Vegetable and Fruit Safety Course Offered April 20, 2009 at OARDC
March 23, 2009
Recent outbreaks of E. coli O157 and Salmonella in fresh produce, coupled with heightened media coverage of such events, have thrust fruit and vegetable safety into the forefront of public attention. Growers producing fruit and vegetables for direct-to-sale farm markets or for sale through a third-party are facing scrutiny and a greater need to implement on-farm food safety assurance practices.
To that end the OSU Vegetable and Fruit Food Safety team is offering a one-day course on good agricultural practices. The course is directed for growers selling fresh vegetables/fruit direct to consumers or through a third-party and will focus on several areas of food safety for fresh fruits and vegetables with many key topics to be covered, including: Good Agricultural Practices, Understanding/Reducing Risks of Microbial Contamination During Production, Pre Harvest Food Safety Issues, Post Harvest Food Safety Issues, Packing House Sanitation, Water Sanitation, Third Party Certification Overview, and an On-site Mock Audit.
Printed and/or electronic resource materials will be provided to each participant. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with numerous instructors from the OSU Vegetable and Fruit Food Safety team throughout the training. Teaching and resource personnel include: Dr. Douglas Doohan, Dr. Jeffrey LeJeune, Mr. Mark Koenig, Mr. Harold Kneen, Mr. Andy Kleinschmidt and Mr. Terry Kline.
A registration fee of $50 per participant includes the one-day training, all resource materials, refreshments and lunch. In order to keep the learning environment engaging, registration will be limited to 50. Download the registration brochure below. Registration questions: Tim Koch, koch.1@osu.edu, 330-466-4895; general course questions: Andy Kleinschmidt, kleinschmidt.5@osu.edu, 419-516-4829.
What: Food Safety for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Course
When: April 20th, 2009, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Fisher Auditorium, OARDC Campus, Wooster, OH (http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/centernet/oardcmap.htm)
Who: Growers raising fresh fruits and/or vegetables for direct sale
Fee: $50 per participant
RSVP: registration and payment must be received by April 13.
Registration brochure here
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Entry Filed under: Fruit and Vegetable Production, safety. Tags: E coli, food safety, foodborne illness, GAPs, good agricultural practices, OSU Vegetable and Fruit Food Safety Team.
Andy Kleinschmidt is an Extension Educator and Assistant Professor with Ohio State University Extension. 
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