Fumigation Workshop, Fit-Testing June 20th

Big changes are coming for fumigant application. These changes affect not only strawberry growers, but producers of other fruits and vegetables. As a result, ALL GROWERS that may be affected by the changes in fumigant application are invited to the 2011 Strawberry Pre-Plant Meeting sponosored by The NC Strawberry Growers Association and NC Cooperative Extension.

Prior to the meeting we will be offering respirator fit-testing and medical clearance at a very reduced price for NC residents. Click here for more information. Don't miss this opportunity to save money and get up-to-date!

Individuals interested in this opportunity MUST have medical clearance for respirators from their physician or complete the questionnaire (see flier for more information).

Fit-Testing will be scheduled throughout the afternoon. You MUST make an appointment with Robin Tutor at 919.880.4225 or tutor@ecu.edu or Barb Gallagher at 910.567.7159 or bgallagher@commwellhealth.org.

Where?: The fumigation workshop and fit-testing will take place at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Reserach and Extension Center located at 455 Research Dr. Mills River, NC

What time?:
Fit-testing will be scheduled thorughout the afternoon on a first-come, fisrt-served basis. See above on how to schedule your appointiment.

6 pm Dinner sponsored by Crop Production Services Group discussion on concerns about fumigation

Gwen Minton from the NCDA&CS will guide us through Fumigant Management Plans.

Please RSVP to the Henderson County Cooperative Extension Office by June 16 to let us know you are coming for dinner. 828.697.4891

Fresh Produce Safety - Tier 1 Training

We will be holding a Fresh Produce Safety Training at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center.

The seven hour training will be broken up into 3 sessions on Mondays February 28, March 7 and March 14. The sessions will be from 1-3:30 pm.

The fee for the training is only $15/person. Checks can be made payable to “NCCES”.

To Pre-Register or for more information please call 828.697.4891.

Tier 1 will address GAPs that are directly related to field production and harvest. The training will include an introduction to common food-borne pathogens and diseases as well as recognizing points of potential contamination, proper use of biosolids as a nutrient source, effective hand-washing procedures, packing facility cleanliness and verifying water quality for field application and postharvest handling.

Anyone involved in handling fresh produce, from farmers and field hands to packing house employees and truckers will benefit from the training by learning to identify and prevent contact between sources of contamination and fresh produce. Attending this training session will result in growers moving towards compliance of pending fresh produce safety legislation. Upon completion of the seven-hour training, attendees will receive a certificate of attendance that they can post at their tailgate market booth and their name will be posted on the N.C. MarketReady website (http://www.ncmarketready.org/), allowing end markets and consumers to find growers that have completed the training.

GAPs certification requires establishing a food safety plan and passing a third-party audit that assesses the strength of the food safety plan and ensures that it is properly implemented. Currently, GAPs certification is voluntary for North Carolina farmers, though new legislation is on the horizon.

Learn more at www.ncmarketready.org.