Regional Centers for Food Safety Training, Outreach, and Technical Assistance

In 2015, recognizing the need for food safety training for small farm owners and food processors, the FDA and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Grant Program, intended to provide funding so that these critical groups receive training, education and technical assistance consistent with standards being established under FSMA. Grants issued through this program have funded a National Coordination Center (NCC) and four Regional Centers (RCs), which are involved in both facilitating training delivery and curricula development targeted to specific audiences.

The Produce Safety Alliance has engaged with these centers to ensure that training needs for produce growers across the country are met. More information and links to the individual websites are below. 

NECAFS

Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS)

University of Vermont
Bennington, VT

Southern Center

Western Center

Western Regional Center to Enhance Food Safety

Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 

Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

Local Food Safety Collaborative

Local Food Safety Collaborative

National Farmers Union
Washington, DC