Upcoming Workshops with Atina Diffley: MOFGA’s 2019 Food Safety Track

Produce Farmers Are Food Handlers! Let’s Do It Profitably

For more information and to register: MOFGA Events

Food Safety Workshop with Atina Diffley

January 31 – February 1, 2019
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
$30 registration, limited space
MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center, Unity

Integrating food safety systems into postharvest practices and market relationships supports the development of farm systems that are viable, cost-effective, and scale appropriate. This two-day food safety workshop is hands-on and designed for active learning. Farmers will: do risk assessments in the classroom to identify potential hazards; discuss all the areas of food safety on the farm and ways to implement cost-effective strategies in line with the work; discuss record keeping systems that support decision-making, and maximize profitability while also meeting food safety requirements. Class participants receive a free 3-ring binder food safety plan template and a copy of “Wholesale (or) Direct Market Success” (farmer’s choice).

Family Farmed and MOFGA partner to offer this two-day workshop with Atina Diffley at the MOFGA Education Center, Unity, Maine. This training was made possible by USDA Risk Management Education funds.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This workshop may satisfy staff training requirements as described in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule in §§ 112.21(a) and (b). As there is not yet an equivalency evaluation process, the workshop does not currently satisfy supervisor training described in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule 21 CFR Subpart C § 112.22(c).

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training at MOFGA

February 8 (snow date Feb. 15), 2019
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center, Unity

Register online by Feb. 1.

Learn about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements. Time for questions and discussion; participants will share their experiences and produce safety questions. Offered in collaboration with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and AgMatters LLC.

The PSA Grower Training Course satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c).

Post-Harvest Handling and Packshed Design with Atina Diffley

Post-Harvest Handling on March 4, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Packing Shed Design on March 5, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Note: These back-to-back workshops can be attended individually, but registration priority will be given to those attending both.

$30/person for both days, includes lunch each day, or $15/person for one day, includes lunch.

Day 1 focuses on post-harvest handling, the cold chain and efficiency of systems, quality and safety throughout the process – harvest, cleaning, cooling, packing, storing, transport.

Day 2 is Packing Shed Design. Active drawing and design. Attendees of both days will utilize their post-harvest handout from day 1 in the design of a packinghouse.

These workshops are hands-on and designed for active learning. Class participants receive a copy of Direct Market Success or Wholesale Market Success. This training will place farmers in an excellent position to implement both efficient postharvest practices and a food safety plan for their farm.

Family Farmed and MOFGA partner to offer this two-day workshop with Atina Diffley at the MOFGA Education Center, Unity, Maine. This training was made possible by USDA Risk Management Education funds.