FSMA 

Collaborative 

Training Forum
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

 Training is key to successful 

implementation of FSMA

 USDA and FDA play a role

 A variety of training options 

available for farmers and 

others in the produce industry

 Training funded by FDA and 

USDA through grants and 

agreements

FDA and USDA facilitate FSMA training
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

USDA and FDA hosting the forum to provide an 

opportunity for:

• Dialogue between the agencies, centers, associations and 

others funded by USDA and FDA to implement training projects

• Representatives of these groups to come together, share 

information about their programs, provide updates about the 

work, and discuss issues of common concern. 

• Efforts to eliminate duplication and maximize the use of limited 

resources. 
Collaborative 

Training Forum 

Participants
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

Public-Private Alliances

Cornell University

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 

Institute for Food Safety and Health

Illinois Institute of Technology

Institute for Food Safety and Health

Illinois Institute of Technology
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

International Training

• Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

– a partnership between FDA and the University of Maryland.
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

On-Farm Readiness Review and 

National Consortium for Produce Safety Program 

Development

• National Consortium brings 

together the states cooperating 

with FDA to implement a 

produce safety program.
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

National Coordination Center

Int’l Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI)

Train and educate small- and medium-sized producers, small 

processors, and small fruit and vegetable wholesalers on the 

importance of developing comprehensive food safety plans, 

while providing food safety training at multiple regional 

centers.
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

Regional Centers

Oregon State University

Iowa State University

University of Vermont

University of Florida
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

Local Food Safety Collaborative

The Local Food Safety Collaborative is led by National 

Farmers Union Foundation in partnership with Cornell 

University, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Washington 

State Department of Agriculture, National Young Farmers 

Coalition, Deep South Food Alliance, and New England 

Farmers Union.
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

Native American Tribal Center for Food Safety Outreach, 

Education, Training and Technical Assistance. 

• Indigenous Food and Agricultural Initiative (IFAI) at the 

University of Arkansas Fayetteville School of Law

• With a wide array of partners, including the Intertribal 

Agricultural Council
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

Food Safety Outreach Program

• Funds delivery of customized training to small to mid-sized 

farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, 

small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable 

merchant wholesalers.

– Pilot Projects

– Community Outreach Projects

– Multistate Education and Training Projects
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

Food Safety Outreach Program

• FY 2017 Food Safety Outreach Program Request for 

Applications (RFA) announced April 25 – Deadline June 6

• New projects focus: addressing knowledge and resource gaps 

for the target audience in the areas of pre- and post-harvest 

water testing and sampling, soil amendments, and developing 

supply chain programs and/or food safety plans. 

• Continues to fund projects that develop bilingual and culturallyappropriate training resources.
Current Status
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

Initial Call Series

• April 2017 - held four 2-hour WebEx sessions

• Heard from each participant group

• Identifying themes and opportunities for coordination

• Highlighted outstanding questions for FDA and USDA
FSMA Collaborative Training Forum

Outcomes & Next Steps

• Better understanding of each other’s projects and timelines

• Ideas to align outreach and assessment strategies 

• Learning from each other’s experiences

• Work to improve outcomes and metrics

• Ongoing forum strategy – quarterly calls, coordination

• First Quarterly Call – summarize and plan

• NCC Monthly Calls – now with more players!
Thank You!

Tricia Kovacs

USDA

Tricia.Kovacs@ams.usda.gov

202-572-5440