# Strategies to Enhance Produce Safety on Virginia Farms for Implementation of FDA’s Produce Rule

> **NIH FDA U18** · VA ST DEPT/ AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SRVS · 2020 · $545,223

## Abstract

Project Summary
Project Title: Strategies to Enhance Produce Safety on Virginia Farms for Implementation of FDA’s
Produce Safety Rule
Project Description: We intend to develop a plan to implement the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule. This
project will be a collaborative effort between FDA, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. This plan will include education and
training for produce farmers covered under the rule, as well as implementation of a regulatory program
which will include regulator training.
Project Goals: The proposed project will develop a strategic plan for alignment of Virginia’s regulations
and activities with FDA’s Produce Safety Rule. Goals include establishing an inventory of covered
produce farms, providing farmers with education of, and training on, the Produce Safety Rule,
completing an assessment of Virginia’s regulatory authority for produce safety and the resources
needed to develop a successful program, and implement the program.
Expected Outcomes: We believe that the partnerships and strategic plans that will emerge from the
work outlined in this proposal will create a federal-state relationship which will leverage the existing
expertise, knowledge and resources of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University which will result in consistent and
successful on-farm inspections.
Project Objectives:
1) Develop and maintain an inventory of produce farms covered under the rule, including a mechanism
to share the data with the FDA.
2) Determine resources needed to conduct activities under a state produce safety rule that has been
aligned with FDA’s Produce Safety Rule (identify metrics & develop models for training, technical
support/assistance, information technology, inspection/compliance activities).
3) Develop and implement a plan that includes educating producers on produce safety and providing
regulatory oversight of the farming of covered produce. The plan will include on-farm inspections,
sampling, enforcement, training, education and technical assistance.
Budget: $500,000 for year one, $725,000 for year two, $755,000 for year three, $770,000 for year four
and $875,000 year for five, totaling $3,625,000 for the five year grant period.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9967815
- **Project number:** 5U18FD005901-05
- **Recipient organization:** VA ST DEPT/ AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SRVS
- **Principal Investigator:** Erik Ashley Bungo
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $545,223
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-05 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9967815

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9967815, Strategies to Enhance Produce Safety on Virginia Farms for Implementation of FDA’s Produce Rule (5U18FD005901-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9967815. Licensed CC0.

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