It said that the move is to help growers and producers of fruit, vegetables and nuts to be able to comply with certain requirements under the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

OSU and its partners will use the funding to develop trainers to teach others how to conduct workshops for small and mid-sized farms, beginner farmers and small-scale food processors and wholesale produce vendors.

“Small farms and food processors have limited technical and financial means to comply with the FSMA rules, unlike large farming operations and food manufacturers," said Robert McGorrin, the centre's lead director and head of OSU's Food Science and Technology Department. “This centre will provide a large number of trainers across the region with the technical assistance to help them comply with the new rules.”

OSU and its partners plan to work with The Produce Safety Alliance and the Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance to develop trainers. The aim is to have at least two dozen lead trainers and around 200 other people as certified trainers.