US (FL): Building your own food safety manual

If you plan to develop a Food Safety Program for your fruit and/or vegetable farming operations, field or greenhouse, this one day workshop is for you. Most intermediate or large chain store buyers now require some level of food safety program from each farm before they buy. Even smaller operations selling directly to consumers may be advised to develop a manual for their farm. This issue has become an important component of doing everyday business on today’s farms and will be even more important in the future.

The University of Florida/IFAS Cooperative Extension Service is offering a one day workshop to help growers actually develop their own food safety manuals. When you complete this one day workshop, you will have built the main parts of your own food safety manual.

The classes will be done on a computer (one laptop provided per farm if needed) and will be limited to 20 farms, using a web-based food safety manual development program. Those growers needing assistance on the computer can bring a computer savvy helper.

The classes will all be held at the UF/IFAS Brevard County Extension Office (3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, FL 32926). The registration fee is $35.00 for the first person representing a farm and $15.00 for an additional attendee. The registration fee includes refreshments and lunch for the day. This training is supported with funding from a Specialty Crops Block Grant through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Click here for more information and to register.