Fresh & Safe: New Specialist Food Safety Training Launches for Fresh Produce

The Fresh Produce Academy's two-day, CIEH Assured programme gives growers, packers and technical teams the tools to tackle microbiological risk before it becomes an incident.

How confident are you that your business is prepared for the next food safety challenge? From growing and harvesting to packing and distribution, microbiological risks can threaten product safety, consumer confidence and business reputation in equal measure.

To help the industry answer that question with confidence, The Fresh Produce Academy – formed by the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) to provide outstanding, industry-focused training – has launched Fresh & Safe.

This new, specialist two-day programme is designed to help fresh produce professionals identify risks, prevent contamination and make confident, informed food safety decisions.

Built for fresh produce

This is not just another food safety course. Generic programmes rarely reflect the realities of a crop grown in open fields, irrigated, harvested by hand and eaten raw. Fresh & Safe has been developed specifically for the fresh produce industry, bringing together expert knowledge, practical exercises, real-world case studies and interactive, face-to-face learning.

Delivered in person over two days and ten specialist modules, the programme shows delegates how to:

• Spot the risks – identify microbiological hazards and understand how contamination can occur across the fresh produce supply chain.

• Prevent contamination – strengthen controls around water, soil, crop inputs, worker hygiene, equipment and handling.

• Make informed decisions – apply risk assessment principles, microbiological testing and verification to everyday operations.

• Meet industry expectations – build understanding of food safety requirements, assurance standards and best practice.

• Be prepared – improve the approach to food safety incidents, traceability, corrective actions and crisis management.

Learn from the experts

What sets Fresh & Safe apart is the combination of recognised quality and practical relevance. The course is CIEH Assured, providing quality-assured, structured professional training, and is pitched at Level 3 equivalent, offering the in-depth learning needed to strengthen technical knowledge.

It is expert-led, with delegates learning directly from experienced fresh produce industry specialists. Because it is interactive and face-to-face, there is room to discuss real challenges, ask questions and share experiences with peers facing the same pressures. And it is practical and relevant: the aim is for every delegate to leave with knowledge they can apply directly within their own business.

Who should attend

Fresh & Safe is designed for anyone with a stake in getting food safety right. That includes growers, technical managers, quality assurance professionals, food safety specialists, farm and packhouse managers, and those working across the wider fresh produce supply chain.

For businesses, it offers a way to strengthen technical capability across a team; for individuals, it is a valuable investment in professional development.

Dates, cost and how to book

Bookings are now open for the first two courses:

• 24–25 November 2026 – Sittingbourne, Kent

• 9–10 December 2026 – East Coast, Scotland

Further course dates are planned for January, February and March 2027.

The course costs £750 + VAT per delegate for the full two-day programme – just £375 + VAT per day to invest in specialist food safety knowledge and professional development.

Download the Fresh & Safe course flyer to explore the programme and upcoming dates.

Download the Fresh & Safe booking form, then complete it, save it and return it to infor@freshproduce.org.uk to secure your place.

For questions or more information, contact caroline@freshproduce.org.uk.

Prevention over cure

The message from The Fresh Produce Academy is clear: don't wait for a food safety incident to expose the gaps. Invest in the knowledge to prevent one.

Protect your produce. Protect consumers. Protect your business.