For Immediate Release: Jan. 6, 2017
Contacts: CFVGA: Robert Sakata 303-947-3097 or rtsakata@aol.com
Western Growers: Sonia Salas 949-885-2251 or ssalas@WGA.com
Food Safety Course for Produce Growers & Packers Offered Feb. 1-3, Brighton, Colo.
The Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) is teaming up with Western Growers to offer a course on Preventive Controls for Human Food to help growers and packers of produce comply with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Preventive Controls for Human Food rule. The course, which was developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, will be held Feb. 1-3, at the Adams County Extension Office in Brighton, Colo.
“One way to meet the requirements for a ‘preventive controls qualified individual’ is to complete this course,” said Sonia Salas, Western Growers Director of Science & Technology. “The course’s standardized curriculum is recognized by FDA and features examples relevant to produce packinghouses covered by this rule.”
This class is geared to the produce industry and executed with the support of the Produce Marketing Association and The University of California, Davis.
Salas added that, different food facilities including fresh-cut produce operations will benefit from this course if they are covered by the FDA’s Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation.
Individuals who complete the training successfully will receive a Preventive Controls Training Certificate issued by the Institute for Food Safety and Health, the International Food Protection Training Institute and the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
“We are pleased to be able to offer this training within our state through the resources of Western Growers,” said Robert Sakata, CFVGA president. “I would encourage growers to take advantage of this quality close-to-home training that is required for many of our operations.”
The number of registrants is limited and registration must be completed by Jan. 25 to secure a spot. For more information and to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fspca-preventive-controls-for-human-food-course-brighton-registration-30049005384?aff=CFVGA CFVGA, WG and PMA members save $350 on the three-day training. To join CFVGA: https://coloradoproduce.org/join-the-growers-association-2/
CFVGA is comprised of more than 200 members, including growers of all sizes and types of production throughout the state, as well as representatives of allied industries. The Colorado fruit and vegetable growing sector contributes nearly $300 million to Colorado at the farm gate and is multiplied as it goes through the distribution chain. Over 60,000 Colorado acres are in fruit and vegetable production.
