Workshops

Extension Food Science and Technology (EFST) provides the public and the food industry with workshops and on-site training programs. Food safety trainings enable businesses to develop and implement a food safety or HACCP plan tailored to their operation, which minimizes the risk of contamination of their food product by human pathogens.


Workshop Calendar


Please join us to learn about the opportunities available through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Fulbright program covers all costs associated with travel, room and board, insurance – as well as other items like book/research allowances, enrichment activities, language student and sometimes tuition. Maria de Rocher, Assistant Dean and Director of Student Engagement Programming for the Morehead Honors College and Fulbright U.S. Student Program Adviser, will provide information about opportunities for U.S. students (undergraduate and graduate) to pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English Abroad with a Fulbright Fellowship. Please note the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is only open to U.S. citizens.
Mar 26
5:30PM - 6:30PM Fulbright U.S. Student Info Session Poultry Science, ATHENS, GA
The 2024 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest is on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at the Classic Center in Athens, GA. Join us for the Reception and Awards Ceremony from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Tickets to attend can be purchased for $20.00. Tickets are required for access. The reception is a great opportunity to sample the products and meet the Flavor of Georgia Finalists. At the 2024 reception, there will be three finalists from each of the twelve product categories. Be sure to join us for this fun and exciting gastronomic experience! Products may not be purchased or sold during Flavor of Georgia. Immediately following the reception will be the 2024 Flavor of Georgia Awards Ceremony. All attendees are invited to watch as winners are selected from each of the twelve categories, leading up to the awarding of the 2024 Flavor of Georgia Grand Prize. Tickets are required for entry to the award ceremony as well.  Flavor of Georgia tickets do not include parking fees at the Classic Center.
Apr 04
4:00PM - 6:00PM 2024 Flavor of Georgia Classic Center, Athens, GA
Fruit and vegetable growers are continually assessing their operations to determine where they can limit risk and increase productivity. As a result, many have expressed interest in learning more about how on-farm preharvest water treatment systems work and how they may fit within their current setup. Join this virtual training to learn about different approaches to treating water on-farm; how to implement these systems to meet requirements of the Produce Safety Rule; and how to verify that the system is operating as intended. April 10-April 11th from 1-5 PM. The cost of the course is $25. For more details, visit the Extension Food Science and Technology website.
Apr 10
04/10 1:00PM - 04/11 5:00PM Bridging the GAPs: Approaches for Treating Preharvest Agricultural Water On-Farm (online course) - April 2024 Zoom link will be provided to registrants
The Better Process Control School (BPCS) offers instruction which fulfills the FDA and USDA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements to certify supervisors of acidification, thermal processing, and container closure evaluation operations during the canning of low-acid or acidified foods. The acidified training section is required for participation in the workshop and is $500. The additional aseptic and retort processing modules are available for an additional $100.
Apr 16
04/16 8:00AM - 04/18 12:00PM Better Process Control School Food Science, ATHENS, GA
This 2.5-day program combines a unique level of lectures and work group discussions from a broad based faculty of meat and poultry scientists, HACCP experts and authorities from academia. Interspersed between the lectures are hands-on break-out groups and exercises geared to the meat industry to give the attendee a more in-depth knowledge of developing and monitoring a HACCP food safety plan, sanitation, etc. The course will take place on April 23-25, 2024, and the cost is $600.  
Apr 23
04/23 8:30AM - 04/25 12:00PM Meat and Poultry HACCP Food Science, ATHENS, GA
The curriculum is designed for food industry professionals with responsibility for the development and implementation of a food safety plan. Attendees who complete the course will be recognized as Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals (PCQI). This is a 2.5-day course, and the cost is $600.
May 08
05/08 8:00AM - 05/10 12:00PM Preventive Controls for Human Food Workshop Food Science, ATHENS, GA
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Get hands-on guidance from University of Georgia Extension Food Science and Technology experts.

Contact Us

If you do not see the workshop you need, please email efs@uga.edu to make a request!

Extension Food Science and Technology Workshops


Better Process Control School

Upcoming Events: Register for April 16-18, 2024

The Better Process Control School offers instruction that fulfills the FDA and USDA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements to certify supervisors of acidification, thermal processing, and container closure evaluation operations during the canning of low-acid or acidified foods.

Currently, our online school is unavailable.

Bridging the GAPS: Approaches for Treating Preharvest Agricultural Water On-Farm

Upcoming Virtual Workshops:

Fruit and vegetable growers are continually assessing their operations to determine where they can limit risk and increase productivity. As a result, many have expressed interest in learning more about how on-farm preharvest water treatment systems work and how they may fit within their current setup. Join this virtual training to learn about different approaches to treating water on-farm; how to implement these systems to meet requirements of the Produce Safety Rule; and how to verify that the system is operating as intended.

Farm Food Safety Trainings & Workshops

Upcoming Events: TBD

If you're a fruit, vegetable, or nut grower in Georgia and unsure of where to find food safety resources for regulatory, buyer, or third-party audit requirements, UGA Extension can help. Our Food Science and Technology specialists offer trainings and on-sight farm, packinghouse, or facility visits throughout the state. If you don't see a workshop or service listed that you think your farm needs, let us know!

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) for Produce Packinghouses

If your auditor or buyer requires a HACCP-trained individual on your operation, we can help you out. Our food safety specialists are lead trainers recognized by the International HACCP Alliance, and we partner with other universities throughout the southeast to ensure our attendees get the benefit of instructors with diverse commodity experiences. All attendees of our two-day course will have the knowledge necessary to build and maintain a HACCP program for a produce packinghouse.

For additional courses that meet seafood HACCP training requirements, please visit the UGA Marine Extension website.

Online Courses

The online Better Process Control School is currently under renovation. We will return soon! Please visit NC State or Tennessee for online options.

On-Site Technical Support and Training

In-Plant HACCP Certification Programs

This is a service to assist with problems on deficiencies, sanitation problems, and product quality standards. A HACCP training workshop may be provided for quality assurance and supervisory personnel for a nominal fee.

In-Plant Food Safety or Sanitation Audit and Training

This technical support, for a nominal fee, is designed to provide insight and evaluation for plant efficiency improvements, regulatory compliance, and product safety. This may be followed by a comprehensive workshop for plant management and supervisors to develop further food safety measures.

Please contact our office at 706-542-2574 or efs@uga.edu for more details and to discuss how we can help your business!

Preventive Controls for Human Food

Upcoming Events: Register for May 8-10, 2024

Have you been told you need a PCQI, but you aren't sure what that means? The acronym stands for "Preventive Controls Qualified Individual", and food manufacturers covered by the Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule are required to employ or contract with at least one such individual. A PCQI is responsible for developing a processor's food safety plan and ensuring all aspects of the plan are properly implemented. This 2.5-day course uses the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance curriculum. UGA extension offers generic Preventive Controls training for all segments of the food industry, as well as specific trainings for the fresh-cut and nut industries.

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings (GDA with UGA Extension)

Upcoming Events: TBD

Growers of fresh produce commodities that are frequently consumed raw, who also generate more than $25,000 annually in produce sales (adjusted for inflation; three-year average) may have to comply with the FDA's Produce Safety Rule. Every farm covered by the Produce Safety Rule must have one person who has received food safety training, and the PSA Grower Training curriculum is currently the only approved course. UGA specialists work with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to offer these courses throughout the state. If you're interested in learning more about upcoming courses, visit the GDA's Farm Safety Program website for locations and dates.

Water Systems Workshop

Upcoming Events: TBD

The Water Systems Workshop aims to promote greater understanding of water systems, water assessments, including FDA's proposed Water Builder Tool, and water distribution equipment and connections. This workshop is designed to be interactive using presentations that encourage discussions, scenario-based small group breakouts, and hands-on activities. The workshop is structured to accommodate regional considerations within the content. Attendees will gain the knowledge and skills to evaluate their water systems for risk factors that may affect the safety of fresh produce for human consumption.

This work is done in partnership with the FDA, The Georgia Department of Agriculture, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, The Alabama Cooperative Extension, Georgia Cooperative Extension, Auburn University, and the University of Georgia.