Elis Owens, director of Birko technical services, speaks to cleaning and sanitation workshop attendees in July 2016 in Zillah, Washington. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Elis Owens, director of Birko technical services, speaks to cleaning and sanitation workshop attendees in July 2016 in Zillah, Washington. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association is offering FSMA Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Courses in Spanish on April 11 in Union Gap and April 12 in Wenatchee and in English on May 2 in Union Gap and May 3 in Wenatchee.

Growers are encouraged to take advantage of the low ($25) registration fee, made possible by a grant from the WSDA.

Preregistration online is required; no on-site registration will be accepted. The registration fee is nonrefundable.

See below for more details provided by WSTFA:

FSMA Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Courses

This one-day class fulfills the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement for Produce Growers outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires “At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.”

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.

Register for our Spanish courses:
Thursday, April 11 from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm / WorkSource Yakima. 1205 Ahtanum Ridge Dr., Union Gap, WA 98903.
Click here to register online for April 11

Friday, April 12 from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm / Confluence Technology Center. 285 Technology Center Way #102. Wenatchee, WA 98801.
Click here to register online for April 12

Register for our English courses:
Thursday, May 2 from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm/ WorkSource Yakima. 1205 Ahtanum Ridge Dr, Union Gap, WA 98903
Click here to register online for May 2

Friday, May 3 from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm / Confluence Technology Center. 285 Technology Center Way #102. Wenatchee, WA 98801
Click here to register online for May 3

These courses are subsidized by WSDA support through the Produce Safety Program. Registration fee of $25 will include the PSA Grower Training Manual, a certificate of course attendance issued by AFDO, lunch and refreshments.

If you have any questions, please contact Emily Allwardt, at 509-452-8555 or emily@wstfa.org or Joanne Thomas at 509-665-9641 or joanne@wstfa.org.

Para ayuda en español, por favor comuníquese con Karla Flores-Curiel al 509-452-8555.

Preregistration online is required; no on-site registration will be accepted. The registration fee is nonrefundable.

—by Jonelle Mejica