The FDA finalized the provisions under FSMA's Produce Safety Rule regarding agricultural water used during the growing season in produce farms in 2024. The final Pre-harvest Agricultural Water Rule requires that farms use a systems-based approach to assess hazards and implement corrective actions when necessary to prevent microbial contamination.
As farms implement these provisions, the NC State University Produce Safety Team wants to provide you with the tools and knowledge necessary to conduct agricultural water assessments. In 2026, compliance dates for covered farms and small covered farms will be in effect. Produce farms in these categories must comply with these provisions and have documentation ready for regulatory inspections.
If you are a produce farmer, plan to join our team at one of the Final Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Rule for Produce Farmsworkshops that we will hosting around the state.