New laws and regulations require implementation and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture has announced that it has been selected to receive a five-year grand award offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant is related to implementing the new Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. The first-year grant award amounts to $429,650.

The grant project aims to facilitate development of a produce safety plant to help growers align with FSMA's Produce Safety Rule requirements. The plan is also part of an effort to create a national integrated food safety system. The aim is to lower the risk of foodborne illnesses associated with produce.

Produce rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act are under development and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture has received a grant to be part of the process. (Photo: suzanmarinkovic/thinkstock)

The project primarily involves conducting an assessment of Idaho's produce landscape and developing and disseminating outreach, education and technical assistance to producers in complying with the Product Safety Rule. The Product Safety Rule is one of seven new FSMA rules published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and outlines requirements for on-farm standards and measures to improve produce safety of ag products generally consumed raw.

Depending on the size of the operation, onions and tree fruit farms are examples of operations which may be subject to the rule.

Learn more by calling 218-332-8671.

Source: Idaho State Department of Agriculture