Wilson Hosts Free Educational Session for Farmers on Aug. 18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Aug. 12, 2016

Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College will host an educational meeting for produce growers and handlers on the impact of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new Food Safety and Modernization Act on their operations. The meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, at Wilson’s Fulton Farm.

The meeting, being held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, Penn State Extension and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, is intended for growers whose buyers require third-party certification – “produce audits” – to allow them to market wholesale produce, according to Chris Mayer, director of Wilson’s Fulton Center for Sustainable Living.

Mayer said a state Department of Agriculture produce auditor will be on hand to walk growers through mock produce audit of Fulton Farm, reviewing the farm’s food safety plan and answering such questions as “Would your farm pass a food safety audit?” and “How much paperwork is involved?”

The meeting is free, but registration is requested and can be made by visiting http://extension.psu.edu/food/safety and clicking on “Produce Mock Audit Twilight Meeting” under “Upcoming Events, or by contacting Penn State Extension Farm Food Safety Educator Jeff Stoltzfus at 717-394-6851.

“Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) are voluntary audits that verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards,” according to the state Dept. of Agriculture website. “GAP and GHP audits verify adherence to the recommendations made in the (FDA’s) Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables and industry-recognized food safety practices.”

According to the FDA website, “The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the most sweeping reform of our food safety laws in more than 70 years, was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011. It aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it.”

For more information, contact FCSL Director Chris Mayer at 717-264-4141, Ext. 3247, or at christine.mayer@wilson.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT:       
Chris Mayer, Fulton Center for Sustainable Living Director
Phone: 717-264-4141, Ext. 3247
Email: christine.mayer@wilson.edu

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Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 31 majors and master’s degrees in education, the humanities, accountancy, management, nursing, fine arts and healthcare management for sustainability. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation.

Located in Chambersburg, Pa., the college had a fall 2015 enrollment of 923, which included students from 23 states and 14 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.