Produce Safety

It can be rather ‘gut wrenching’ to find out about potentially contaminated food.

Over the years, farmers, growers, retailers and many others have had to adapt to new challenges in ensuring products from farms are not only meeting consumers’ changing market demands, but also safeguarding those products from contamination.

The State of Michigan and partnering organizations, through changes in the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), have developed new strategies to tackle the biggest challenges with microbes and food borne illnesses.

What is the Produce Safety Program?

The Produce Safety Program was developed as a statewide effort to work with farmers to manage food safety risks according to the FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule. In an effort to prevent microbial contamination and food-borne illness in fresh produce, the Produce Safety Rule is the first-ever regulation placing standards on:

  • Production,
  • Harvest, and
  • Handling of Fruits & Vegetables

How Is The Produce Safety Program Administered?

This program is delivered to Michigan produce growers by Produce Safety Technicians, through grant funding via the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

Produce Safety Technicians provide technical assistance to all farms who grow, pack, process, or sell fresh produce — regardless of size, income, or market reach — and help those farms adjust practices to meet the highest standards of produce safety.

The program is completely FREE, voluntary, and confidential. Technicians are prohibited from sharing any information obtained while working with produce growers to state inspectors or others.

In Michigan, there are currently six Produce Safety Technicians covering over 34 counties. Produce Safety Techs are located in Conservation Districts, and are available to deliver produce safety technical assistance. Produce Safety Techns are available outside of their designated coverage areas, based on availability and need.

What Key Services Do Produce Safety Technicians Provide?

  • Produce Safety Risk Assessment
  • On-Farm Readiness Review
  • Assistance on developing Produce Safety Plan
  • Technical on-farm advice
  • Grower Trainings through Produce Safety Alliance (FSMA required)

Other information regarding resources and event opportunities for farmers are available.

Am I Able To Receive Assistance From A Produce Safety Technician?

Any producers, regardless of whether or not they are covered by the new Produce Safety Rule, can undergo a Produce Safety Risk Assessment, develop a Produce Safety Plan, or complete an On-Farm Readiness Review to address their business-specific produce safety needs. Stakeholders, like those covered under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, are taking steps to ensure consumer confidence in all producers through the utilization of tools such as the Produce Safety Risk Assessment Program.

How Do I Request More Info. Or Technical Services From A Produce Safety Technician?

Producers located in Manistee, Benzie, Leelanau, Grand Traverse and Antrim counties, please contact Breanna Hannula at bhannula@gtcd.org or 231 941 0960 x 31.

For producers located outside those counties, click here to view the Produce Safety Technician map and locate the Technician closest to you.

To see if you are covered by FSMA PSR or contact your local Produce Safety Technician for assistance, please complete this short survey.

Additional Produce Safety and Food Safety Modernization Act Resources: