{"id":8165,"date":"2014-01-24T11:26:41","date_gmt":"2014-01-24T16:26:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=8165"},"modified":"2014-03-10T09:25:40","modified_gmt":"2014-03-10T13:25:40","slug":"food-safety-training-workshops-for-fruit-and-vegetable-producers-offered-across-the-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2014\/01\/24\/food-safety-training-workshops-for-fruit-and-vegetable-producers-offered-across-the-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Safety Training workshops for Fruit and Vegetable Producers Offered Across the State"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by Edwin Remsberg<\/p><\/div>\n

Annapolis, MD \u00a0– The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and University of Maryland Extension (UME) will be conducting a series of regional food safety training workshops for fruit and vegetable producers.<\/p>\n

These one-day workshops, offered across Maryland, are important for small- and large- scale producers who want to understand how to meet current and proposed U.S. Food and Drug Administration food safety requirements or are considering Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certification. The training will provide assistance in writing and implementing a GAP program for both wholesale growers and direct marketers.<\/p>\n

Topics to be covered include: highlights of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act; Good Agricultural Practices such as addressing pre-harvest and post-harvest water quality issues; an update on current food safety research; writing a food safety plan; and MDA\/University of Maryland programs to assist producers in implementing GAP. A large portion of the training will be spent helping producers write their own food safety plans. Producers are encouraged to bring their own laptops. Laptops will also be provided to those who cannot bring them.<\/p>\n

The workshop schedule is below. Each workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee for the program is $25 and covers lunch and materials. Attendees will receive a certificate of participation after the program. Register online at: http:\/\/ter.ps\/MDgaps<\/p>\n