SSA Training Course Conducted
2024 | Location | Course Type |
| April 17-18 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
| April 18 | Cookeville, TN | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, In-Person |
| May 21-22 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
2023 | Location | Course Type |
| March 14-15 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
| May 2-3 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
| May 26 | Miami, FL | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2 |
2022 | Location | Course Type |
| March 8-9 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
| March 18 | Internet | Lead Instructor Training |
| June 14-15 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
2021 | Location | Course Type |
| April 15-16 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
| July 1 | Internet | Lead Instructor Training |
| August 17-18 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
2020 | Location | Course Type |
| June 25-26 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
| August 13-14 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
| November 5-6 | Internet | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2, Virtual |
2019 | Location | Course Type |
| January 8-9 | San Fernando, CA | Sprout Grower Training Course in Spanish |
| January 22-23 | Forest Part, GA | Sprout Grower Training Course |
| May 6 | Chicago | Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 |
| October 9 | Brighton, CO | Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 |
| October 21 | Bedford Park, IL | Sprout Grower Training Blended Combo Course Part 2 |
2018 | Location | Course Type |
| February 13 | Phoenix, AZ | Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 |
| February 13 | Phoenix, AZ | Lead Instructor Training (in conjunction with the above Part 2 course) |
| April 16 | Tampa, FL | Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 |
| April 27 | Chatham, MA (In conjunction with ISGA annual convention) | Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 |
| July 16 | Nashville, TN | Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 |
| August 10 | Miami, FL | Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 |
2017 | Location | Course Type |
| January 10-12 | Richmond, CA | Train-The-Trainer Course |
| January 31-Feburary 2 | Miami, FL | Sprout Grower Training Course |
| April 11 - 13 | Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) | Sprout Grower + Lead Instructor Combo Course |
| April 20 - 21 | Institute for Food Safety and Health | Sprout Grower Training Course
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| April 27 - 29 | Victoria, BC, Canada (in conjunction with ISGA convention) | Sprout Grower Training Course
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| May 16 – 17 | Richmond, VA | Sprout Grower Training Course |
| June 7-8 | Whately, MA | Sprout Grower Training Course |
| June 28-29 | Austin, TX | Sprout Grower Training Course |
| July 26-27 | Cookeville, TN | Sprout Grower Training Course |
| August 23-24 | Schaumburg, IL | Sprout Grower Training Course |
2016 | Location | Course Type |
| August 30-September 1 | Chicago, IL | TTT Pilot Course |
| November 16-17 | Chicago, IL | Sprout Grower Training + Train-The-Trainer Combo Course |
| November 29-December 1 | Davis, CA | Sprout Grower Training Course |
Launch of the SSA Virtual Training
During the COVID-19 pandemic, SSA launched virtual Part 2 course of the Sprout Grower Blended Training in June 2020. It is being offered as a two 4 hour-session virtual instructor-led course. During the Part 2 course, instructors will review the material from the Part 1, focusing on five key modules. More details about the SSA Blended course can be found on the SSA Training webpage.
Teaching of the SSA Training in Spanish
The SSA Sprout Grower 2-day Training in Spanish was conducted on January 8-9, 2019 in San Fernando CA. The next Spanish course will be scheduled upon request.
Launch of the SSA Sprout Grower Training Blended Course
The SSA Sprout Grower Training Blended Course was launched on December 14, 2017. This course was developed to provide an alternative way for individuals to complete the SSA Sprout Grower Training course. The Blended course consists of two parts. Part 1 is online and Part 2 is a one-day instructor-led course.
For more information about SSA training courses, please click here.
SSA Training Curriculum Second Edition Available for Free Download
Safer Sprout Production for Produce Safety Rule Compliance
This training manual is also available for purchase from the IFPTI bookstore website.
Post-Training Survey
The survey was for individuals who have completed the SSA Training. The feedback is helpful for planning future resources and training directions.
SSA Technical Assistance Network (TAN)
SSA TAN was created for individuals to submit a sprout safety related technical question to the SSA Food Safety Experts.
The SSA Training Curriculum
The SSA Curriculum Version 1.0 is 449 pages long, including 12 chapters, the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and related documents, and 43 sample documents. Version 2.0 was developed based on the feedback received from SSA training courses and the FDA draft guidance for sprout operation.
FDA honors SSA with Award!
Participants in the SSA were recognized at the 53rd Annual FDA Honor Awards Ceremony with the Group Recognition Award. This award recognizes “superior achievement of the Agency’s mission through teamwork, partnership, shared responsibility, or fostering collaboration and coalition to achieve FDA goals.” The development of the training programs and curriculum is a truly collaborative effort between the sprout industry, academia and federal, state and local government representatives, and the SSA team is honored to be recognized for their hard work.
List of Accomplishments
- The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 (Virtual) on
April 17-18, 2024. - One Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 (In-Person) was taught by
SSA Lead Instructor Mr. Manny Wong in Cookeville, TN on April 18, 2024. - The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 (Virtual) on
May 21-22, 2024. - The International Sprout Growers Association (ISGA) held its annual conference
in Vancouver, Canada on May 20-24, 2024. Dr. Jason Wan from IFSH attended
the conference. - On June 26th, SSA hosted a webinar to highlight the changes and updates in
the FDA Sprout Guidance released in September 2023. FDA Panelists presented
insights from two updated guidance documents, outlining recommendations
for sprout operations to comply with the Produce Safety Rule. - The SSA and FDA have produced videos to demonstrate the four key
procedures required by the Produce Safety Rule. These videos are published on
the SSA website and are publicly accessible. - The Seed Safety Conference: Ensuring the Safety of Seeds for Sprouting and
Other Applications took place on August 13-14, 2024, in Chicago, IL. Dr. Tong-
Jen Fu from the FDA led the event. - The Sprout Safety Task Force Meeting took place on August 15, 2024, in Bedford
Park, IL. Dr. Tong-Jen Fu from the FDA led the event.
- SSA launched a project of filming video series to demonstrate four key procedures required by the Produce Safety Rule. Dr. Annemarie Buchholz and Dr. Yuqiao Jin participated in the filming process at International Specialty Supply in Cookeville, TN on February 13-15, 2023.
- The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 (Virtual) on March 14-15, 2023.
- The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 (Virtual) on May 2-3, 2023.
- The International Sprout Growers Association (ISGA) held its annual conference in Miami, FL on May 24-26, 2023. Yuqiao Jin attended the conference and participated in the Sprout Grower Training.
- One Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 (In-Person) was taught by SSA Lead Instructor Mr. Manny Wong in Miami, FL on May 26, 2023.
- The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 for FDA inspectors on March 8-9, 2022.
- The SSA conducted Lead Instructor Training on March 18, 2022.
- The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 on June 14-15, 2022.
- Yuqiao Jin presented an update on SSA to the members of the Vegetables & Fruits Professional Development Group at the 2022 International Association for Food Protection annual meeting in Pittsburgh, PA on July 31, 2022.
- The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 on April 15-16, 2021.
- The SSA conducted Lead Instructor Training on July 1, 2021.
- The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 on August 17-18, 2021.
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Due to the COVID pandemic, SSA launched instructor-led virtual Sprout Grower Training Part 2 Course in June 2020.
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The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 on August 13-14, 2020.
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The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 on November 5-6, 2020.
- The first-time Sprout Grower Training Course in Spanish was conducted in January 8-9 in San Fernando CA.
- The SSA conducted Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 in conjunction with the FDA inspector training FD225 course at the FDA Chicago District Office on May
- Article entitled as “Agricultural Water Testing and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule” was published on Bridge, 2018, Issue 20, page 5-8. The article authors are Don Stoeckel from the PSA, Kaiping Deng from the SSA and Phil Tocco from Michigan State University.
- Kaiping Deng presented “Water Testing Requirements for Sprout Operations” at a webinar hosted by Association of Public Health laboratories (APHL) on April 15, 2019. Most of the webinar audience were from public and private testing laboratories. The presentation highlighted the characteristics of spent sprout irrigation water, the Produce Rule requirements on the water collection and testing methods.
- Article “Sanitary Transportation of Sprouts” authored by Kaiping Deng was published on Journal “Cereal Foods World” March-April 2019, Vol. 64, No.2.
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On September 30, 2019, the SSA and ISGA co-hosted and presented a webinar “Is Listeria under Control in Your Sprout or Microgreen Operations?” to discuss Listeria concerns and the environmental monitoring program required for sprout operations.
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On November 15 2019, Kaiping Deng presented a webinar “Testing Requirements for Sprout Operations” for public and commercial testing laboratories. Sprout growers were invited to the webinar.
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SSA launched a project of filming video series to demonstrate four key procedures required by the Produce Safety Rule:
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cleaning and sanitizing sprouting equipment
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environmental monitoring in a sprout production area
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seed treatment
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spent sprout irrigation water sampling
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- Upon the availability of the online course, the SSA conducted a pilot Sprout Grower and Lead Instructor Training Combo Blended Course Part 2 on February 13, 2018.
- The SSA launched the Sprout Grower Training Blended Course Part 2 in April 2018. Some of the Part 2 courses were in conjunction with the FDA inspector training FD225 course or the International Sprout Grower Association (ISGA) Annual Convention.
- IFSH partnered with Salesforce.com, Inc. and completed the SSA Technical Assistance Network (TAN) website development. The website collects inquiries from the sprout industry and sends them to SSA Food Safety Experts (FSE) for answers.
- SSA Training Curriculum 2nd edition was finalized in March 2017. Version 2.3 is available for Free Download: Safer Sprout Production for Produce Safety Rule Compliance
This training manual is also available for purchase from the FSPCA Bookstore website - Kaiping Deng provided an update of SSA to members of the Vegetables & Fruits Professional Development Group at the 2017 International Association for Food Protection annual meeting in Tampa, FL.
- On December 7, 2017, SSA launched the Technical Assistance Network SSA TAN for individuals to submit a sprout safety related technical question to the SSA Food Safety Experts.
- SSA conducted a Post-Training Survey for individuals who have completed the SSA Training in December 2017.
- SSA launched the SSA Sprout Grower Training Blended Course on December 14, 2017. This course was developed to provide an alternative way for individuals to complete the SSA Sprout Grower Training course.
- Up to December 20, 2017, twenty-nine (29) SSA LI candidates have successfully completed a SSA LI Course and twenty-eight (28) have been approved as SSA LIs. One hundred and two (102) sprout growers from sixty-four (64) sprout operations and sixty-seven (67) federal/state inspectors have successfully completed a SSA Sprout Grower Training Course.
- The SSA hosted a FDA webinar “Final Rule for Produce Safety: Key Provisions in the Rule” on January 14, 2016. Dr. Annemarie Buchholz, Co-Lead of the Sprout Safety Alliance, and Consumer Safety Officer with Division of Produce Safety at CFSAN/FDA, provided an overview of the finalized FDA Produce Safety Rule, specifying on requirements for spout growers.
- SSA Slide Review meeting was held in Chicago, IL. Experienced produce grower trainers and sprout growers provided constructive comments on SSA training slides format and training strategies.
- SSA hosted a webinar “Upcoming SSA Training” to the SSA Education/Outreach Working Group and potential SSA trainers on 7/15/2016. Kaiping Deng presented a SSA curriculum overview, trainer qualifications, trainer development process and training timeline. Michelle Smith from FDA gave an overview on the regulatory inspection training that is being developed by FDA.
- SSA curriculum was finalized in August 2016.
- SSA Train-the-Trainer Pilot session was conducted in Chicago, IL on 8/30-9/1/2016. Six SSA Lead Instructor candidates successfully completed in this course. They also provided feedbacks on the curriculum, training method, depth of the course delivery, and admin service.
- SSA curriculum was revised to version 1.1 based of the feedback from the TTT Pilot session.
- A Sprout Grower Training & TTT Combo Course was held at IFSH on November 16-18, 2016. Nine (9) SSA Lead Instructor candidates, ten (10) sprout growers and eight (8) federal/state inspectors successfully completed this course. They also provided feedbacks on the curriculum, training method, depth of the course delivery, and admin service.
- Another Sprout Grower Training Course was taught by SSA Lead Instructor Trevor Suslow and Kaiping at UC Davis in CA on November 29 to December 1, 2016. Eight (8) sprout growers attended the course.
- SSA Technical Working Group started to review the entire curriculum I January, 2015.
- SSA hosted a FDA webinar “Implementing the Produce Rule” on May 22, 2015. Following a brief presentation about the SSA overview and progress, Ms. Fazila Shakier, Co-Lead of Phase Two FSMA Produce Implementation Workgroup, Division of Produce Safety in CFSAN/FDA, provided an overview of FDA's current thinking on the operational strategy for implementation of the Produce Safety Rule, “Implementing the Produce Rule”.
- SSA conducted a survey on training format and strategies among sprout growers around the country. Kaiping Deng presented the survey results at the United Fresh 2015 in Chicago, IL.
- Kaiping Deng provided an update of SSA to members of the Vegetables & Fruits Professional Development Group at the 2015 International Association for Food Protection annual meeting in Portland, OR.
- The FDA Produce Safety Rule- Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption was published on November 27, 2015.
- A focus group meeting of local sprout growers was held in Chicago, IL on December 2, 2015. Thirteen individuals representing sprout growers, federal/state inspectors participated in the session. The attendees provided feedbacks on the training modules taught at the meeting.
- SSA Steering Committee meeting was held to review the progress made and discuss the timeline for future activities. The technical working group reported that nine of the thirteen chapters have been completed. The education/outreach working group has been in contact with the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) to familiarize with PSA’s approaches in engaging farmers and in developing the framework for delivery of trainings.
- SSA Co-Lead Robin Kalinowski provided an overview of the history, mission, current progress and future plans of the Alliance at the United Fresh 2014 in Chicago, IL.
- SSA Co-Lead Dr. Kaiping Deng provided an update of SSA to members of the Vegetables & Fruits Professional Development Group at the 2014 International Association for Food Protection annual meeting in Indianapolis, IN.
- A pilot training/feedback session was held in Richmond, CA by the SSA in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More than 30 individuals representing sprout growers, testing service labs and California state inspectors participated in the session.
- SSA and the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA), in collaboration with the Food and Drug Association (FDA), hosted a webinar to update stakeholders on the progress of the Alliances. Special guest, Roberta Wagner, Deputy Director for Regulatory Affairs at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), provided an overview presentation on FDA's FSMA Implementation Operational Strategy, "FSMA: Where We've Been, And Where We Are Going".
- The Final Rule under FSMA for Produce: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption was released on January 4 for public comment. Specific requirements for sprout production will be covered under this Final Rule.
- A pilot training session was held on February 14 at the Institute for Food Safety and Health in Bedford Park, IL. Content developed by the Technical Working Group was presented and discussed with 15 attendees, including representatives from small and very small sprout growers from the Chicagoland area, as well as officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
- The SSA, in conjunction with the Institute for Food Safety and Health, conducted a webinar for more than 30 industry and government registrants on March 20. Produce Safety Staff from FDA-CFSAN and participants from the SSA discussed the Final Rule for produce safety, and the webinar concluded with a question and answer session.
- Stephen Grove presented recent developments and accomplishments of the SSA to attendees of the ISGA Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 15. The FDA’s proposed requirements for sprout production were also discussed, and the feedback provided from attendees was valuable to the SSA in helping to shape the curriculum development.
- A pilot training session was held on October 24 in Greenbelt, MD. Almost 40 attendees participated in the session to see updated training content developed by the Technical Working Group and to hear from the FDA about the Final Rule for produce safety. Participants from the sprout industry, state and federal government agencies discussed current industry practices and needs for the training content, providing the SSA with valuable feedback.
- Official announcement of the formation of the SSA
- Organizing and Steering Committees formed
- A Sharefile system was established for the Alliance to enable the sharing of content between participants.
- Joy Johanson discussed the SSA in a presentation at the Capital Area Food Protection Association in Washington, DC on May 17.
- A Steering Committee meeting was held in Rosemont, IL on May 30 and 31, where attendees discussed the approach to curriculum development and training, and the Technical and Education & Outreach Working Groups were formed.
- The SSA website was launched, and populated with resources, Alliance information, and contact details for interested stakeholders.
- Technical Working Group biweekly conference calls initiated, with participants including sprout growers, seed suppliers, retail representatives, academia, federal and state government representatives, auditing specialists, consultants and testing companies, from U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. Purpose of the conference calls is to discuss and develop initial training material, organized into ‘chapters’ of content.
- Members of the SSA presented initial content to attendees at the International Sprout Grower’s Association (ISGA) Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, on August 24, in order to discuss with sprout growers about the purpose and objectives of the Alliance and to obtain initial feedback on the chapter contents.
- The Education and Outreach Working Group began conducting conference calls to discuss the dissemination of information developed by the Technical Working Group.