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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