Produce Safety Rule

Farm Operators Invited to Learn About New Ag Water Inspection Requirements

Starting this year, all farms growing produce typically consumed raw, which fall under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Produce Safety Rule, must be in compliance with the Harvest and Post-Harvest Water standards. The Colorado Department of Agriculture inspects farms across the state to ensure compliance with the Rule and Produce Safety Rule staff will hold a Town Hall for farmers to learn what standards they will need to meet. 

Produce Safety Rule: Food Contact Surfaces and Bathrooms Webinar

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Lettuce is sorted and stacked at a vegetable processing facility

When assessing risk, any surface that comes into contact with produce can be divided into zones. Zone one, or food contact surfaces, are the most important areas to keep clean. Food contact surfaces include equipment as well as the hands of workers who may be touching the produce. 

Produce Safety Rule: Packing and Holding Webinar

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Gloved hand of a worker packing ripe tomatoes into boxes

Are you uncertain whether your farm is involved in packing or holding produce under the Produce Safety Program? This webinar will explain what qualifies as packing and holding according to the regulations.

Produce Safety Rule: Ag Water Town Hall 2025

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A head of lettuce being rinsed on the farm

Since January, all farms that fall under the Produce Safety Rule are required to adhere to the new regulations. 

This town hall will specifically address Harvest and Post-Harvest agricultural water, helping farms understand what inspectors will be looking for during the inspection season.

 

Ag Water Field Day - Grand Junction

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A field of greens irrigated through sprinklersJoin the Produce Safety Rule staff to learn about the PSR Ag Water requirements for Pre-Harvest, Harvest and Post Harvest Water.

Date: April 30

Time: 10 am to 2 pm

Location: CSU Western Campus
3170 B 1/2 Road, Grand Junction

 

Ag Water Field Day - Rocky Ford

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A field of greens irrigated through sprinklersJoin the Produce Safety Rule staff to learn about the PSR Ag Water requirements for Pre-Harvest, Harvest and Post Harvest Water.

Date: October 17, 2024

Time: 10 am to 3 pm

Location: Arkansas Valley Research Center
27901 Co Rd 21, Rocky Ford, CO 81067

Cleaning and Sanitizing Informational Webinar for Farms

With seeds sprouting and harvest season just around the corner, the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Produce Safety Program will host a public webinar to review cleaning and sanitizing practices, with a focus on food contact surface contamination.

Farm Operators Invited to Learn About New Ag Water Inspection Requirements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Produce Safety Rule ended harvest and post-harvest agricultural water enforcement discretion for both large and small farms who use water during or after produce harvest. The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) staff inspects farms to ensure compliance with subpart E of the Produce Safety Rule, which sets standards for how to test, treat, and monitor the water used during the harvest and post harvest activities, such as harvesting, packing, holding, and transporting of the produce.