Extension to hold food safety certification courses for volunteers, nonprofits and kitchen staff this fall

FALMOUTH, Maine—University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering food safety and related training classes for volunteers, nonprofits and kitchen staff and managers this fall at the Cumberland County Extension Office, 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104 in Falmouth. Class instructor will be Extension Professor Kathy Savoie, MS, RD.

There will be three Cooking for Crowds sessions held on September 25 and October 14 from 9 a.m.– noon, and October 29 from 1–4 p.m. Many organizations and community groups rely on volunteers for a variety of food events such as fundraising, fellowships, food pantries or other service to the community. This 3-hour workshop covers safe food handling topics designed specifically for volunteers, including storage, cook time and buffet display limits. This class meets the Good Shepherd Food Bank food safety training requirements.

The cost is $15 per person, and participants receive the Cooking for Crowds manual, a certificate of attendance, posters and thermometers. For more information and to register, visit the Cooking for Crowds page.

Individuals will have three opportunities to take the ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Course and Exam this fall: September 22, October 15 and November 16 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. This 8-hour course prepares you for the certification exam and covers the importance of food safety; good personal hygiene; time and temperature control; preventing cross-contamination; cleaning and sanitizing; safe food preparation; receiving and storing food; and methods of thawing, cooking, cooling and reheating food.

The cost is $150 which includes the ServSafe® Manager Book 9th Edition revised, diagnostic exam and practice exam which students receive approximately two weeks prior to the course. For more information and to register, visit the ServSafe® Certification page.

For more information or to request reasonable accommodation, contact Kathy Savoie at ksavoie@maine.edu.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety, and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H, which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.