For National Food Safety Education Month 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food and Nutrition Service has published five new factsheets that are designed for USDA partners and stakeholders, including child nutrition program operators and agricultural producers.

The factsheets emphasize the importance of produce safety to child nutrition program operators who oversee the purchase of produce for school meals, whether it be sourced from local farmers and producers, food hubs, or large distributors. The five factsheets cover:

• Food Safety Frequently Asked Questions
• Food Safety Information and Resources for the Farm to School Community
• Overview: Good Agricultural Practices
• The Food Safety Modernization Act and the Produce Safety Rule
• The Hazards Analysis Risk-Based Preventative Control Food Safety Plan and Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan.

More produce safety training and resources can be accessed on the Food and Nutrition Service’s webpage.