Preventive Controls Training for Small Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Processors Subject to FSMA

The long-term goal of this project is to prepare the small and very small produce processors in Alabama to meet the FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food rule. We hope to reach at least 75 percent of these processors who will be required to meet Preventive Controls guidelines starting in either 2017 or 2018. We plan to accomplish this goal through following objectives:Determine how many small and very small processors in Alabama are required to develop and implement the FSMA Preventive Controls program and reach out to them;Utilize the official FSPCA teaching curriculum and certified instructors to teach a total of 12 (6 per project year) Preventive Controls for Human Food courses at the identified major fruit and vegetable production and processing locations. These 12 courses will be offered free to the affected produce processors;Evaluate participants' understanding of course materials through built-in course assessments and follow-up surveys developed by the project team to continue assist the processors with compliance;Oversee nine members of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System's Food Safety and Quality Team (Regional Extension Agents) as they work one-on-one with small and very small produce processors, providing extra assistance in developing their Food Safety plans and meeting Preventive Controls guidelines.