FDA has set tiered compliance dates for "covered farms" ( farms that are not exempt or not covered by the PS Rule) based on sales. Covered farms must comply with specific provisions under the Produce Safety Rule. To determine a farm's status under the law review the Template to determine where your farm falls under the PSR for 2026. Only after it has been determined that the farm is a covered farm, then determine what the average produce sales are for the last three years to figure out when does your farm have to comply with the different provisions in the PSR.
| Covering |
Covered Very small farms/ businesses (>$25K-$250K produce sales) |
Covered Small farms/ businesses (>$250K-$500K produce sales) |
Covered All other farms/ businesses (>$500K produce sales) |
| Most provisions in the PS Rule | 1/27/2020 | 1/28/2019 | 1/26/2018 |
| Preharvest water provisions | 4/5/2027 | 4/6/2026 | 4/7/2025 |
| Water used at harvest and post harvest provisions | 1/26/2025 | 1/26/2024 | 1/26/2023 |
| Sprouts | 1/28/2019 | 1/26/2018 | 1/26/2017 |
For the purposes of this part, the definitions below are based on the average annual monetary value of produce sold during the previous 3-year period.
- A very small business is defined as a covered farm that sells no more than $250,000.
- A small business is defined as a covered farm that sells no more than $500,000.
- All other businesses are defined as covered farms whose sales are greater than $500,000.
