produce safety produce safety rule - clemson university · produce safety on the farm, and making...

F S M A

Produce Safety RuleSELF-ASSESSMENT

Produce Safety

Do you grow, harvest, pack, or hold fruits and vegetables?

If so, you may be affected by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

Hugh E. Weathers, Commissioner

A G R I C U L T U R E . S C . G O V

South Carolina DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Consumer Protection Division123 Ballard Court • West Columbia, SC 29172

Clemson Cooperative Extension103 Barre Hall • Clemson, SC 29634

Derek UnderwoodAssistant Commissioner

[email protected](803) 737-9702

Kelly JohnsonProduce Safety [email protected]

(803) 753-7267

Morgan WhalenProduce Safety Outreach Coordinator


Dr. Doug SmithExtension FSMA Coordinator


Dr. Ron ThomasExtension Associate and Professor Emeritus


Dr. Scott WhitesideProfessor


Produce safety affects every fruit and vegetable grower. Some growers may be subject to the new FSMA Produce Safety Rule, while other growers are receiving food safety pressure from buyers. Even if there is no regulatory or market pressure, produce safety is critical to every grower because they produce food that consumers will eat.

It is important to know that growers are the key to produce safety on the farm, and making the decision to do something on the farm is up to them.

All farms, regardless of size, location, or commodities grown, can reduce food safety risks.

Actions to reduce food safety risks not only impact the financial viability of farms, but also the health and safety of those who consume the produce grown.

Ultimately all growers should understand and take action to reduce food safety risks on the farm.

Reference: Produce Safety Alliance. Cornell University. (2016) Grower Training. Module 1, Introduction to Produce Safety. Page 2.

FSMA Produce Safety Rule Self-Assessment

S E C T I O N 1Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you grow ONLY for personal or on-farm consumption?

• Do you sell less than $25,000 average over previous 3 years in produce annually?

• Do you ONLY grow and sell crops that the FDA has identified as rarely consumed raw?

Asparagus, Beans (black, northern, kidney, lima, navy, pinto), Beets, Cashews, Cherries (sour), Chickpeas, Cocoa beans, Coffee beans, Collards, Corn (sweet), Cranberries, Dates, Dill (seeds and weed), Eggplants, Figs, Ginger, Hazelnuts, Horseradish, Lentils, Mature Southern Peas, Okra, Peanuts, Pecans, Peppermint, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Squash (winter), Sweet Potatoes, Water Chestnuts

The definition of produce does not include food grains, including barley, dent- or flint-corn, sorghum, oats, rice, rye, wheat, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, and oilseeds (cotton seed, flax seed, soybean, etc.)

• Do you ONLY grow produce that will be commercially processed in a manner that kills pathogens?

If you answered YES to one of these questions, you are exempt from the FSMA Produce Safety Rule

requirements, and do not have to attend training.

If you answered NO, please continue to Section 2

S E C T I O N 2Please answer the following:

• Are your annual food sales less than $500,000? The term “food” means (1) articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, (2) chewing gum, and (3) articles used for components of any such article. Including seeds and/or beans used to grow sprouts.

AND

• Do you sell >50% of your annual food sales to qualified end-users located in your same state or within 275 miles of your farm? Qualified end-user is defined as (a) the consumer of the food (does not include businesses) or (b) a restaurant or retail food establishment.

If you are not sure about any of the sections above, please contact the Produce Safety Team. We are here to help you and can answer any questions you may have.

If you answered YES to BOTH of these, you are eligible for qualified exemption and are not required

to attend training.

* * *Please note, a farm with the qualified exemption must still meet certain modified requirements.

These farms are also required to establish and keep certain documentation.

* * *

If you answered NO, please continue to Section 3

S E C T I O N 3How much produce do you grow, pack, hold,

and/or sell annually?

• More than $500,000 annually? If YES, your compliance deadline is January 26, 2018.

• Less than $500,000 but more than $250,000? If YES, your compliance deadline is January 28, 2019.


SPROUTS

• More than $500,000 annually? If YES, your compliance deadline is January 26, 2017.



All growers, packing facilities, and holding facilities should familiarize themselves with

the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. This document is intended for a quick reference and does not include all aspects of the Produce Safety Rule.

produce safety produce safety rule - clemson university · produce safety on the farm, and making...

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