# Implementation of the Produce Safety Rule in South Carolina to Enhance Safety in Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

> **NIH FDA U18** · SC STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE · 2020 · $769,946

## Abstract

Project Summary
Project Title: Implementation of the Produce Safety Rule in South Carolina to Enhance Safety in
Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Project Description: The South Carolina Department of Agriculture, Consumer Protection Division, is
seeking funds to assist in building the infrastructural resources needed to implement the Food Safety
Modernization Act – Produce Safety Rule. The project outlined in this proposal will expand the current
food and feed safety regulatory programs, strengthen partnerships in the food safety industry, and create a
comprehensive, coordinated system to support the efforts for a nationally integrated food safety system
that encourages the safe production of fresh fruits and vegetables, and to understand and be compliant
with the requirements of the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule.
Project Goals: The proposed project will develop a broad coalition of produce and food safety experts in
South Carolina to work with the more than 5,000 growers of fruits and vegetables here. This team will
provide leadership, knowledge and technical expertise needed to complete a comprehensive assessment
and inventory of the state regulatory foundation, and the resources needed to successfully execute and
maintain the goals established by the Strategic Plan that is to be developed to align the Consumer
Protection Division’s goals and activities with the Produce Safety Rule of the Food Safety Modernization
Act.
Expected Outcomes: As a result of this project, the comprehensive produce safety team in SC will
encompass SCDA, Clemson University, Clemson Extension, and Federal partners such as the FDA, who
will work together to achieve an integrated approach to educating and assisting the specialty crop growers
to become compliant with the Produce Safety Rule.
Project Objectives:
1) Perform a comparison between the SC Food and Cosmetic Act and the Produce Safety Rule,
 including any needed revisions as they relate to the authority legally granted to SCDA for on-
 farm inspections, sampling agreements, enforcement strategies, training, education, and/or
 technical assistance.
2) Determine resources needed to conduct activities and align the specialty crop industry to be
 aligned with the Produce Safety Rule. These activities shall include the identification of metrics
 and development of models for training, technical support and assistance, information
 technology, laboratory capabilities, and inspection/compliance activities.
3) Develop and implement a Strategic Plan to ensure all goals and milestones of this project are
 being achieved, and that all resources are being utilized to align SCDA’s Produce Regulatory
 Team with the intent of the Produce Safety Rule.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9966749
- **Project number:** 5U18FD005919-05
- **Recipient organization:** SC STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Dorton
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $769,946
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-05 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9966749

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9966749, Implementation of the Produce Safety Rule in South Carolina to Enhance Safety in Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (5U18FD005919-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9966749. Licensed CC0.

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