ATLANTIC – The FDA’s new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) lays out guidelines for on-farm safety practices to prevent foodborne illness. A free field day event at Rolling Acres Farm in Atlantic will provide hands-on learning opportunities for growers whose operations may be affected. Come see what FSMA means for you and your farm.
The Food Safety Field Day for Fruit and Vegetable Growers will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at 59624 Chicago Road, in Atlantic. To ensure there is enough food for all participants, RSVP as soon as possible to Laura Funk Kopecky at 586-530-5432 or lfkopecky@iowafarmersunion.org.
This Friday, Denise O’Brien and Larry Harris will welcome visitors from the surrounding region to Rolling Acres Farm to learn about the new FDA regulations regarding on-farm food safety procedures for fruit and vegetable growers. FSMA focuses on preventing outbreaks of foodborne illness in order to ensure a safe food supply. All local farmers whose agricultural products are marketed to consumers without processing that includes a “kill step” to eliminate pathogens are encouraged to attend. This includes, but is not limited to, growers of fruits and vegetables that are normally consumed raw.
This event will walk you through the new guidelines in a practical, farmer-to-farmer setting. Tour the farm and see safety practices in action. Extension staff from Iowa State University will explain the FSMA guidelines and their implications, lead hands-on demonstrations and answer questions. The event will conclude with a meal, giving everyone a chance to connect with other attendees and discuss what was learned.
If you market produce in the area and aren’t sure how the new guidelines will affect your business, this free event is the perfect opportunity to get up to speed. Many retailers like grocery stores and farmer’s markets either already require safety certification from their growers or will soon, so it pays to be proactive.
Iowa Farmers Union works to strengthen the independent family farm through education, legislation and cooperation and to provide Iowans with sustainable production, safe food, a clean environment and healthy communities. We take pride in offering events like this field day to ensure that the independent family farmers we represent are empowered and informed.
For more information, visit https://iowafarmersunion.org/fsma-field-day-in-atlantic-ia-on-september-7/.