Monday, August 4

Keeping Apples Safe in the Packinghouse

This refresher session is for anyone who manages or supervises an apple packing house. Join us as you get ready for the 2025 season!

By Horticultural Science

Date and time

Location

N.C. Cooperative Extension - Wilkes County Center

416 Executive Drive Wilkesboro, NC 28697

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 2 days before event.

Agenda

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Keeping apples safe in the packing house- Introduction

During this section will discuss the importance of food safety practices and properly managing food safety programs in packing houses. We will also discuss how harmful bacteria and pathogens can co...

10:35 AM - 11:15 AM

Identifying contamination routes in packing houses

In this section we will discuss cross contamination and traffic patterns. The importance of monitoring of food contact surfaces and non-food contact surfaces, the role of packing containers, pallets,...

11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

BREAK

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

The importance of personal hygiene practices and adequate facilities & Lunch

Here we will discuss personal hygiene, personal objects and practices in the workplace, handwashing and glove use and finally how to manage personal health, injuries and illnesses.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Elements of a cleaning and sanitation program at a packing house

During this section we will discuss basic sanitation concepts, steps for cleaning and sanitizing equipment and utensils, labeling, use and storage of chemical products, mixing, monitoring and verific...

1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Final discussion

About this event

Event lasts 3 hours

This workshop seeks to provide anyone managing an apple packing house or in any kind of supervisory role at a packing house an opportunity to review the most critical food safety practices. We will use the curriculum "Keeping Apple Safe in the Packing house" developed by Dr. Luke Laborde at Penn State University which consists of videos filmed in apple packing houses in the US to illustrate food safety practices and discuss solutions to different issues.

A certificate will be provided to all attendees after the workshop.

If you have any questions please contact Elena Rogers, Area Specialized Agent - Food Safety/Fresh Produce at (828)352-2519 or Matthew Clay at the Wilkes Co. Office at (336) 651-7333.

Organized by

Horticultural Science

Horticultural Science

North Carolina State University

Campus Box 7609

Raleigh, NC 27695-7609

(919) 515-3131

https://cals.ncsu.edu/horticultural-science/https://horticulture.ces.ncsu.edu/

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

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