RALEIGH, N.C.–The importance of On-Farm Readiness Reviews to help farms comply with new federal food-safety rules will be among topics covered at the 14th annual Commissioner’s Food Safety Forum. Other topics include a discussion on blockchange technology and its ability to change food safety
WHEN/WHERE:
Thursday, Aug. 16
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Expo Center, N.C. State Fairgrounds
Raleigh
SCHEDULE*:
9 a.m. – Welcome from Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler
9:05 a.m. – Dr. Stephen Ostroff, deputy commissioner for Food and Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration “Produce Safety Update”
9:35 a.m. – Bob Ehart, senior policy and science advisor, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, “On-Farm Readiness Review”
10:05 a.m. – Panel Discussion: On-Farm Readiness Reviews, moderated by Joe Reardon, assistant commissioner, NCDA&CS.
Other panelist:
- Dr. Chris Gunter, extension vegetable production specialist, N.C. State University
- Senator Brent Jackson, Jackson Farming Company
- Dr. Jennifer McEntire, vice president, food safety and technology, United Fresh Produce Association
- Jim Gorny, senior science advisor for produce safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Debbie Hamrick, director, specialty crops, N.C. Farm Bureau Federation
- Kate Woods, vice president, Northwest Horticultural Council
11:15 a.m. – Brenda Bacon, director of quality assurance, Harris Teeter, LLC, “Retail Perspective of OFRR”
11:45 a.m. – Andrew Kennedy, interim director, Global Food Traceability Center Institute for Food Technologists, “Block-Change. Top 10 examples of how food safety will be changed by Blockchange Technology”
12:15 p.m. – Commissioner Troxler will wrap up the forum with remarks about food safety.
*Times are approximate.
–Andrea Ashby, NCDA&CS