Learn about Produce Safety

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c), which requires that

"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." - Produce Safety Alliance

For more information including all upcoming Produce Safety Alliance Trainings please see Cornell's Produce Safety Alliance Webpage.

RI GAP Training

The voluntary Rhode Island GAP Grower Certification Program is a joint effort of the Division of Agriculture, RI Department of Environmental Management, the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension Food Safety Education Program, and RI growers. The program begins with training for growers and their workers on the application of GAP food safety principles to the growing, harvesting, processing and transporting of fresh fruits and vegetables. Once a grower feels that they have met the RI GAP guidelines, a staff person from the RI Division of Agriculture visits the farm for a review of GAP practices. This audit confirms that the grower has successfully applied required GAP practices during growing, harvesting, processing and transporting of fresh fruits and vegetables. After a successful audit, the grower will be certified as a RI GAP grower. The grower must be audited once every year in order to maintain the GAP Grower Certification.

• More Information about the RI GAP Program
• RI GAP Farms

Additional Resources

• URI Food Safety Education
• Worker Health, Hygiene and Training
• Agricultural Production Water
• Biological Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals & Land Use
• Post-Harvest Handling & Sanitation
• Post-Harvest Water

Food Business Applications that Involve On-Site Drinking Water Wells and/or On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems

This pre-application should be completed by applicants who want to start a business that is not serviced by a municipal water system and/or a public sewer system. Staff from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) or Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will contact you to provide further guidance regarding what steps may be necessary to get your business approved. The purpose of this pre-application is to provide general guidance about the scope of your project and the requirements under current regulations and laws.

• RIDOH/DEM Business Pre-Application Form
• Understanding Business Preapplication Requirements for Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems