The Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association has partnered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union to provide Produce Safety Alliance courses that satisfy the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule requirement. Two grower training opportunities remain prior to growing season, April 4 in Colorado Springs and April 9 in Greeley.

"This training provides valuable food safety information to Colorado produce growers," said Glenn Hirakata of Hirakata Farms, who chairs CFVGA's Food Safety Committee. "In addition, for many farms, this or an equivalent course is required under the new FSMA rules."

"This course provides a foundation on FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, Good Agricultural Practices and co-management information," said Martha Sullins of Colorado State University, who is one of the trainers and also co-chair of the CFVGA Food Safety Committee. "It is well worth a produce growers time to participate."

The cost of the course is $50 and includes training materials, breakfast, lunch and a certificate verifying course completion. The cost for additional registrants from the same farm is $15 per person. The April 4 course will be held at the CSU Extension Office in Colorado Springs. The April 9 course will be held at CSU Extension-Weld County (Greeley).

In addition, a Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop is offered 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, March 18 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. It will cover the difference between Good Agricultural Practices and FSMA requirements, walk growers through strategies for working with different templates, and offer hands-on assistance writing some of the more challenging portions of a food safety-plan for the harmonized GAPs audit, including wildlife, traceability, agricultural water, cleaning and sanitizing.