Southern Region Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training: Using Pre- and Post-Training Knowledge Assessments to Understand Training Effectiveness

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100266
• Publication Date: 2024-03-15T16:33:05Z
• Authors: Keith R. Schneider; Mari Schroeder; Alan Gutierrez; Karuna Kharel; Renée Goodrich Sc...; Amy Harder; Amanda Philyaw Perez; Kristin Woods; Laurel L. Dunn; Paul Priyesh; Christopher Gunter; Elena Rogers; Chip Simmons; Lynette Johnston; Chad Carter; Thomas M. Taylor; Alejandro Castillo; Juan Anciso; Joseph Masabni; Laura K. Strawn; Amber Vallotton; Katelynn Stull; Taylor O'Bannon; Michelle D. Danyluk
• Keywords: Outreach

The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) grower training was introduced in 2016 as the standardized curriculum to meet requirements of Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Modernization Act's (FSMA) Rule (PSR). PSR states that at least one supervisor or responsible party from each farm must have successfully completed this food safety equivalent curriculum, recognized by FDA. This study evaluated effectiveness PSA trainings conducted between 2017-2019 Southern United States Regional Center for Training, Outreach Technical Assistance analyzing pre- post-test assessments. Effectiveness based on a 25-question knowledge assessment administered participants before (n = 2494) after 2460) training. indicated overall training, with average scores increasing significantly pre-test (15.9/25, 63.4%) (20.3/25, 81.3%) (P<0.001). greatest gains were seen Postharvest Handling Sanitation, How Develop Farm Plan, Agricultural Water modules. Notably, these modules had lower compared other modules, indicating amount gained did not necessarily correspond sufficient understanding material. To ensure understand all aspects best practices minimize risks, additional advanced may be needed. Additionally, current testing instrument (pre/post-test) used while validated, optimal, thus alternative methods assess are likely