FDA Announces a New Cooperative Agreement Program for States and 

Territories to Continue Implementation of a National Produce Safety Program

July 27, 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pleased to announce that awards have been 

issued to support forty-seven (47) grantees in a total of $30.9 million for the FDA’s Cooperative 

Agreement Program for States and Territories to Implement a National Produce Safety Program 

(PAR-21-174); to be referred to as FDA’s Produce Safety CAP. 

The purpose of this funding is to advance efforts for a national integrated food safety system 

(IFSS) by supporting state and territorial Produce Safety Programs to enhance produce safety 

and achieve high rates of compliance with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule. This new cooperative 

agreement continues the successful partnership that began in 2016 with state and territorial 

agencies to develop quality produce programs and achieve national consistency. 

“The FDA has continued its funding of state produce safety programs for a second 5-year 

period. This investment is very important. Food safety is the cornerstone of a healthy food 

supply,” said Bob Ehart, Senior Policy and Science Advisor with the National Association of State 

Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). “The efforts to assist produce farmers to prevent 

foodborne illnesses through education are also a sound contribution to the goal of safe food. 

Because of the original funding from the FDA, the state programs are well-positioned to partner 

with the FDA to carry out produce farm inspections. NASDA applauds the FDA’s continued 

investment in state produce safety programs.”

FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannis commented, “Five 

years ago, the FDA, in collaboration with our state and territory regulatory partners, took a 

novel approach to improve safety of produce in the United States. Working together, we’ve 

developed and enhanced produce regulatory program infrastructure, conducted education and 

outreach to the grower community, developed an inventory of farms, and launched 

inspections. With these new awards, the FDA is excited to build upon the work that has been 

accomplished in the initial cooperative agreement to advance produce safety.” 

The Produce Safety Rule established, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for 

the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human 

consumption. The rule is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to implement the Food Safety 

Modernization Act (FSMA). The final rule went into effect January 26, 2016. The Produce Safety 

Rule, along with other FSMA-mandated rules to regulate food production, importation, and 

transportation, will better protect consumers from foodborne illness. 
Awardees

Alaska State Department of Environmental Conservation

Alabama State Department of Agriculture and Industries 

Arkansas Department of Agriculture

Arizona State Department of Agriculture

California State Department of Food and Agriculture

Colorado State Department of Agriculture

Connecticut Department of Agriculture

Delaware Department of Agriculture

Florida State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 

Georgia State Department of Agriculture 

Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Idaho State Department of Agriculture

Indiana State Department of Health 

Kansas State Department Agriculture 

Kentucky State Department Agriculture 

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry 

Massachusetts Department of Agriculture

Maryland Department of Agriculture

Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry 

Michigan State Department of Agriculture

Minnesota State Department of Agriculture

Missouri State Department Agriculture

Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce

Montana State Department of Agriculture 

North Carolina State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

North Dakota Department of Agriculture 

Nebraska Department of Agriculture 

New Hampshire Department of Agriculture and Markets

New Jersey State Department of Agriculture 

Regents of New Mexico State University 

Nevada State Department of Agriculture

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets 

Ohio State Department of Agriculture 

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry 

Oregon State Department of Agriculture 

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture 

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 

South Carolina State Department of Agriculture 

Tennessee State Department of Agriculture 

Texas State Department of Agriculture 
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

Virginia State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 

Vermont State Agency Agriculture Food and Markets 

Washington State Department of Agriculture

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection 

West Virginia State Department of Agriculture 

For additional Information, please visit our State Produce Implementation Cooperative 

Agreement Program (CAP) webpage or email the Office of Partnerships at 

OP.Feedback@fda.hhs.gov.