General Trainings
The WSDA Produce Safety Program hosts produce safety trainings with partners such as Washington State University (WSU), Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA), Northwest Agricultural Business Center (NABC), and others to educate Washington State farms on produce safety. Most events occur in the winter season. Continue to check this website for updates.
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training
The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training is an FDA-recognized curriculum for produce farmers. It provides an in-depth overview of produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety.
Who should attend?
At least one supervisor or responsible party for every covered farm must attend the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Important: This person is expected to have direct management of farming activities.
We recommend the training for exempt farms. Not sure if you are covered or exempt? Check out our Produce Safety Rule Status Tool to understand your coverage status.
2025 PSA Trainings
| Date | Location | Language | Organization | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/22/25 and 7/23/25 | Remote | English | WSU Extension | Register Here |
Additional Locations
See the Produce Safety Alliance website for more upcoming trainings offered nationwide.
What to Expect?
The PSA Grower Training curriculum includes seven modules. For in-person courses, trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering the curriculum content.
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
- Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
Benefits of Attending the Course:
Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
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Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
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How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
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Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
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Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.
After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.
Do I need to take the training again?
Our courses present the current Version 1.2a manual with the the latest information on the Final Rule on Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water. Specific technical questions about agricultural water can be directed to producesafety@agr.wa.gov.
Have you attended but lost your certificate?
You can order a replacement certificate for $15 from the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
Replacement certificates can only be paid for and issued to the individual who completed the training, not your company representative or consultant. To help AFDO locate your certificate, you should include the course number, location, date, instructor’s name, etc. in your request.