A select group of papaya growers successfully completed the pilot training for the Food Safety Best Practices Guide for the Growing and Handling of Mexican Papaya on June 17, 2020. FoodSafety CTS developed the online training material along with the support and review by the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) and the ProExport Papaya grower association in Mexico. Training is now open to the public beginning June 26 through July 7, right on-time to prepare for the coming papaya season.
Dante Galeazzi, President, and CEO of TIPA, said:
“Just as the papayas we consume were planted, watered and cared for overtime, now, witnessing the fruition of these training validates the hard work and many hours poured into the development and dedication of this platform to provide safer papaya for North American consumers. We are excited to announce Virtual Training Courses are now open for registration.”
Targeted for the growers and handlers of Mexican papayas, this training aims to bring the entire industry up to a higher base-line for food safety and minimize the potential of a future outbreak. The training and the training material will be in Spanish and hosted online for at least the first three months, due to the current pandemic and health & safety reasons. Current dates set for the online training are as follows: June 26, 29 & 30, and July 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7. These 8 classes are just the beginning and more classes will be offered as demand merits. Registration for each class closes 5 days before the class.
The cost is $100 per person ($97 for course costs, $3 for payment processing). Classes have a minimum of 15 people and a maximum of 25 people. Participants will receive a training manual/workbook and a certificate upon successful completion of the course. The course takes 8 hours and is 100% online but it is taught in a live-format with an instructor and 2 assistant instructors.
Registration link here: http://www.foodsafetycts.com/papaya