DEKALB — Do you have concerns about safety in your produce operation? Are you concerned about compliance with FSMA? Do you want to know more about the difference between FSMA and GAPs?  Then the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training might be for you!
On June 26, 2017, from 8:00am to 5:00pm, University of Illinois Extension will be holding a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training workshop at the University of Illinois Extension Office - DeKalb County, 1350 W. Prairie Dr., Sycamore, Il  60178.
You can register and find more Information here: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=16567
The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’ 
Compliance dates for this requirement are based on the total amount of food sales for your farm, over a three-year period:
1) Very small business – the average annual monetary value of produce sold during the previous 3-year period is no more than $250,000 – must complete training by 1/26/2020.

2) Small business – the average annual monetary value of produce sold during the previous 3-year period is no more than $500,000, and your farm is not a very small business –  must complete training by 1/26/2019.
3) Other – the average annual monetary value of produce sold during the previous 3-year period is over $500,000 – must complete training by 1/26/2018.
After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course.  To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
Costs to Attend
Costs include registration ($55) – lunch provided, and PSA Grower Training Manuals ($60).  Certificates are required for individuals looking to meet the conditions of the FSMA Produce Rule.  If you require this certificate, please bring a $35.00 check to the training workshop – made out to “AFDO”.  The check will be collected at the end of the program.
Registration will close on June 13, 2017. There are a limited number of seats available for this training.  Once the course is full, registration will close.
Cancellation Policy:  Cancellation of the registration will forfeit the payment in full.  Refunds will not be issued.   
Questions can be directed to Laurie George at ljgeorge@illinois.edu.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the DeKalb County Extension office at 815-758-8194.