The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will resume Produce Safety Rule inspections under the Food Safety Modernization Act in Oregon. This means that Oregon operations may receive a phone call from the FDA requesting to schedule an inspection as early this month.
In 2019, inspections started nationwide on the largest US produce farms as well as large foreign farms that export to the US. Inspections were put on hold in 2020 due to COVID-19. All farm sizes are subject to routine inspections in 2021. However, large farms not inspected in 2019 will be prioritized over small and very small farms.
For those that need help preparing for an inspection; On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs) are free and voluntary. These educational, confidential visits help farmers identify an operation’s strengths and weaknesses relative to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.
Reviewers are well-versed in the Produce Safety Rule and will only cover the portions of the rule that apply to the operation. During COVID-19 these visits can be done remotely.
