Food Safety Education

We offer a merged training that covers requirements  for both RI GAP and the Produce Safety Rule. Both Sejal Lanterman (URI Cooperative Extension) and Ananda Fraser (RI DEM/Division of Agriculture) are FDA Lead Instructors. Through successful completion of this training, farmers can become part of our voluntary RI GAP program and will receive the PSR/AFDO certificate that will prove you have taken the “approved” course per the rule. 

What does GAP mean?
GAP means Good Agricultural Practices. These practices are part of a voluntary food safety program developed by FDA and USDA for fruit and vegetable growers. The goal is to help reduce foodborne illness. The RI GAP program includes key steps that growers can use to reduce or minimize contamination of produce by disease-causing microorganisms. Food safety is everyone’s responsibility from the grower to the consumer. 

What is the RI GAP Program?
The voluntary RI GAP Grower Certification program is a joint effort of the Division of Agriculture, RI Department of Environmental Management, URI Cooperative Extension and RI growers. The program begins with training for growers and their workers on the application of GAP food safety principles at the growing, harvesting, processing and transporting of fresh fruits and vegetables. Once a grower feels they have met the RI GAP guidelines, a URI educational site visit will be set up and eventually a staff person from RI DEM/Division of Ag will perform a food safety audit of the farm.  After a successful audit, the grower will be certified as a RI GAP grower. The farm must be audited every year to maintain their GAP Certification.

What is the FSMA Produce Safety Rule?
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in 2011. It is the first comprehensive federal food safety law in over 70 years. One of the rules that stems from FSMA is the Produce Safety Rule which includes a set of standards that are deemed necessary to minimize microbial risks of fresh produce. 

Do I have to comply with the Produce Safety Rule?

1. Do you have a produce farm? If you operate a farm business that grows, harvests, packs, or holds produce, the Produce Safety Rule likely applies to you.
2. Do you process a food product? If you operate a business that processes, packs, manufactures, or holds food, the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule likely applies to you.

If you grow and process food you may be covered by both rules.
Use the RI DEM/Division of Ag’s Produce Safety Rule Coverage Determination Tool to help you understand if the Produce Safety Rule applies to your Farm.