The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service has announced new funding and education opportunities through its Produce Safety University (PSU).
PSU is a “train-the-trainer” experiential learning program that arms child nutrition professionals with tools and knowledge to safely serve fresh produce in school meals. Since 2010, more than 1,650 school nutrition professionals have graduated and gone on to train more than 70,000 people.
USDA has announced a cooperative agreement opportunity to review the PSU course including the effectiveness of the curriculum and the impact of PSU graduates who train their peers on produce safety practices. Applications are due by August 21, 2023. More information about the opportunity can be accessed through grants.gov.
Additionally, PSU will be offering a new continuing education opportunity, to be held virtually on September 12, 2023 from 2–3 P.M. CT. Titled “Too Cool for School,” the webinar will cover day-to-day food safety practices for walk-in coolers, thermometers, and produce cooling. Following discussions, PSU instructors will answer questions on all topics related to produce quality and safety, procurement, and preparation. Registration information will be provided in a future announcement.
