US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA's) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) said the grants are for the University of Florida in Gainesville and Oregon State University in Corvallis.
The centers will help with Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)-related training, education, and outreach programs for small and medium sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors, and/or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.
The University of Florida will receive $1,197,751 to establish the Southern Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Center to Enhance Produce Safety.
Oregon State University will receive $1,197,606 to create the Western Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Center to Enhance Food Safety.
The program with FDA includes one national coordination center and four regional ones. The FDA-funded center will coordinate the program, while the regional centers will contact local communities to work with FSMA audiences and stakeholders across the country.
FDA announced in September it awarded the National Coordination Center grant to the International Food Protection Training Institute, in Battle Creek, Michigan.