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There is a lot to report since last month.  Here are the highlights:

Additional details are provided below. 

FoodHubNECAFS/NEASDA Annual Meeting Summary Featured in Feb Webinar
Please join us on Friday, February 24th, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM for the NECAFS/NEASDA Annual Meeting Summary Webinar.  Chris Callahan (NECAFS) and Michael Botelho (NEASDA) will provide a summary of the joint annual meeting held on Jan. 10th in Boston.

This webinar is intended for everyone, whether you attended the annual meeting or had to miss it.

The goals for this presentation are to:
  • reinforce what was discussed for those in attendance;
  • answer questions you might have now after taking time to reflect on the meeting;
  • provide information to those there were not in attendance; and
  • articulate action items coming out of the meeting.

There will be plenty of time to ask questions and engage in further discussion with the presenters. 

 

Register and Add Webinar to your calendar.  

 

This webinar is open to the public so please invite others that might be interested. 

SoilSoil Summit to Discuss Soil Amendments used by Produce Growers
The Produce Safety Alliance and The Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University will host a Soil Summit on March 28th & 29th in Geneva, NY The summit will begin by setting the stage to discuss the current efforts of the United States Food and Drug Administration's to conduct additional research and a risk assessment in response to the concerns raised during the FSMA Produce Rule comment period.  The FSMA Produce Safety Rule standards include a section addressing "Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin and Human Waste".  

The primary focus of the summit will be to outline the benefits and challenges of raw manure use in growing produce, transitioning to use of compost when possible, and identifying management strategies to minimize food safety risks associated with the use of all soil amendments.

Register and get more information on the Soil Summit.

TopicsWhat Topics would You Like Covered in NECAFS Monthly Webinar?
Is there a food safety topic you would like to see featured during one of NECAFS monthly webinars?  The goals for the monthly webinar are to provide information on any range of food safety topics that will help those in the region better understand the FSMA related research and education projects in the region and to make connections with those working in similar areas.  Additionally, the webinars serve to provide updates on FSMA implementation efforts by our stakeholders. 

If there is a topic that you would like to see discussed OR if you would like to present on a project or effort, please let us know.  The webinars strive to facilitate discussion based on feedback from our regional partners. 
UpcomingTrainingUpcoming PSA and FSPCA Trainings in the Region
Upcoming PSA Grower Trainings in our Region:
  • Prospect, PA (February 21st)
  • Trenton, NJ (February 22nd)
  • Queenstown, MD (February 22nd)
  • Liberty, NY (February 27th)
  • Vernon, CT (February 28th & March 1st), registration deadline February 20th, info not on PSA website yet, so contact Diane Hirsch
  • Keedysville, MD (March 8th)
  • Haddam, CT (March 8th - 9th), registration deadline March 1st, info not on PSA website yet, so contact Diane Hirsch
  • Riverhead, NY (March 21st)
  • Rhode Island (March 22nd - 23rd ) Details being finalized
  • Maine/New Hampshire (April 11th -12th) Details being finalized
For more information and a complete list of upcoming trainings across the country, visit the PSA website.

Upcoming FSPCA Lead Instructor Training (not in our region but nearby):
  • Arlington, VA (March 28th - 30th)
Visit the Institute for Food Safety and Health's website for upcoming course information.

Upcoming FSPCA Qualified Individual Training:
  • Storrs, CT (April 25th - 27th), registration deadline April 14th, contact Diane Hirsch 
  • Rhode Island (June 5th-7th) Details being finalized
JobsFood Safety Job Postings
There are several food safety related job posting in the region:
If you have a food safety related job to advertise, please feel free to distribute through the NECAFS listserv at necafs@list.uvm.edu .
ConnectedStay in Touch
Just a reminder that there are a number of ways to stay in touch with NECAFS and each other.

eNewsletter
- Please forward this to your colleagues.  If someone has not received this directly, they should subscribe to the NECAFS eNewsletter list to ensure future delivery. We plan to use this eNewsletter as a regular way to "push" news and information out to the region.

Listserv - A Listserv has also been established to foster more direct conversation among the regional group and to allow you all to "pull" information from each other. Please also consider  subscribing to the NECAFS Listserv. Send an email to listserv@list.uvm.edu. Leave the subject line blank. The only content of the email should be "sub NECAFS {enter your name here and delete the brackets}". To send an email to the listserv distribution list once subscribed, use necafs@list.uvm.edu.
Thanks for your continued interest in NECAFS as we develop the necessary foundation for future collaboration. If you have specific questions or feedback please email necafs@uvm.edu.

Sincerely,
The NECAFS PD Team
Chris Callahan (UVM)
Elizabeth Newbold (UVM)
Betsy Bihn (Cornell)
Amanda Kinchla (UMass)
Luke LaBorde (Penn State)
Chris Walsh (UMD)
The Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) is an FDA-funded Regional Center (RC) hosted by University of Vermont Extension, led jointly with co-directors from Cornell University, University of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania State University and The University of Maryland and in partnership with stakeholders from the Northeast Region.

Funding for NECAFS was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant 1R01FD005686, views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government. 
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to work.