Ohio Produce Meeting Focuses On Food Safety, Other Topics

Posted by Paul Rusnak|October 17, 2013

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), farm labor, and health care regulations are among the topics that are at the forefront of growers’ minds. These topics and more will be discussed in breakout sessions during the annual Ohio Produce Growers & Marketers Association’s Congress, held Jan. 20-22 at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky, OH.

Breakout sessions also focus on the marketing aspect of production, with sessions centered around product strategies, agritourism, marketing, customer service, and expanding sales. Farm safety and preparing for FSMA are also in focus with sessions on setting up environmental and product testing programs, developing a safety program, HACCP, what to do when facing a food safety recall, and how to best execute the EPA’s Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Business and financial topics such as succession planning and proper hiring practices will also be covered.

While sessions on marketing, business planning and food safety are planned, the majority of sessions will focus around site preparation, trellising, and crop load management of high-density apple orchard production; managing soil and crop health; fertility and foliar feeding; fresh market cherry production; biocontrol programs; new trends in crops and commodities; bramble and blueberry production; and extending the production season.

Don Goodwin of Golden Sun Marketing is the keynote speaker and will be speaking on fresh produce trends during the congress kickoff event on Monday, Jan. 20.

More than 100 vendors are expected to take part in the trade show where the latest in equipment, services, products, and produce will be showcased.