Elderberry: Interactive Workshop on Best Practices for Food Safety

Elderberry Harvesting, Handling, & Processing: Interactive Workshop on Best Practices for Food Safety

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023, 8am-5pm

Davis, CA

This workshop is for small- to mid-scale elderberry growers and processors or those interested in starting. If you are interested in attending and are in a different role (e.g., technical assistance or farmer service provider), please do not register and instead email: akbaddorf@ucanr.edu

At this interactive workshop, with a focus on food safety best practices, you’ll learn about harvesting, post-harvest handling, freezing, drying, and processing elderberries on a small scale; and the types of equipment you can use for these processes.

Experts in food safety from the UC Davis Dept. of Food Science and Technology will discuss cleaning and sanitation, harvest hygiene, animal intrusion monitoring, systems for washing elderberries, elderberry drying protocols, and more. We’ll also hear from a panel of makers on their approaches to value-added products using elderberry.

Audience:

This workshop is for small- to mid-scale elderberry growers and value-added processors, or those who are considering starting. It is also valuable for small- to mid-scale fruit growers interested in familiarizing themselves with basic food safety practices and drying systems.

About elderberries:

Elderberries offer farmers an opportunity to diversify both the landscape and their farm offerings. Elderberries can be grown in on-farm hedgerows, which provide benefits to wildlife, pest control, carbon storage and runoff. In addition to ecological benefits, growers can process or preserve elderberries to make value-added products, such as jams, syrups, and cordials.

Participants will learn:

• Food safety best practices for harvesting, post-harvest handling, drying, freezing, and processing elderberries
• Equipment that can be used for these processes
• Methods for harvesting and post-harvest handling of elderberries
• Methods for drying elderberries
• How to make elderberry syrup (hands-on activity and take-home sample)

Additional information:

Light breakfast, refreshments, lunch, and water will be provided. Long pants and close-toed shoes will be required. Participants are encouraged to bring a hat and sunscreen for sun protection.

This workshop is free. There is limited capacity - sign up soon!

Questions: akbaddorf@ucanr.edu