Hello, members and supporters of the SW FL Small Farmers Network. We are pleased to share with you the announcement below of a local event that provides the latest information about farm food safety plans for your farm operations and enterprises. As you know, food safety concerns continue to be at the forefront for agriculture producers of all sizes and products. We hope that this event may be useful for your efforts in promoting food safety on your farm. Please, feel free to share this email with your associates and fellow producers who may also be interested.
Farm Food Safety Plan Workshop – Offered by UF/IFAS Extension
SARASOTA, FL – The University of Florida/IFAS Cooperative Extension Service of Sarasota County will be offering a one-day workshop to help growers develop their own food safety manuals. At the end of the workshop, your farm will have a ready to print copy of a complete safety manual and plan.
The workshop will be done on a computer (one laptop will be provided for in-house use per farm if necessary) using a web-based food safety manual development program. The workshop will be limited to 15 farms on a first come first serve basis. Each farm may bring an additional person for those farmers needing computer assistance.
The content of this workshop is developed by the UF/IFAS Small Farms Academy. This workshop is partially supported by a grant through the Florida Specialty Crops Block Grants program from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service.
Robert Kluson, Ph.D., AG Extension Agent for Sarasota County and Roy Beckford, AG Extension Agent for Lee County, will conduct the training and advise that “fruit and vegetable farm operators would be wise to take advantage of these workshops as most intermediate or large chain store buyers now require some level of food safety program to be in place for each farm before they buy. Even smaller operations selling directly to consumers are encouraged to develop a manual for their farm as food safety will become even more important in the future.”
The registration fee is $30.00/person, which includes lunch and refreshments. All educational materials in the Food Safety Tool Kit will be provided for the farms through the grant. Registration is confirmed when a registration form and payment is received. Online registration is found on the education events calendar at http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/. The first 15 farms to register will be accepted.
For more information, call Robert Kluson at (941) 232-3090 or email rkluson@scgov.net.
Who: University of Florida/IFAS Extension Sarasota County
What: Farm’s Food Safety Manual and Plan Workshop
When: June 14, 2013 - 9:00am – 4:00pm
Where: Green Room Auditorium, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34241
Why: To help farmers/growers build their own Food Safety Manual and Plan
Thanks,
Robert A. Kluson, Ph.D.
Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agent III
UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County
Community Services Business Center
6700 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34241
(941) 861-9849 (ofc); (941-232-3090 (c)
"There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" - Robert Kennedy
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