Purdue University’s Cooperative Extension Service will offer a program twice next month to update vegetable growers on federal regulations involving postharvest food safety and show how they can reduce the risk of contamination.

The program will offer an update on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's produce rule as well as updates by both the Indiana Department of Health and Indiana Department of Agriculture. The workshop will include sessions on postharvest good agricultural practices, use of postharvest sanitizers, good manufacturing practices, and food safety in the retail environment.

"Food safety in produce has become a major issue due to standards set by the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Rule and recent outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to fresh produce," says Scott Monroe, Extension food safety educator. "In addition to informing growers on recently implemented regulatory standards, we will give them practical information that will enable them to reduce the risk of contamination by foodborne pathogens on their farms."

First Opportunity
Date: July 6, 2016

Location: Oaktown Produce Depot, 13990 Old U.S. 41

Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT

Second Opportunity
Date: July 12, 2016

Location: Nelson Hall of Food Science, Purdue University (West Lafayette campus)

Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT

The program is free to attend. Participants can register online.

Purdue University’s Cooperative Extension Service is one of the nation's largest providers of scientific research-based information and education. It's a network of colleges, universities, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, serving communities and counties across America.

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