Produce safety
Ensure your grown agricultural commodities are safe for consumption
The US Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) aims to create an integrated food safety system that can reduce foodborne illnesses. The FSMA is the most comprehensive reform of food safety laws in the United States in over 70 years.
Produce Safety Rule
As one of seven rules created by FSMA, the Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based minimum standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. Key components of the Produce Safety Rule include water quality, application of biological soil amendments, health and hygiene training for farm personnel, and sanitation of equipment, tools, and buildings.
LDAF's produce safety program is designed to encourage the safe production of fresh fruits and vegetables in the state, working with the LSU Agricultural Center and the Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus to ensure that all produce growers in the state are informed and educated on how the Produce Safety Rule impacts them. In order to successfully implement the Produce Safety Rule in Louisiana, LDAF needs to build a complete list of produce growers in Louisiana.
Services
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We want to help ensure the safe production of fresh fruits and vegetables in our state. That's why we encourage all Louisiana farmers to verify their farm with LDAF in order to maintain compliance with the Produce Safety Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Verifying your farm with the program provides us with up-to-date information about your farm's size, the commodities you grow, and correct contact information to help us develop and maintain our statewide farm inventory.
To discuss next steps for your operation, whether that be an on-farm readiness review, an inspection, training, or educational visit, please contact us.
Contact info
On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR) is a voluntary, non-regulatory program available to help produce growers assess their readiness for inspection under the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule.
This program consists of observations during farming operations to identify areas for improvement concerning food safety practices.
If you have questions or need assistance regarding implementation of the Produce Safety Rule in Louisiana, please contact Kelly Hughes at (225) 935-21591 or producesafety@ldaf.state.la.us .
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) audits are voluntary audits that verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards.
Related links
LSU AgCenter
US Food & Drug Administration