With the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations now finalized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the process of implementation is underway. As part of the implementation process, FDA has the responsibility to field and respond to concerns from farmers and food businesses, and to evaluate the impact of the rules on farmers […]
Food Safety
With Food Labeling Claims, the Devil’s in the Details
Food labeling claims are a confusing mix of simple words whose meaning is anything but, and complex certifications that even some in the food industry would struggle to fully explain. Local, organic, natural, grassfed, non-GMO – figuring out what each means and which claims are actually verified is enough to give the most savvy […]
New Grants Help Farmers Navigate Food Safety Regulations
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has just announced the grantee awards for its Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP). FSOP is a food safety training grant program authorized under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and is designed to help the most vulnerable farms and food businesses […]
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Awards $62.5 Million to 693 Food and Farm Projects
This week marked the final U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Fall Forum of the current administration. On October 17, 2016, local and regional food systems leaders and advocates gathered together at the New Hampshire Audubon Society to discuss how USDA can continue to support local and regional food systems. While attending the forum, USDA Agricultural […]
When It Comes to Food Safety, Farmers Need the Right On-Ramp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sophia Kruszewski, 202-547-5754, skruszewski@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-574, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net When It Comes to Food Safety, Farmers Need the Right On-Ramp For many farmers, starting with Good Agricultural Practices may be the best first step Washington, DC, Oct 13, 2016 – Following the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) finalization of its “Produce […]
Additional Guidance On the FSMA Farm Definition: Farm vs. Facility Activities
Under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), not all farms are created equal. Some farms are just farms, and fall under one set of new rules, while other farms (farm mixed-type facilities to be exact) are also deemed to be facilities and fall under an additional set of rules. As of […]
APPLY NOW FOR RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION GRANTS
Education and training to help farmers manage risks related to food production and the natural resources that underlie that production – as well as all manner of financial, marketing, and legal risks – can play a critical role in keeping farmers on the land and helping a new generation of farmers get off to a […]
States Receive $22 Million for FSMA Produce Rule Implementation
With FDA’s new food safety rules finalized and compliance clocks ticking, one of most common questions we hear is: who is going to be enforcing these new rules on farms, and how? While many of the details surrounding how exactly the rules will be implemented remain uncertain, last week FDA took a step toward answering […]
FDA Extends Compliance Deadlines for New Food Safety Rules
This fall, many food and farm operations subject to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FMA) Preventive Controls Rule were expected to be coming into compliance with the new food safety requirements for food facilities. However, with significant confusion persisting, particularly over whether a farm is or is not a facility […]
Upcoming Webinar on the Newly Expanded Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, August 9 at 2:00pm EDT to provide information about the Farm Storage Facility Loan program and the expansions and improvements that have been made to it over the past two years. Register for the webinar here. Farm Storage Facility […]
GMO Labeling Bill Becomes Law: Now What?
As you have likely heard by now, on Friday, July 29, 2016 President Obama signed into law the GMO Labeling bill recently passed by Congress. This law preempts Vermont’s first-of-its-kind GMO Labeling law, which had just gone into effect on July 1, and authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a mandatory disclosure […]
RELEASE: NSAC Issues Special Reports on New Food Safety Rules
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sophia Kruszewski, 202-547-5754, skruszewski@sustainableagriculture.net Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754, fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Releases Special Reports on New Food Safety Rules Washington, DC, August 2, 2016 – Today the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released its first two “Special Reports” on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new food safety rules for […]
FSMA Facility Registration Requirements Clarified for Local Food Producers
After years of ambiguity and confusion, farmers and small food enterprises primarily selling value-added products directly to consumers finally have some much-needed clarity on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements for food facility registration. On July 14, 2016, FDA finally finalized its Preventive Controls Rule, clarifying that small farms […]
FDA Final Rule Provides Needed Clarity for Local Food Producers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sophia Kruszewski, 810-441-9947 Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 FDA Final Rule Provides Needed Clarity for Local Food Producers Washington, D.C., July 13, 2016 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) welcomes the issuance of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule amending the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements for food […]
Farmers Push for Action on Agriculture Funding Bill
If you want to gain some real insight into agricultural policies, your first stop should be one of America’s 2.1 million farms – a majority of which are small and medium-sized family farms. Though we can’t always get Congress to the farm, we can bring the farm to Congress. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) regularly […]
Seven Major FSMA Rules Now Final
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently finalized two of the remaining major rules required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA): one governing shippers, carriers, and any other entity involved in transporting food (the “Transport Rule”), and another overseeing intentional acts of adulteration in the food supply (the “Intentional Adulteration Rule”). These […]
A Breakdown of the Senate’s Annual Food and Farm Spending Bill
Each year, Congress debates and makes key decisions about federal funding priorities for all government agencies, programs, and initiatives – including programs and resources that support our nation’s farmers and ranchers. This week marks an important step in that process (known as appropriations), as the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill to fund the U.S. […]
Upcoming Deadlines for Federal Food and Farm Programs
Editor’s Note: ‘Tis the season for federal program deadlines. In our ongoing effort to keep readers appraised of upcoming opportunities, we are issuing a revised list of program application information. As warmer weather settles in, farmers are busy planting crops, livestock are grazing on pasture, and farmers markets across the country are once again full […]
Give NSAC the Scoop on Your On-Farm Manure Usage
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and our members are surveying produce farmers to better understand how they use and apply untreated or raw manure on their farms. Between now and June 3, 2016, we are collecting anonymous information to develop comments for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to aid in their development of […]
$5 Million Available for Farmer Food Safety Training Projects
Following recently finalized federal food safety requirements for produce farmers and food processors, there… Read More →
GroupGAP Offers Affordable Certification Option for Small and Mid-sized Farms
GAP (short for “good agricultural practices) certification is a USDA audit program… Read More →
More Funding Available for Fruits and Veggies through Specialty Crop Grant
The term “specialty crop” is a bit of a misnomer. A specialty crop is not some kind of exotic plant, not an obscure herb or flower, specialty crops are quite simply the fruits and vegetables that are (or should be) a staple of most diets. Even though specialty crops consist of some of the healthiest […]
FDA Requests Information on Manure Use
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the first opportunity for the public to weigh in on their approach to assessing the risks posed by raw manure used in growing produce. According to the FDA: The risk assessment will consider pathogen survival and growth under different agricultural and ecological conditions (e.g., soil types, […]
Do FDA’s New Food Safety Rules Apply to Your Farm or Food Business?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently finalized two new food safety rules under the FSMA… Read More →