Assessing the costs and returns of on-farm food safety improvements: A survey of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training participants.

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training programs were developed to provide guidance to fruit and vegetable growers on how to reduce food safety risks on the farm. These programs have been enhanced over the years due, in part, to increasing buyer and regulatory requirements. However, the costs of implementing additional food safety practices has been identified as a primary barrier to long-term farm financial feasibility, particularly for smaller scale producers.

Meeting Report: Key Outcomes from a Collaborative Summit on Agricultural Water Standards for Fresh Produce.

On February 27 to 28, 2018, the Produce Safety Alliance convened a national water summit in Covington, KY to discuss the requirements of the United States Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Produce Safety Rule [PSR]). The goals of the meeting were to better understand the challenges growers face in implementing the requirements in Subpart E-Agricultural Water and work collaboratively to develop practical solutions to meet fruit and vegetable production needs while protecting public health. To meet these goals, the summit engaged a diverse group of stakeholders including growers, researchers, extension educators, produce industry members, and regulatory personnel.