Produce Safety Alliance and presented by the Cooperative Extension Service’s Arkansas Produce Safety Team, teaches growers about regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. FSMA is the first federally regulated standard for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding fresh produce.
For more information, contact Philyaw Perez at aperez@uada.edu or 501-671-2226.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
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 to all eligible persons 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:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061