Workshops

UGA Food Science and Technology Extension provides the public and the food industry with workshops and on-site training programs that enable businesses to develop and implement a food safety or HACCP plan tailored to their own operation, minimizing the risk of contamination of their food product by human pathogens.

Better Process Control School

Upcoming Events:

June 6th - 8th, 2023 in Athens, GA

Currently, our online school is unavailable.

Farm Food Safety Trainings & Workshops

Upcoming Events:

February 1^st, 2023 in Stephens County, GA

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

Upcoming Events:

Meat & Poultry HACCP March 14^th – 16^th, 2023 in Athens, GA

Packinghouse HACCP May 3rd - 4th, 2023 in Athens, GA

General HACCP October 17^th – 18^th, 2023 in Athens, GA

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 experience. 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 webpage.

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings (GDA with UGA Extension)

Upcoming Events:

March 30th , 2023

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.

Preventive Controls for Human Food

Upcoming Events:

April 4th - 6th, 2023 & September 19th -21st, 2023

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.

group of people sitting at a table working on a HACCP plan scenario

Workshop Calendar

The Preventive Controls Rule requires that each facility have Preventive Control Qualified Individuals for the development and implementation of Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Human Foods. This course provides the required training. 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 two-and-a-half-day course was developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, a broad-based public-private alliance created by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) in cooperation with the Association of Food and Drug Officials. This training will take place in Athens, Georgia on April 4-6th. Registration closes on 03/28 at 4:00 pm.

Apr 04

04/04 8:00AM - 04/06 12:00PM Preventative Controls Qualified Individuals Workshop Food Science, ATHENS, GA

The Dr. J.G. Woodroof Lecture Series was initiated in 1981 to recognize a nationally and internationally-recognized pioneer in food science research, teaching and extension. Each year a preeminent leader in food research, education, industry or policy is invited to present a lecture in Dr. Woodroof’s honor.

Apr 06

12:45PM - 3:00PM 2023 J.G. Woodroof Lecture

Because of consumer interest in robust health and strong immune systems, the role of seafood in diets has never been more important. Georgia seafood companies and research chefs can proactively fill that niche by tapping into existing resources and developing new networks of suppliers, providers and customers. During this half-day conference, you will learn about current seafood research and extension in Georgia, expand your food technology horizons and tour University of Georgia’s Food Product & Innovation Center. Our goal is to facilitate collaboration with like-minded professionals to stimulate ideas for creating safer, value-added, and/or more nutritious Georgia seafood products for the future.

Apr 18

8:30AM - 1:00PM 2023 Georgia Seafood for the Future Conference Melton Building, GRIFFIN, GA

The 2nd annual Cleantech Symposium will showcase innovative cleantech solutions from Switzerland and Georgia related to controlled environment agriculture (CEA), urban agriculture, and sustainable water management. Register below to join entrepreneurs and scientists and get exclusive insights on clean technologies that can effectively address today's challenges.

Apr 19

12:00PM - 8:00PM Cleantech Symposium UGA Delta Innovation District, Athens, GA

This International HACCP Alliance accredited course discusses produce safety, Good Manufacturing Practices, and how to develop commodity and facility specific food safety programs based on the core principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). Breakout sessions help participants identify and mitigate hazards, establish control measures, and maintain accurate records to verify their process are properly implemented. This course will be held in Athens, Georgia on May 3-4, 2023. Deadline to register is April 26th, 2022 at 4 p.m.

May 03

05/03 8:00AM - 05/04 5:00PM Packinghouse HACCP Food Science, ATHENS, GA

The Better Process Control School 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.When: June 6th- 8th, 2023 Where: 240 Food Science Bldg. | 100 Cedar Street | Athens, GA 30602Cost: $600 Registration Closes on 5/30 at 4:00 pm.

Jun 06

06/06 8:00AM - 06/08 5:00PM In-Person Better Processing Control School Food Science, ATHENS, GA

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Online Trainings

The online Better Processing Control School is currently unavailable.

On-Site Consultation 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 consultation 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!