Path C Rhode Island Produce Safety Program’s Plan to Enhance On-Farm Food Safety and Implement the Produce Safety Rule under Path C

PROJECT SUMMARY Project Title: Rhode Island Produce Safety Program’s Plan to Enhance On-Farm Food Safety and Implement the Produce Safety Rule under Path C (Regulatory Band 8 and Education & Inventory Band 8) Project Description: The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management– Division of

Agriculture (RIDEM) Produce Safety Program will implement a produce safety regulatory program that will promote and enhance on-farm food safety in the growing, harvesting, packing and holding of produce on Rhode Island farms. The RIDEM Produce Safety Program will also work to achieve increased compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR). This project focuses on a unified partnership

between FDA, RIDEM and other state agencies to achieve a national integrated food safety system. RIDEM Produce Safety Program will follow Program Path C as described in FOA PAR-21-174. RIDEM has the regulatory authority to implement, conduct inspection and enforcement activity through the adoption of 21 CFR Part 112, by refence into Rhode Island Code of Regulations: 250-40-00-2.

Project Goals: This project will follow a multiyear produce project plan to align RIDEM’s regulatory produce program with the FDA and other state agencies with the goal of promoting public health. Goals for this project include – developing a Project Plan will document plans, progress, accomplishments, and

setbacks; an Assessment that provides complete jurisdiction information; ensure personnel, supplies, training, authority, and agreements for program success; provide opportunities for education, outreach, and technical assistance on the PSR; establish a complete and accurate inventory of produce farms; establish a compliance and enforcement program; and capability to systematically detect,

investigate, mitigate, document and analyze produce related incidents. Expected Outcomes: The partnership between state and federal agencies will produce in enhanced on- farm food safety and improved implementation of the PSR. The collaboration between agencies leverages existing and future proficiency, knowledge and resources for continued education and

compliance with the PSR in Rhode Island. Project Objectives: The RIDEM Produce Safety Program plans to use this federal funding to enhance, continue or establish the following program objectives under Path C as described in FOA PAR-21-174: Objective 1 – Program Documentation (Assessment and Planning), Objective 2 – Program

Administration, Objective 3 – Education, Outreach and Technical Assistance, Objective 4 – Farm Inventory, Objective 5 – Inspection Program, Objective 6 – Compliance and Enforcement Program, Objective 7 – Produce Related Event Response Planning and Implementation Budget: Year 1: $400,500 per year. Total for Project Period: $2,002,500 (Year 1 – Year 5).