The North Carolina Fresh Produce Safety Task Force invites produce growers, food safety coordinators, extension agents, food safety consultants, and professionals involved with produce farms to join us at the 2025 NC Produce Safety Professionals Conference.
This event offers an excellent opportunity to remain informed about industry trends, food safety practices, and receive updates from regulatory partners, auditing companies, and Extension programs in North Carolina.
Event Details
| Date and Time |
Location |
Registration/Cost |
|
December 11, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
NC Farm Bureau Building
Address: 5301 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612 |
The cost is $25.00 per participant includes lunch and coffee breaks.
Register and pay via eventbrite.
Deadline to register
December 5, 2025
No refunds will be issued 7 days before the event. |
Agenda
8:30 a.m. Registration opens
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions, Ryan Knox, Chair, North Carolina Fresh Produce Safety Task Force
What is happening in the world of fresh produce safety?
9:10 a.m. Fresh Produce Safety Insights. Elena Rogers, NC State University
9:20 a.m. Updates from Food Safety Auditing Companies for 2026
- USDA AMS (GAP GHP and Harmonized), Levi Oglesby, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Global GAP (IFA) and Primus Labs (v3.2 and v4), Casey Calhoun, QIMA WQS Certifications
9:50 a.m. Challenges with the implementation of food safety programs faced by the fresh produce industry. Industry Panel. Moderated by Dr. Lynette Johnston, NC State University
Panelists: Charlie Meadows, L&M Companies, Antonio Restrepo, Global G.A.P. North America and Sara Runkel, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
10:15 a.m. Break
Gaining insight into food safety issues
10:30 a.m. Occurrence of PFAS in fresh produce production. Keith Larick, NC Farm Bureau
10:45 a.m. What growers and packers need to know about product recalls caused by a lesser-known parasite: Cyclospora cayetanensis. Dr. Chip Simmons, NC State University
11:00 a.m. Tool to identify annual regulatory and GAP third-party audit requirements for agricultural water used on produce farms throughout the growing season, at harvest and during post-harvest operations. Elena Rogers, NC State University
11:15 a.m. Assessing water quality in produce farms. Participants will break down into groups to work on different scenarios that have impacted produce farms and share their findings. Dr. Chip Simmons, NC State University
12:00 p.m. Catered Lunch (included with registration)
Diving deeper into foodborne illness
12:45 p.m. Whole genome sequencing: Understanding its role in identifying food borne pathogens through the supply chain. Dr. Eric Brown, FDA
Overview of results from past longitudinal studies conducted by the FDA that have contributed to the identification of on-farm sources of contamination and development of food safety practices. Dr. Eric Brown, FDA
1:40 p.m. Break
Resources for growers
1:50 p.m. Resources for microgreen, mushroom and edible flower growers. Sarah Cope Avery, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Produce Safety Program
2:00 p.m. Case study: Overview of produce farms that have gained significant efficiencies and savings after implementing food safety practices. Antonio Restrepo, Global G.A.P. North America
2:30 p.m. Closing remarks
2:45 p.m. Adjourn
For additional information contact:
Elena Rogers, Area Specialized Agent, Food Safety- Fresh Produce at
elena_rogers@ncsu.edu or (828)352-2519
Dr. Chip Simmons – Area Specialized Agent- Food Safety/Fresh Produce odsimmon@ncsu.edu or via phone at (919)414-5632
This event is organized by the North Carolina Fresh Produce Safety Task Force.
Our partners include:
NC State University
NC A&T University
NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
NC Farm Bureau
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
L&M Companies
Global GAP
