Veggies From Mexico kicks off its 2026-2027 Annual Training Program
During August, Veggies From Mexico launched its 2026-2027 Annual Training Program, focused on providing knowledge and updates to professionals who are part of the farming community.
For some years, through Eleven Rivers Growers, this program has been promoted with the purpose of offering knowledge, tools, and updates to food safety and certification managers, coordinators, technicians, agronomists, and other professionals involved in farming production.
The activities started at the facilities of the Farmers’ Association of the Southern Fuerte River (AARFS A.C.) in Los Mochis, with training sessions focused on relevant subjects for the development of activities during the farming season.
Supervision of Food Safety and Security Practices
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The first training session, “Key Points in the Supervision of Food Safety and Security Practices”, was led by Tommy Alfaro and Biochemical Engineer Diego Corrales, professionals with experience in the implementation, monitoring, and supervision of programs within farming companies.
During the session, participants analyzed the importance of the activities they develop within farming companies, and the role they play in the proper implementation of food safety and security programs.
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Also, the importance of supervising and verifying processes, identifying areas of opportunity, and following up on established practices in order to contribute to continuous improvement within operations were emphasized.
The training also allowed attendees to exchange experiences, who shared situations and practices implemented in their own farming companies, as well as raising questions related to their daily activities.
BUMA Seminar
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As part of the program, the BUMA Seminar was also held, participating Carlos Batiz and Ignacio Caro in it, both Certified Crop Advisers (CCA); Diego Herrera from AMOCALI – Clean Field Program; and Gerardo Partida from OrganiCrops.
The variety of profiles and areas of expertise from the four speakers allowed addressing subjects related to different stages and needs of farming production.
Throughout the seminar, subjects including the CCA International Certification Program were addressed, basic concepts for achieving efficient applications, safe and responsible management of empty pesticide containers, as well as new strategies for controlling Thrips parvispinus and other pests of agricultural importance.
During the sessions, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and share concerns directly with the speakers, mostly with regard to the application of this knowledge in the field and the situations they face within their companies.
Food Safety Culture and Crisis Management
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In this training, lectured by MSc. Aurea Hernandez from Meraki Training and Advisory Center and SCS Global Services Mexico, participants learned about subjects related to the cornerstones of the food safety culture, as defined by GFSI; the leadership and involvement of the staff, effective communication, risk assessment, and the development of crisis management plans to strengthen prevention and decision-making.
In addition to the theoretical component, participants developed activities to analyze how food safety culture is experienced within a farming company. Using the cornerstones of Leadership, Involvement, and Awareness, one of the attending companies was taken as an example to identify whether a food safety culture existed and how effective it was.
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As part of the exercise, questions were made about everyday situations within operations: whether supervisors demonstrate through their actions that food safety is a priority, whether staff is able to answer questions about food safety or report situations without fear, whether they know the specific hazards of each area, and what positive behaviors can be identified in the workplace.
The dynamic promoted the involvement of attendees, who shared experiences and opinions about the situations they face in their companies. The conversation also highlighted that developing a food safety culture across all staff can be challenging; however, when integrated into daily activities, it can help save time and resources while contributing to a better work environment.
PrimusGFS 4.0 Change Control and IPC Module 9
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To conclude the series of training events for technicians from farming companies affiliated with AARFS, the training “PrimusGFS 4.0 Change Control and IPC Module 9” was lectured by Linda Soto Landin from SCS Global Services Mexico.
During the training, the main changes in PrimusGFS 4.0 were reviewed, including IPC Module 9, in order to understand the new requirements, identify the necessary adjustments, and prepare for a timely transition into the new version.
Participants were able to ask questions related to the new requirements and analyze how these changes should be incorporated into both the processes and activities currently being developed within their farming companies.
Among the profiles of attendees across the different training sessions were food safety, quality, and certification coordinators and managers, as well as technical staff from farming companies.
Throughout the sessions, participants demonstrated a great deal of interest in the subjects, asked questions, shared concerns with the speakers, and discussed how to apply the knowledge acquired into their daily operations within the companies.
These initial activities set the beginning of the 2026-2027 Annual Training Program of Veggies From Mexico, which will continue with different various training sessions intended at strengthening knowledge and keeping professionals within our farming community updated.
The following training courses will be held by the end of August and during the first days of September at the Farmers’ Association of the Culiacan River (AARC).
Learn more at:
https://veggiesfrommexico.com/es/nuestra-comunidad/
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