Past Workshops & Presentations

This page has content from only past presentations and workshops. For upcoming food safety trainings, please see the UMass Vegetable Extension Upcoming Events page.

607th Meeting of the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers' Association

Friday, January 4, 2024

What's Up with Water Testing? - Lisa McKeag

Handout - Table of FSMA PSR and New England Audit Program requirements as of January 2024

 

Virtual Agricultural Water Twilight Series

Part 3: Post-Harvest Water Quality & Sanitizer Use

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Presentations by:

  • Amanda Deering, Purdue Extension - Sanitizer background information
  • Phil Tocco - MSU Extension - Sanitizer use demonstration

Part 2: Water System Mapping & Water Testing for FSMA

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Presentations by:

  • Vandana Rao, Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs - MA Drought Task Force
  • Scott Monroe, Purdue Extension - Water sampling, understanding risks to source water, and understanding water test results
  • Phil Tocco, MSU Extension - Water distribution system mapping and inspections

Part 1: Water Use Regulations, Water Monitoring Tools, and Efficient Irrigation

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Presentations by:

  • Rachel Schattman, UMaine Agroecology Lab - Water use regulations in New England
  • Joshua Faulkner, UVM Extension – Moisture monitoring technologies and irrigation efficiency
  • Tim Wilcox & Max Traunstein, Kitchen Garden Farm, Sunderland, MA – Tile drainage, wells, and irrigation equipment

Twilight Meeting: Pests & Pets - Managing Animals in the Packhouse

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

UMass Agricultural Learning Center

Presenters:

  • Amanda Brown, UMass Student Farm Enterprise

  • Natasha Wright, Braman Termite & Pest Elimination

  • Hans Estrin, University of Vermont Extension

  • Jim Ward, Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon, MA

  • Wally Czajkowski, Plainville Farm, Hadley, MA

Powerpoints

Amanda Brown - Packhouse Design Process for the UMass Student Farm

Natasha Wright - Rats & Birds: Tips & Techniques for Their Control

Jim Ward - Bird Control at Ward's Berry Farm

Presentation Videos

Note: The sound quality on these videos isn't ideal; you may want to turn on subtitles by clicking the "CC" button at the bottom of the video screen.

Amanda Brown - Packhouse Design Process for the UMass Student Farm - Video

Natasha Wright - Rats & Birds: Tips & Techniques for Their Control - Video

Jim Ward - Bird Control at Ward's Berry Farm - Video

UMass Vegetable Program Winter Workshop: Food Safety Planning

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Headquarters

Presenters:

  • Lisa McKeag, UMass Extension Vegetable Program
  • Katie Campbell-Nelson, UMass Extension Vegetable Program
  • Kate Bailey, Alexandra Hachem, Denise Pavao, Steven Pilis, and Erik Stenfor, MDAR Produce Safety Inspectors

Presentation

  • Food Safety Planning

Handouts

  • Water System Mapping Worksheet
  • MDAR Sample Recordkeeping Form
  • Creating a Google Maps Field Map - Michigan State University
  • Standard Operating Procedures

Saturday, February 9, 2019

CISA Winter Workshop: Developing Farm SOPs & Training Staff

Harvest Farm of Whately, 125 Long Plain Rd., South Deerfield, MA

Presenters:

  • Gary Gemme, Harvest Farm of Whately
  • Lisa McKeag, UMass Extension Vegetable Program
  • Alexandra Hachem, MDAR Produce Safety Inspection Program

Presentation

  • FSMA Worker Training Requirements

Handouts

  • FSMA Worker Training Requirements
  • Implementing SOPs & Food Safety Practices - Farmer Quotes

Saturday, January 13, 2018

NOFA/Mass Winter Conference: Preparing your Farm for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Worcester State University

Presenter: Lisa McKeag, Educator UMass Extension

Presentation

  • Preparing Your Farm for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Twilight Meeting: Produce Wash Station Design, Use, and Maintenance -- 
Meeting Produce Safety Requirements

Atlas Farm, 635 River Road, Deerfield, MA 

Presenters:

Amanda Brown, Director UMass Student Farm - Writing a farm plan and designing a mobile produce wash unit

Gideon Porth, Owner Atlas Farm - Using and maintaining a wash room with food safety in mind

Amanda Kinchla & Lisa McKeag, Educators, UMass Extension - Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) basics

Handouts

  • Agenda and presenter contact info
  • UMass Student Farm Wash Station Case Study 2016
  • Finish Surfaces for Produce and Food Areas (Chris Callahan, UVM)

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Twilight Meeting: Irrigation Systems - Water Management & Food Safety

Tangerini's Spring Street Farm, 139 Spring Street, Millis, MA 02054

Presenters:

Trevor Hardy, Brookdale Fruit Farm Irrigation and Row Crop Supplies

Lisa McKeag, UMass Extension Vegetable Program - Farm Food Safety in Massachusetts

Michael Botelho, MDAR

Handouts

  • GM STV Worksheet
  • PSA Water Systems Template & Map
  • 1603 Example Report
  • Water Testing Handout

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Harvest New England: FSMA & UMass Extension's Role in Food Safety Education

Sturbridge Host Hotel

Presenter:  Lisa McKeag, UMass Extension Vegetable Program

Presentation

  • FSMA & UMass Extension's Role in Food Safety Education

Saturday, January 14, 2017

NOFA Winter Conference: The Food Safety Modernization Act: What to Expect in Massachusetts

Worcester State University

Presenters:

  • Lisa McKeag, UMass Extenson
  • Michael Botelho, MDAR

Presentation

  • Food Safety Modernization Act: What to Expect in Massachusetts

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Twilight Meeting: Equipment for Mechanical Cultivation & Product Washing and Packing

Tangerini's Spring Street Farm, 139 Spring Street, Millis, MA 02054
Presenters:

  • Laura Tangerini & Steven Chiarizio - Pack shed equipment at Tangerini's Farm
  • Lisa McKeag, UMass Extension Vegetable Program - Farm Food Safety in Massachusetts

Program Handouts

Farm Food Safety in Massachusetts: Some History, and The Landscape as of August 2016

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Farm Food Safety: Post-Harvest Handling and Small-Scale, Low-Cost Facility Design

Red Fire Farm, 184 Meadow Road, Montague, MA 0135
Presenter: Robert Hadad, Regional Vegetable Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Program Handouts

  • Building an Easy-Clean Produce Wash Table     
  • Wash Line & Packing Shed Design for Food Safety
  • Harvest Containers and Tools
  • Standard Operating Procedure: Washing Produce with a Bleach Sanitizing Solution
  • Standard Operating Procedure: Washing Produce with a Peracetic Acid Solution
  • Standard Operating Procedure: Produce Washing