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.
Over the past several years, the FDA has phased in regulatory enforcement on harvest and post-harvest water for different-sized farms, starting with the largest, which had to be compliant in 2023. A final portion of the regulations on pre-harvest water was finalized in May 2024, and some farms have not yet been inspected since enforcement began.
“We want to provide Colorado farms with an opportunity to understand what it means to be compliant with the Produce Safety Rule and what steps they can take to prepare for an inspection,” said Produce Safety Rule Coordinator Sarah Musick. “Growers have questions about what they need to do to ensure compliance and the Ag Water Town Hall will give them an opportunity to learn and ask questions before inspection season begins.”
Farm owners and operators of any size farms are invited to attend a Produce Safety Rule Agricultural Water Town Hall on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. You can register on the webinar registration page or at ag.colorado.gov/psr.
The FDA allowed enforcement discretion for the rule until this year, when all farms must comply with subpart E of the Produce Safety Rule, which sets standards for water used during harvest and post-harvest activities, such as harvesting, packing, holding, and transporting of the produce.
This virtual town hall will address Harvest and Post-Harvest agricultural water, helping farms understand what inspectors will be looking for during the inspection season. Information will also be provided about the pre-harvest water regulations, which were finalized in May 2024.
Event information
WHAT: Produce Safety Rule: Agricultural Water Town Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MDT
WHO: All farm owners and operators who want to learn about compliance with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule
HOW: Register at ag.colorado.gov/PSR.