Food Safety Workshop for Local Farmers and Distributors Sept. 18

A training workshop uniquely tailored to help local farmers develop and implement a food-safety plan for their business will be offered Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hamakua Mushrooms in Paauilo.

The workshop is one of only two in the state and the only one offered on the Big Island.

The training is meant to provide farmers, distributors, exporters, and processors with a better understanding of evolving supplier food safety requirements.

Attendees will learn how to build a customized food safety plan based on their own specific business.

The workshop will include hands-on demonstrations, presentations, and talks with national experts and is sponsored by the Produce Marketing Association, the University of Hawaii-Manoa-CTAHR, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Costco, Safeway, Subway, and Sodexo.

Food safety on the farm is a critical concern for Big Island commercial produce growers because consumers are becoming more educated and concerned about food safety issues.

Registration until Monday, Sept. 17, is $25; onsite registration is $35. Registration and continental breakfast starts at 8 a.m., with the food safety training workshop starting at 9 a.m. Lunch is provided with registration.

For more information on the food safety program, go to http://4aghawaii.org/Food_Safety.html. To register for the workshop call Luisa Castro at CTAHR Maui at (808) 244-3242 ext.232, email luisac@hawaii.edu, or buy tickets directly at http://hilogapsmeeting.eventbrite.com.