Produce Rule: Produce Food Safety

Produce Safety Rule (aka Produce Rule): Establishes science-based standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce. Food safety standards for farms to follow in an effort to reduce the risk of microbiological contamination that may occur during growing, harvesting, packing and holding fresh produce.

Does FSMA Apply to Your Operation?

Note: Many links on this page go to National Sustainable Ag Coalition's website. They have thoroughly studied FSMA and offer fantastic resources. (Note: the site may be slow to load, but worth the wait).

Use this handy
flowchart to determine how you are affected
Diagrama de Alimentos Impactados por las Reglas de FSMA

Webinar: Who and What is covered by the FSMA Produce Rule

Where your operation likely falls within the FSMA is determined by reviewing a three year average your annual sales and where the produce is sold or the type of processing your operation is doing.

NOTE: Even if your operation is “exempt” from the Produce, you are still required to practice California Small Farm Food Safety Guidelines (California Department of Food & Agriculture).

NOTE: The following tables are only intended as a starting point to help you find where your operation likely falls within the FSMA Produce Rule.

PRODUCE RULE

Annual produce sales (3-year average) The dollar amounts are annually adjusted for inflation in March, to find the current factor, visit FSMA Inflation Adjusted Cut Offs. < is less than, > is greater than	Likely level of FSMA Produce Rule compliance
<= $25,000	Exempt*
>$25,000/yr - <=$500,000 and >50% sold to qualified end users**	Modified
>$250,000/yr and <=50% sold to qualified end users**	FULL
>$500,000	FULL

* Exempt operations must keep records of sales to prove they are exempt.

**“Qualified end user” is either an individual (in any location) or a retail food establishment located in-state or within 275 miles.

CDFA Produce Safety Program

Sign up to receive regular updates on implementation of the Produce Safety Rule in from CDFA's Produce Safety Program.

Every produce farm must have an individual employed who has completed a Produce Safety Rule Grower Training, or equivalent course, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA normally requires these courses to be attended in person.

Western Institute for Food Safety and Security (WIFSS) located at UC Davis offers this training. Visit their website for the schedule.

UNDERSTANDING FDA'S FSMA PRODUCE RULE

Links to National Sustainable Ag Coalition's website:

Understanding FDA's FSMA Produce Rule for Produce Farms
FSMA Rule for Produce Farms, Part 1: background and exemptions.
FSMA Rule for Produce Farms, Part 2: requirements.

Raw Manure
and FSMA
FDA's Rule Tipsheet

FSMA Produce Rule sets for standards in the following categories (links to NSAC site):

Compliance Dates for Produce Rule

FSMA Training - Produce Rule

Produce Safety Alliance through UC's Post Harvest Center.
LGMA Tech offering training in CA that was developed by Produce Safety Alliance.

Produce Safety Workshop Presentations

UCCE Sonoma and Marin held a series of FSMA workshops in June 2016. On the Food Safety Workshop Series site, you will find:

Worksheets for your farm
General Food Safety Resources
Food Safety presentations for:
- Food Safety Science, GAPs & Food Safety Plans
- Water, Workers & Equipment
- Soil, Livestock & Wildlife