Produce Safety Resource Library

Note: For information on USDA AMS Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Audits go to the Maine DACF Federal/State Inspection Service or the USDA AMS page. Tip: Make sure you review the audit standard which is the auditor instructions for the audit checklist.

Note: View additional links on the Produce Safety Rule (FSMA) page. 

• "Am I Affected?" - A Flowchart for Farmers – National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
• Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule Exemptions (University of Maine Cooperative Extension)
• FDA Produce Safety Rule FAQ
• FDA Draft Guidance for Industry - Tip: start with the At-A-Glance Chapters for a basic overview of the regulation
• FDA Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards For Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
• Video: FDA Produce Inspections for Regulators Virtual Produce Tour
• FDA Produce Safety Inspections Compliance Program 7303.080

• Comparing FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule & USDA’s GAP Audits (PDF)
• Organics, Food Safety, & FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule (PDF)

Crop Specific Resources

• Food Safety Best Management Practices for Wild Blueberry Producers in Maine - UMCE
• Produce Safety in Hydroponic and Aquaponic Operations – UVM
• Industry Guidance in Collaboration with FDA

Traceability

• FSMA Final Rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods - FDA

Agritourism

• Service Animals - US DOJ FAQs (PDF)
• Farm Stand and U-Pick Produce Operations Safety Best Practices – Iowa State University

Flooding

• Produce Safety and Flooded Fields – Ohio State University Extension
• Frequently Asked Questions About Handling Flooded Produce - UVM (PDF)

Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training

• Improving Handwashing Stations - UVM Ag Engineering
• Video: Basics of Worker Training – MSU Extension Produce Safety
• Overview of Food Safety Training Requirements for Workers - Kansas State Extension
• Starting a Produce Safety Worker Training Program on Your Farm - University of Maine Cooperative Extension
• Videos: Fruit and Vegetable Food Safety Training for Field Employees – Produce Safety Alliance (English, Spanish, Creole, Hmong)
• Farm Produce Safety Employee Training – Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture
  • Video: (English, Spanish)
  • Brochure: (English, Spanish)
• Food Safety Flip Chart for Fresh Produce Handlers – Penn State Extension (English/Spanish, English/Creole, Amish)
• Personal Processes Tailgate – Utah Department of Agriculture (PDF)
• Podcast: Wisconsin Farmers Union Podcast
  • Episode 6 – Training and Best Practices 
  • Episode 8 – Workers and Food Safety 

Water

Note: For Subpart E of the Produce Safety Rule, Harvest and Post-harvest water requirements (handwashing, produce/equipment washing) were finalized and go into effect 2023 for Large farms, 2024 for Small farms, and 2025 for Very Small farms. An additional year before official enforcement is allowed for each farm size category to allow for education. The requirements for Pre-harvest water (irrigation, chemical application, etc.) have not been finalized. We will provide updates when we get them and expect extra time after pre-harvest rules are finalized to allow for education of affected farms. Some of the resources below refer to pre-harvest water as “process” water.

• Produce Safety Alliance Water Resources
• Video: Water Risk Assessment & Inspection of Water Distribution Systems – Food Safety Fridays

Water Testing

• Video: Iowa Department of Agriculture - Sample Collection and Procedures
• Training Module: NC State Extension: Production and Post Harvest Water Testing and Sampling

Washing Produce

• Video: Iowa Department of Agriculture - Addressing Food Safety Risk from Infiltration During Covered Produce Washing
• Your Sanitizing Guide for Washing Produce - Missouri Department of Agriculture (PDF)
• How to Wash Produce Using a Peracetic Acid Solution - Cornell Cooperative Extension (PDF)
• UMass Amherst Extension: Produce Wash Water Sanitizers: Chlorine and PAA
• Video: Pennsylvania Farmers Union: Module 5 – Post Harvest Procedures

Soil Amendments of Animal Origin

• Video: MSU Extension: Risk Management of BSAAO  
• Soil Amendments – University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Training Module: NC State Extension: Soil Amendments

Animals

• Assessing Wildlife and Animal Contamination Tool (NECAFS)
• Balancing Food Safety and Domesticated Animals on Produce Farms - Vermont Produce Program
• California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) Decision Tree: Evaluating Animal Activity (PDF)
• Risks Posed by Cats on Produce Farms – Michigan State University (PDF)
• Video: Pennsylvania Farmers Union: Module 2 – Wildlife, Livestock and Pets

Buildings, Equipment, & Sanitation

• A Guide to Cleaning, Sanitizing, & Disinfecting for Produce Farms – UVM Ag Engineering
• Video: Building a Wash & Pack Shed - MSU Extension Produce Safety
• Video: Subpart L – Equipment, Tools, Buildings, and Sanitation – New Jersey Department of Agriculture/Rutgers University
• Podcasts: Wisconsin Farmers Union Produce Safety
  • Episode 15 - Tool and Equipment Management 
  • Episode 16 - Buildings and Food Safety 
  • Episode 17 – Storage and Transportation of Fresh Produce 
• Hygienic and Sanitary Design for Produce Farms - UVM Ag Engineering
• Other UVM Ag Engineering Post Harvest Resouces
• Video: Best Practices for Pest Management at Produce Farms – Iowa Department of Agriculture 
• Video: Packing, Packaging and Sanitation – Pennsylvania Farmers Union

Cleaning & Santizing

• Video: University of Florida Citrus Packing Line Virtual Tour 
• Cleaning vs. Sanitizing - Produce Safety Alliance (PDF)
• Other Produce Safety Alliance sanitation resources
• UVM Scrub Resources
• Video: Cleaning vs Sanitizing – UMass Amherst Extension
• Video: Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University, Cleaning – Wet and Dry Cleaning 
• Videos: Plant Science Food Safety Group 
• Podcast: Cleaning 101 with Chris Callahan
• Podcast: Sanitizer Solutions with Donna Clements  
• Basic Elements of Equipment Cleaning and Sanitizing

• Records Required by the Produce Safety Rule (with Records templates) - Produce Safety Alliance (PDF)
• Guide and Templates for Produce Safety Rule Records - Missouri Dept of Ag - (PDF)
• Podcast: Wisconsin Farmers Union Produce Safety Podcast: Episode 7 – Record Keeping
• Explanation of Required Records for the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule - University of Maine Cooperative Extension
• Food Safety Plan Resources - Produce Safety Alliance
• When To Wash Your Hands - University of Vermont Extension
• When to Wash Your Hands – Washington State Department of Agriculture (PDF)
• Maine CDC Materials

• International Fresh Produce Association
• National Farmers Union – Local Food Safety Collaborative
• Produce Safety Alliance (PSA)
• Regional Centers for Food Safety Training, Outreach, and Technical Assistance
• Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse
• Cornell CALS National Good Agricultural Practices Program - Resources
• Cornell Vegetable Program
• UVM Extension Ag Engineering
  
• UMaine Extension
  • Food & Health
  • Jumpstart to Farm Food Safety with Extension
  • Maine New Farmers Project - Business Planning 4 Producers
  • Maine Farmer Resource Network
  • UMaine Food Safety Videos