EVENTS
1. Reminder 2009 MOFFA Organic Conference
2. Reminder 2nd Annual Organic Reporting Session during MSU ANR Week
3. Michigan Apple Association to host cider safety training
EVENTS
1. Reminder 2009 MOFFA Organic Conference
Registration for the conference has been extended through Monday March
2, 2009. The 2009 Michigan Organic Conference will take place March
6-7, 2009 at The Kellogg Center, East Lansing MI. Early Registration
- $60 ($30 for Students); Walk-in Registration - $85; Exhibitor
Registration (1 Table/I attendee) - $100. For schedule information
visit http://www.moffa.org/f/2009_MOC_Schedule.pdf
To register visit http://www.moffa.org/2009_Registration.html
For additional information visit www.moffa.org
2. Reminder 2nd Annual Organic Reporting Session during MSU ANR Week.
The 2nd Annual Organic Reporting Session will take place Friday March
6, 2009 at The Kellogg Center, East Lansing MI. For those planning on
submitting an abstract the deadline has been extended until Monday
March 2, 2009. If you are interested in attending the organic
symposium which takes place during lunch 12:00-1:30 p.m. go to www.
michiganorganic.msu.edu to submit the form. The symposium will offer
researchers, Michigan State University Educators, and expert farmers a
chance to share their findings and ideas on organic agriculture
production and marketing. This is a great opportunity, with the goal
to promote Michigan’s organic agriculture research and organic food
access. For more information visit www.michiganorganic.msu.edu or
contact Vicki Morrone 517-353-3542 or [log in to unmask]
3. Michigan Apple Association to host cider safety training
Cider makers across the state are invited to participate in a two-day
seminar next month that will train participants on food safety. Food
Safety for Cider Mills will be offered March 10 and 11 at the Kellogg
Center on the Campus of Michigan State University.
As part of the plan to strengthen food safety procedures the Michigan
Cider Safety Task Force has worked to upgrade the states apple cider
food safety measures. In addition to the 50-point Good Manufacturing
Practices (GMPs) that the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA)
currently uses in an inspection, the Task Force worked to implement
the requirement that every Michigan cider mill have a certified food
safety specialist on premises. This is now law and enforcement will
begin this fall.
By taking the course, offered through the Michigan Apple Association
(MAA), a cider mill will be certified for the next five years. The
class will be instructed by Dr. Les Bourquin who has worked with MDA
to develop a food safety program specific to cider. Complete class
outline is available at www.MichiganAppleAssociation.com.
Bourquin is an associate professor and food safety specialist in the
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and the National Food
Safety and Toxicology Center at MSU. His research focuses on the
impacts of public and private food safety standards, barriers to their
acceptance and effective implementation by the food industry, and the
potential impacts of these standards on public health.
During the training, Bourquin will be joined by Mike Lally who has
worked extensively with cider manufacturers in Michigan. Lally is the
senior food safety inspector with the Michigan Department of
Agriculture (MDA) Food and Dairy Division. He has been with MDA since
1990 and holds a B.S. in Food Science from MSU.
At the end of course, a multiple-choice test will be administered, and
those who score 80 percent or higher will be sent an attractive,
framed certificate of completion for their cider mill retail space.
This will satisfy MDA inspection requirements, and make a strong
quality statement to cider mill customers. Up to six Pesticide
Re-certification Fruit Crop Credits will be available for private
applicators who attend the training.
Advanced registration is required. Cost of the session is $190 for MAA
members, $210 for Michigan growers and $250 for out-of-state growers.
Discounts are available for cider mills with more than one employee
and for mills that belong to the Michigan Cider Guild.
Registration form may be obtained by contacting Cindy Reisig, MAA
education coordinator, at (517) 669-8353 ext. 38 or
[log in to unmask] For hotel reservations, call
1-800-875-5090 and ask for the special Cider Maker rate.
If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar
http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html
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