The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will hold a series of community meetings across the state to collect input on implementing the new federal law to promote the safety of fruits and vegetables grown across the country. The meetings will serve as a forum to gather public input as TDA develops the rules to administer this comprehensive new federal mandate.
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), specifically the Produce Rule, establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. This is the first time such standards have been implemented.
The purpose of FSMA is to shift food safety regulations from a system that focuses on responding to contamination to one that focuses on preventing contamination. FSMA was enacted on Jan. 4, 2011, and it authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take a preventive approach to food safety. TDA is the state agency responsible for implementing the corresponding produce safety program in Texas.
The meetings will be hosted in seven locations across the state. Farmers will have an opportunity to discuss the development of the administrative rules as they pertain to farm verification, inspection and enforcement.
Below is a list of locations, dates and times for the Produce Safety Administrative Rule development meetings. RSVP to ProduceSafety@TexasAgriculture.gov with the location and number of people attending.
Tuesday, May 1 | Lubbock
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
1102 E FM 1294
Lubbock, TX 79403
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Wednesday, May 2 | Fort Worth
Hampton Inn (West IH 30)
2700 Green Oaks Road
Fort Worth, TX 76116
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Thursday, May 3 | Tyler
Hampton Inn & Suites Tyler-South
8962 S. Broadway Avenue
Tyler, TX 75703
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8 | Weslaco
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
2415 E. Business 83
Weslaco, TX 78596
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 9 | Uvalde
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
1619 Garner Field Road
Uvalde, TX 78801
10 a.m.-12p.m.
Tuesday, May 15 | Rosenberg
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
1402 Band Road
Rosenberg, TX 77471
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Wednesday, May 16 | San Marcos
Hilton Garden Inn
2131 N Interstate Hwy 35
San Marcos, TX 78666
10 a.m.-12 p.m.