Learn to manage food safety risks, support farm success at extension produce safety training
May 18, 2026
By Rebekah Hall
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Produce safety grower training taking place June 18 in Forrest City
- No cost to attend; lunch provided
- Register online by June 15
(394 words)
FORREST CITY, Ark. — The Cooperative Extension Service’s Local, Regional and Safe Foods team will host a free produce safety grower training for Arkansas producers on June 18 in Forrest City.
The training will take place 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Woodruff Electric Cooperative, 3201 AR-1 in Forrest City, Arkansas. Lunch will be provided, along with certification, materials and a manual. Participants must register online by June 15.
Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension associate professor of food systems and food safety specialist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said the training will cover important produce safety regulations, good agricultural practices, food safety risk management and more.
“Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers work hard to produce safe, high-quality produce for their communities, and this gives them the practical tools to do that with confidence,” Perez said. “Participants will learn how to identify and manage food safety risks in water, soil amendments, equipment and tools that they use every day.
“Whether a grower is preparing for an audit, navigating Food Safety Modernization Act requirements, or simply wanting to strengthen on-farm practices, this training helps them protect their customers, expand market opportunities and support the long-term success of their farm.”
Perez said the training is provided through temporary funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. For fresh produce farms, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, or FSMA PSR, sets mandatory standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce. Most produce farms are affected by this rule, and this training satisfies the FSMA PSR training requirement for covered farms.
Training agenda
Trainers include Perez, Sarah Bakker, extension local food program lead for the Division of Agriculture, and Danielle Dozier, CEO of the vertical hydroponic system manufacturer GSS Group.
8 a.m. — Opening and Introductions
Module 1: Introduction to produce safety — Perez
Module 2: Worker health, hygiene and training — Dozier
Break
Module 3: Soil amendments — Bakker
Module 4: Wildlife, domesticated animals and land use — Bakker
Module 5: Postharvest handling and sanitation — Perez
Lunch
Module 6: Agricultural water, part 1: Production water — Perez
Module 7: Agricultural water, part 2: Postharvest water — Bakker
Break
Module 8: How to develop a farm food safety plan — Dozier
Final questions, closing statements and evaluations
5 p.m. — Adjourn
Visit extension’s Local, Regional and Safe Foods page to learn more about the program or contact Perez at aperez@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Amanda Perez at 501-671-2228 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
501-671-2061