Food Safety and Postharvest Handling Workshop Offered
Posted: February 8, 2013
How fresh produce is handled after harvest has a critical impact on its shelf life, quality and safety. Farmers interested in learning about tools, techniques and philosophies for proper handling of their specialty crops are invited to attend a postharvest handling and food safety workshop hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach on March 8.
The free workshop will feature Atina Diffley, a former co-owner of Gardens of Eagan and a Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service board member. Diffley will draw on her years of experience in vegetable production and marketing to provide growers with useful, practical and profit-making guidance on how to achieve the highest quality of sale.
The workshop will be hosted live on the ISU campus in Ames and broadcast to 12 locations throughout Iowa on March 8 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Northeast Iowa producers may view the presentation at several locations: the NE Iowa Dairy Foundation Center in Calmar, or the ISU Extension offices in Buchanan or Dubuque counties.
Each grower will receive a free copy of the third edition of the Wholesale Success: A Farmers Guide to Food Safety, Postharvest Handling, Packing and Selling Produce manual, edited by FamilyFarmed.org President Jim Slama and farmer Atina Diffley. The recently revised, 312 page book is the definitive training source on selling into wholesale markets. It includes topics such as: Calculating Return on Investment; Cleaning, Drying, and Curing Produce; Traceability; Packing Shed Design; and Maintaining the Cold Chain.
Wholesale Success builds the capacity of farmers to meet the burgeoning demand for locally/regionally grown fruits and vegetables. Adopting best practices in food safety, postharvest handling, packing, and business management will help farmers be more efficient and profitable. It will also give buyers an incentive to increase their purchases of locally grown food.
Registration is required. Click here to register or call Teresa Wiemerslage, ISU Extension at 563-794-0599 to reserve a spot and book.
