Skip to content – Skip to search

farmworkers

On-Farm Produce Safety Training and Resources to Support You Along the Way

On-Farm Produce Safety Training and Resources to Support You Along the Way

On-Farm Training Information and Resources

Most commercial fruit and vegetable growers must comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR), Rhode Island Good Agricultural Practices (RIGAP), or other third-party programs to minimize food-borne illness risks. All workers—whether paid, seasonal, volunteers, or family members—handling produce or food contact surfaces must be properly trained to meet these standards.

Farms with regular staff or volunteers must ensure all personnel are trained in personal hygiene and contamination prevention to comply with PSR and maintain food safety. Even sole operators benefit from understanding how contamination spreads and implementing preventive measures to bring produce to market safely.

This webpage, with support from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), provides resources to help growers train their workforce in the basics of on-farm food safety for everyone handling produce or coming into contact with food surfaces.

Steps to Satisfy the Worker Training Requirement for PSR & RIGAP

  1. Identify a Food Safety Supervisor: Designate one or more supervisors responsible for food safety. At least one supervisor must complete the standardized Produce Safety Rule and/or RI GAP training (only required once).
  2. Train Workers: Supervisors must train all workers and volunteers at the time of hiring, at least annually, and ensure the training is easy to understand. Click here for a FDA fact sheet on required training information and/or watch this 4 minute video 
  3. Record Keeping: Every worker on the farm, paid or not, should have a record of their completed training. Doing so ensures that staff is proficient in food safety principles and can even make the work environment more efficient. For a worker training record template, click here.

Effective Training Tips

Use the Right language

Ensure that all training is conducted in the workers’ native language, including any written materials or signs. Free translation apps can be helpful, and farms may also have access to language-free signs—contact sejal@uri.edu to find out more.
Ensure that all training is conducted in the workers’ native language, including any written materials or signs. Free translation apps can be helpful, and farms may also have access to language-free signs—contact sejal@uri.edu to find out more.

Make It Practical and Engaging

Help workers understand why rules are important by explaining the risks of foodborne illness and how bacteria can thrive. When workers grasp the reasons behind procedures, they’re more likely to follow them and identify potential hazards on their own.
Help workers understand why rules are important by explaining the risks of foodborne illness and how bacteria can thrive. When workers grasp the reasons behind procedures, they’re more likely to follow them and identify potential hazards on their own.

Diversify Training Methods

Use various formats like verbal instructions, posters, group activities, and videos to cater to different learning styles. Incorporate hands-on practice to ensure workers can apply what they’ve learned.
Use various formats like verbal instructions, posters, group activities, and videos to cater to different learning styles. Incorporate hands-on practice to ensure workers can apply what they’ve learned.

Provide Ongoing Training

Offer refresher sessions when issues arise, new equipment is introduced, or procedures change. Continuous training ensures that workers remain updated and proficient in their tasks.
Offer refresher sessions when issues arise, new equipment is introduced, or procedures change. Continuous training ensures that workers remain updated and proficient in their tasks.

Training Resources for Farm Supervisors

VIDEOS TO SUPPORT YOUR ON-FARM TRAINING EFFORTS

Safe Handwashing techniques

Hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the risk of contaminating fruits and vegetables with foodborne illnesses. Hand sanitizer is optional and may be used after handwashing with soap and water, not as a replacement for handwashing. Use this video to help teach your farm crew how not only to properly wash their hands, what should be included in a handwashing station and tips on using harvest bins in the field. (source: UMaine Extension)

worker health & hygiene for Field workers

This video covers key practices to help fruit and vegetable growers prevent contamination risks on the farm. Learn essential tips for maintaining personal hygiene, sanitizing equipment, and following proper produce handling protocols to meet compliance standards such as the FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and RI Good Agricultural Practices (RIGAP). Whether you’re a farm owner, worker, or volunteer, this video will help ensure safe practices for bringing clean, safe produce to market. This video is available in multiple languages and can be accessed by visiting: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXlo9RrBr3i-UhCrQYbSvu0crIjRLC0gw (Source: Produce Safety Alliance)

How to Clean and Sanitize Harvest Equipment/Facilities

This tutorial provides step-by-step guidance on cleaning and sanitizing harvest equipment and facilities for commercial produce growers. It covers essential practices to ensure food safety, reduce contamination risks, and maintain a clean working environment in compliance with industry standards. Ideal for growers looking to enhance their cleaning protocols and safeguard the quality of their produce. (source Umass)

How to Use Sanitizers on a Produce Farm

Chris Callahan of University of Vermont Extension explains how to safety and effectively use sanitizer in wash water and on food contact surfaces on a produce farm. (Source: University of Vermont)

VISUALS TO SUPPORT YOUR ON-FARM TRAINING EFFORTS

An example of a sign that could be used on your farm to visually show people how to properly wash their hands. Hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the risk of contaminating fruits and vegetables with foodborne illnesses. Hand sanitizer is optional and may be used after handwashing with soap and water, not as a replacement for handwashing. Email Sejal@uri.edu to see if this sign is available for your farm.
An example of a sign that could be used on your farm to visually show people how to properly wash their hands. Hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the risk of contaminating fruits and vegetables with foodborne illnesses. Hand sanitizer is optional and may be used after handwashing with soap and water, not as a replacement for handwashing. Email Sejal@uri.edu to see if this sign is available for your farm.
ENGLISH VERSION: This farm produce safety employee training brochure can be used to help provide general produce safety training to farm employees. It is designed to clearly and simply communicate key training topics. Use of these materials should be supplemented with additional training covering other policies/procedures that are specific to each farm and each employee's work area. (Source: CISA)
ENGLISH VERSION: This farm produce safety employee training brochure can be used to help provide general produce safety training to farm employees. It is designed to clearly and simply communicate key training topics. Use of these materials should be supplemented with additional training covering other policies/procedures that are specific to each farm and each employee’s work area. (Source: CISA)
SPANISH VERSION: This farm produce safety employee training brochure can be used to help provide general produce safety training to farm employees. It is designed to clearly and simply communicate key training topics. Use of these materials should be supplemented with additional training covering other policies/procedures that are specific to each farm and each employee's work area. (Source: CISA)
SPANISH VERSION: This farm produce safety employee training brochure can be used to help provide general produce safety training to farm employees. It is designed to clearly and simply communicate key training topics. Use of these materials should be supplemented with additional training covering other policies/procedures that are specific to each farm and each employee’s work area. (Source: CISA)
Think Big We Do

Copyright © 2024 University of Rhode Island.