The safety of the food produced on Marin farms and ranches has always been a top priority for producers. With the 2010 passage of the FDA’s Food Safety & Modernization Act (FSMA), increased attention is being paid to the practices of our nation’s food producers and processors. Here are some of our favorite resources to help you assess your own operation and understand some of the best practices being promoted in the industry.
General Food Safety
- UCCE Marin Food Safety for Farmers workshop and resources (2012)
- UCCE Marin Food Safety workshop series and resources (2016)
- FSMA Flowchart – Are you subject to FSMA?
- UC Small Farm Food Safety Resources
- NCAT-ATTRA Food Safety Resources
- California Small Farm Food Safety Guide
- CAFF Food Safety Resources
- National Sustainable Ag Coalition FSMA Overview
- Calculator for Evaluating Results from Ag Water Tests against FSMA standards [University of Arizona]
Produce Food Safety
- UCCE Marin webinar on Food Safety on Produce Farms: “Water for Irrigation & Produce Washing” [English, Español]
- Resources related to Ag Water and Soil Amendments [Western Center for Food Safety]
- USDA Ag Water Assessment Builder – online tool [FDA)
- Records Required by FSMA Produce Safety Rule – plus templates [Produce Safety Alliance]
- FAQ on FSMA Ag Water Requirements Under FSMA Produce Safety Rule [USDA]
- Video series: Pre- and Post-Harvest Water Food Safety under FSMA [UC Small Farm Food Safety Program]
- Produce Safety Alliance Resource page – including templates for FSMA record-keeping [Cornell University]
- FDA Guidance on Potential Mitigation Measures for Hazards in Pre-Harvest Water Ag Water
- Using Chlorine-based sanitizers in wash water (University of Tennessee)
- Using Chlorine-based sanitizers in wash water (UC Davis)
- List of EPA-approved sanitizers for produce (Produce Safety Alliance)
- FAQ on sanitizers in the NOP (USDA)
- OMRI list of Processing and Handling products (5/2026)
- UC Davis Pre- and Post-Harvest Food Safety Site
- UC Post-Harvest Technology Center
- Leafy Greens Marketing Association Food Safety Practices
Sprout Safety
The FDA treats sprouts as a higher-risk product than other produce and has specific standards for maintaining safe conditions for growing and selling sprouts. Here are some resources:
- FDA announcement and timeline for to sprout-related regulations (Subpart M)
- FDA’s final Guidance for Industry (2023)
- Sprout Safety Alliance webpage – resources and training
