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| Training team flanked by Dr. Malekian, left, and Mrs. King, far right |
Baton Rouge, La (August 25, 2017) - Sixteen farmers
from the St. Helena area attended Produce Safety Training for small farmers in
Greensburg on August 24, 2017. The farmers participated in the learning
experience related to soil amendment, water safety, worker health and hygiene,
storage and transportation and post-harvest activities. Participants were asked
to pinpoint the safety issues in their farms and prepare a farm safety
plan. Dr. Fatemeh Malekian, produce
safety project director, Emily king, produce safety program coordinator, and
Burnell Muse, extension specialist from Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant
Campus conducted the training.
Louisiana is one of 42 states awarded millions of
dollars by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help implement the FDA Food
Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) produce safety rule. The rule, which the FDA
finalized in November 2015, establishes science-based minimum standards for the
safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for
human consumption.
“The overall goal of this project is to enhance
Louisiana’s Produce Safety Programs to continue to encourage the safe
production of fresh fruits and vegetables and to promote compliance with the
requirements of FDA’s Produce Safety Rule,” said Department of Agriculture and
Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “This project will help educate
growers and will result in increased implementation of on-farm food safety
practices by small, medium and large produce farms in Louisiana. This will
develop a state-federal partnership for inspection, compliance and enforcement
of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule as required by the law.”
“Southern University Ag Center has additional trainings
planned for the near future. A Produce Growers Training is scheduled for
September 25th, 2017 at SU Ag Center, A.O. Williams Hall,” said
Project Director Fatemeh Malekian.
For more information, please contact Emily King, at
225-771-2367 or Dr. Malekian at 225-771-0251.
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