USDA awards more than $2 million in food safety grants

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has announced more than $2 million in grants to establish two regional centers.

The centers will support comprehensive food safety training and education, pursuant to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

“USDA is committed to ensuring that farmers, food processors and wholesalers receive relevant training and assistance as they work to comply with new rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act,” NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy said. “These newly established centers, along with the centers created by the Food and Drug Administration, will help producers and businesses across the country safely add value to agricultural products and expand their access to local, regional, and national markets.”

He added that these centers will also play a role in coordinating and implementing FSMA-related training, education and outreach programs for small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors, and/or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.

The training and education funded through this program will address a variety of agricultural production and processing systems, including conventional, sustainable, organic and conservation and environmental practices, according to USDA officials.