On-Farm Readiness Reviews
Phone (360) 902-1848
Email producesafety@agr.wa.gov
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is offering free, educational on-farm assessments to help farmers comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.
On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR) are non-regulatory and voluntary. Trained WSDA staff will visit your produce farm to help you assess whether your produce safety practices meet the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and prepare you for produce safety inspections.
On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR) are non-regulatory and voluntary. Trained WSDA staff will visit your produce farm to help you assess whether your produce safety practices meet the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and prepare you for produce safety inspections.
An OFRR is personalized.
Every farm is different which means the produce safety risks will vary. The results of an OFRR are customized to the needs of your farm. An OFRR is an opportuntiy for reviewers to observe practices in action and make tailored suggestions. Reviews should be conducted as close as possible to harvet time and last approximately 2 hours.
Every farm is different which means the produce safety risks will vary. The results of an OFRR are customized for the needs of your farm. An OFRR is an opportunity for reviewers to observe practices in action and make tailored suggestions. Reviews should be conducted as close as possible to harvest time with each visit lasting approximately 2 hours.
During the visit, you can ask your specific food safety questions. The reviews are discussion-based between farmers and a small review team that will include WSDA staff and additional subject matter experts at the discretion of the farm.
An OFRR is an educational assessment, not an inspection or audit. The goal is to identify areas for produce safety improvement and prepare your farm for an actual inspection.
The OFRR assessment is a high-level overview of the farm operation and focuses on farm activities without a formal record review. However, reviews could include discussion of records required to comply with the Produce Safety Rule. The assessment will give farms a better sense of what to expect from a routine inspection.
An OFRR is free.
OFRRs are federally funded through a WSDA cooperative agreement with FDA, so there is no cost to farmers for these assessments. It is recommended that you attend the FDA-approved Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training prior to scheduling an OFRR. For more information on the PSA training visit: producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu or foodsafety.wsu.edu.
How to request an OFRR:
Regardless of your farm type or size, you are welcome to schedule an OFRR. Know that an OFRR does not replace a routine inspection for covered farms as they are required to comply with the regulation, but it's a great option if you are new to the inspection process or hesitant about what inspections are like. WSDA can help you decide if an OFRR is a good option for your farm.
To schedule an OFRR, contact us at producesafety@agr.wa.gov.
To schedule an OFRR, contact us at producesafety@agr.wa.gov.