The Produce Safety Rule, part of the Food Safety Modernization Act, will go into effect January 26 for farms with $500,000 or more in revenue. The Food and Drug Administration has emphasized the first year will focus less on regulation and compliance and more on education and readiness. Regardless, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Veronica Nigh says produce growers need to be ready for implementation of the complex rule.
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Nigh says it is important for all produce farms to carefully review the rule.
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Implementation of the rule for small farms, with sales between $250,000 and $500,000, along with very small farms, with sales between $25,000 and $250,000, will follow over time. Nigh says those farms should watch closely how large farms manage compliance with the rule.
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From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters