Last week several Almond Alliance members received a letter from CDFA containing important information about on-farm food safety inspections that will begin this spring. A questionnaire seeking background information about farms is included in the mailing and will be utilized to help coordinate inspections.
The inspections are part of the Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA. Since the law was passed, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been working with states across the U.S. to assist them in performing on-farm inspections.
The intent of the questionnaire is to gain more farm specific information. If you are only growing almonds and are providing the appropriate disclosure to utilize the commercial processing exemption on all of your produce, please indicate so at the bottom of the bottom of the questionnaire where it says please list all commodities that will receive commercial processing. Sample language is “(Name of your farm) is utilizing the commercial processing exemption.”
The Almond Alliance suggests that you prepare a simple one-page commercial processing exemption plan summary if your farm operation is utilizing the exemption. A sample of a one-page processing exemption plan summary can be found on page 10 of the FSMA Produce Safety Toolkit, click here.
If you have any questions regarding the letter or questionnaire, please call or email Ashley Hollis at ahollis@almondalliance.org or call 209-300-7140.
If you have not received the letter or questionnaire and would like to see a sample please click on the links below.
Produce Safety Program Farm Letter, click here.
Produce Safety Program Grower Questionnaire, click here.
Please Note – Page 2 of the Blue Diamond Crop Delivery Information booklet contains a notice with a full description of the commercial processing exemption and can be used as a commercial processing exemption plan. Please keep this on file. Contact your Regional Manager if you need a printed copy.