BackgroundTo minimize the risk of serious adverse health consequences or death from consumption of contaminated produce, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce raw agricultural commodities
grown for human consumption.
FDA established these standards in the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption, referred to as the Produce Safety Rule under 21 CFR Part 112, as part of the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Additionally, FSMA explicitly recognizes that all food safety agencies need to work together in an integrated way to achieve our public health goals.FDA initiated a partnership with state and territory agencies in 2016 through June 2021 via the cooperative agreements under PAR-16-13 7. That Cooperative Agreement Program provided technical and financial assistance to state and territorial agencies to develop and implement multi-faceted Produce Safety Programs that support implementation of the Produce Safety Rule and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).Program StructureGrantee agencies of this cooperative agreement program (CAP) will establish and maintain a Produce Safety Program within their jurisdiction with the overarching purpose to enhance produce safety and achieve high rates of compliance with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule.
The objectives of this CAP are holistically intended to guide grantee Produce Programs that are focused on quality and national consistency.Grantees are to choose one of three Program Path options.
The Program Path selected by the grantee primarily distinguishes how they choose to accomplish a Produce Safety regulatory program.Objectives are outlined according to Program Path.Objectives for Assessment and Planning; Program Administration; Education, Outreach, and Technical Assistance; and Farm Inventory are applicable to all grantees, as outlined.
All applicants MUST choose only one Program Path (A, B, or C) PATH A:
Jurisdictions that will not conduct produce safety inspections (non-regulatory programs) but will complete other applicable program objectives.
Path A grantees are responsible for completing all items under Program Objectives 1, 2, 3, and 4. PATH B:
Jurisdictions that will conduct produce safety inspections under FDA’s authority and will complete other applicable program objectives.
Path B grantees are responsible for completing all items under Program Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. PATH C:
Jurisdictions that will conduct produce safety inspections under their own authority and will complete other applicable program objectives.
Path C grantees are responsible for completing all items under Program Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.