UACES Facebook Cooperative Extension Service workshops teach growers best practices to safeguard food supply
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Cooperative Extension Service workshops teach growers best practices to safeguard food supply

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Jan. 9, 2020 

Fast Facts:

  • Cooperative Extension Service offers training to help Arkansas produce growers comply with federal rules and obtain needed certification
  • Workshops will be offered in Little Rock, Fayetteville and Jonesboro
  • $35 to attend; register at www.uaex.uada.edu/producesafety

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LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service will offer produce safety training workshops, designed to help Arkansas producers comply with new federal training requirements designed to safeguard the U.S. food supply.

Produce-Safety-2020

There will be three workshops, offered in the central, northeastern and northwestern areas of the state.

The training, developed by the Produce Safety Alliance and presented by the Cooperative Extension Service, helps growers understand regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. The rule is the first federally regulated standard for growing, harvesting, packing and holding fresh produce.

Training will be offered 8 a.m-5 p.m. at these sites:  

  • Feb. 11 – Cooperative Extension Service, 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock
  • March 17 – Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1371 W. Altheimer Dr., Fayetteville
  • April 14 – Craighead County Extension Office, 611 E. Washington Ave., Jonesboro 

Topics covered will include agricultural water, soil amendments, worker health and hygiene, wildlife management, post-harvest handling, and food safety plans. Participants will receive a certificate of completion, which satisfies the Produce Safety Rule training requirement.

“Many Arkansas growers are affected by this,” said Amanda Perez, assistant professor for agriculture and natural resources for the Division of Agriculture. “Ultimately, the goal is to reduce microbial contamination and food-borne illness outbreaks.”

Participants must register in advance. Registration is $35 and includes lunch, snacks and beverages. For more information or to register, visit www.uaex.uada.edu/producesafety.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.

 

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Amanda Perez at 501-671-2228 or email aperez@uada.edu as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

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Media Contact: Tracy Courage
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
tcourage@uada.edu 

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