Food Safety Across Missouri

Food Safety is a growing concern to consumers. Consumers want to know where their food comes from, how it was harvested and how safe it really is. Luckily Missouri is home to more than 150 farmers’ markets scattered across the state that are up on the latest in food safety issues and concerns.Ensuring growers are well educated on food safety techniques is a must in Missouri, and we are assisting in providing our growers with the knowledge and handling techniques to ensure safety in our local food chain.

This past Tuesday I held the first Food Safety: From Field to Market Workshop in Columbia. The next food safety workshop will be held on Jan. 31 at the Ozark Electric Co-op in Mt. Vernon from 9:00 am to noon. This workshop is sponsored by nine southwest Missouri markets (the Webb City Farmers Market, the Carthage Farmers Market, the Fair Grove Farmers Market, the Southwest Farmers Market at Great Southern, the Ozark Square Farmers Market, the Aurora Farmers Market, the Nixa Area Farmers Market, the Wilson’s Creek Farmers Market, the C-Street Market & the Greater Polk County Farmers Market.)If you are interested in attending the southwest Missouri Food Safety Workshop call 417-673-5866 to register.

Topics to be covered:
• Importance of Food Safety – Update on Recent Outbreaks Associated with Fresh Produce
• State Regulations for Selling at Farmers Market
• Food Safety Concerns in the Field: Field preparation & planting,manure usage & crop cultural guidelines
• Irrigation Methods and Associated Issues
• Harvest and Post Harvest Safety

The last food safety workshop will be held in St. Peters, MO on Feb. 10 at the St. Charles County Extension Office.