Brief Background on FSMA The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in January 2011. It authorizes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take a preventive approach to ensuring a safe food supply. FSMA contains seven major rules dealing with all aspects of the food supply chain. Brief Background on the … Read More
Farm Safety
Marking the Beginning of a New Era in Food Safety
Guest Blog Post By: Stephen Ostroff, M.D. The promises embodied in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) add up to this: The foods that we eat and serve our families must be as safe as we can make them. These promises mandate that food be produced, packed and transported with an awareness of potential … Read More
Farm Safety Education Should Reach Beyond the Farm Gate
Nearly 500 farm work-related deaths occur annually, according to a 2013 study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As farmers and ranchers are more active on and around their operations this time of year, National Farmers Union (NFU) is raising awareness about farm safety issues and best practices through a series of 10 … Read More
Food Safety From Farm to Table
GUEST BLOG POST By Elanor Starmer IF you are a farmer interested in selling produce wholesale or direct to a retailer, restaurant or institution, you probably have food safety on the brain. A growing number of buyers require farms to demonstrate compliance with a food safety standard, often through an audit and certification program. That takes … Read More
Legal Concerns Around Farm Workers and Employees
GUEST BLOG POST By Sanne Kure-Jensen Farming is hard work and many farmers seek help from volunteers, compensated volunteers (trade food and/or housing for labor) and paid employees. Farmers want their workers to be happy and productive. Rachel Armstrong led an informative webinar on the legal considerations around unpaid and compensated volunteers. “Ag. law is … Read More
Roof Collapse Safety Information
Residents and Businesses are Strongly Encouraged to Have Snow and Ice Cleared from Roofs Before this Week’s Storm Guest Blog Post from Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources The prolonged cold weather and repeated snowstorms Massachusetts is experiencing have contributed to potentially dangerous conditions for businesses and homes alike. Heavy mounds of snow are creating severe … Read More
Prevent Roof Collapse!
GUEST BLOG POST by Chris Colello, ALCM, ARM, CFPS, Regional Loss Control Director, Acadia Insurance Snowflake, snowflake, how much do you weigh? Right around .002 grams. So, how do a bunch of snowflakes pancake buildings each year? With more snow in the forecast for much of New England, this becomes a very important question. Generally … Read More