Training for Fresh Produce Microbial Pathogen Testing Upcoming

Gary Cooper General, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Fresh Produce Microbial Pathogen Testing Webinar Set for November 20, 2008
DAVIS, CA (October 21, 2008) – The UC Davis Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center, in collaboration with the Center for Produce Safety is proud to announce the first in a series of distance-education Fresh Produce Executive Forum Webinars. Starting November 20, 2008 with launch of the first webinar entitled Fresh Produce Microbial Pathogen Testing: Program Components & Considerations, you can keep up-to-date and current on various hot topic produce issues without ever leaving the comfort of your office.

Microbial testing has become increasingly used in the fresh produce industry as a means of assuring the safety of produce. “How effective produce microbial testing is at enhancing the safety of fresh produce depends on many factors and considerations” said Dr. Jim Gorny executive director of UC Davis Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center. “Understanding what these key factors and considerations are and how they can most effectively be managed to design and implement a microbial pathogen testing program that makes sense for your enterprise is what participants will glean from this webinar.”

This webinar is intended to provide valuable information to food safety, quality assurance, operations and business management produce executives to allow them to make informed business decisions regarding produce microbial pathogen testing. The webinar will provide valuable information to produce growers, shippers, packers, fresh-cut processors, distributors, retailers and food service operators.

When: November 20, 2008 10:00 am Pacific Time / 1:00 pm Eastern Time

Duration: 90 minutes with an opportunity for participant questions and answers after each topic.

What Microbial Pathogen Testing Can and Can’t Do
James R. Gorny, Ph.D. UC Davis

Key Factors & Considerations in Designing a Produce Pathogen Testing Program
Trevor V. Suslow, Ph.D. UC Davis

Legal & Regulatory Considerations of a Produce Pathogen Testing Program
Leslie Krasny, Keller & Heckman LLP

More detailed information about the UC Davis Fresh Produce Executive Forum Webinar Series: including on-line registration for the November 20, 2008 webinar on Fresh Produce Microbial Pathogen Testing: Program Components & Considerations may be found at: http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Announce/executive-series.html

Attendees may register for this and other upcoming educational outreach activities sponsored by the Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center via the web at http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu or by contacting Ms. Pam Devine, registration coordinator, at (530) 754-4326 or pwdevine@ucdavis.edu.

The mission of the University of California Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center is to reduce postharvest losses and improve the quality, value, and safety of produce available to consumers. Visit the center at http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu. Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center, Department of Plant Sciences/MS2, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, Tel: (530) 752-6941, Fax: (530) 754-4326, E-mail: postharvest@ucdavis.edu.

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