Food Safety Awareness During COVID

March 11, 2021

The Food Systems and Safety team has been hard at work delivering virtual programs on home food preservation, produce safety, human and pet food manufacturing, and food safety for food entrepreneurs. Additionally, individual conversations with clients have addressed questions on ServSafe® certifications, and in each of the areas previously mentioned.  Highlights of the programs delivered by the Upstate Food Systems and Safety Agent, Rebecca Baxley since the beginning of April include:

• · Introduction to Home Canning virtual webinar.  42 participants logged in live, 40 viewed the recording.
• · Food Preservation for SC Educators webinar.  SC School and Community Garden summer workshop series.  142 attendees.
• · Preventive Controls for Animal Food Manufacturing webinar.  Team member.  12 participants representing 9 individual firms.
• · Learn to Can Blueberry Jam video for TD Market Educational Series, Greenville SC.  319 views.
• · Jams and Jellies virtual workshop, team member.  Live canning in real time via zoom.  5 participants.
• · Estimated over 100 individual interactions with stakeholders through phone call and email

As we move into the fall, there is no time to slow down.  A few things Rebecca is working on to be introduced in the coming months are below:
Coming Soon…
A new Food Systems and Safety blog is under development.  Look for a link to our new blog that will serve as a hub for information and allow stakeholders to interact with agents.
Home Food Preservation Roundtable on November 7, 2020.  In this virtual hour-long discussion, we will feature a recipe (Apple Wedges in Red Hot Cinnamon Syrup) and a canning method (Atmospheric Steam Canner).  Registration link is here:  https://clemson.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kd-muqTsrEt3jxoziLY9HlVjoosQasdZL
Home Food Preservation and Food Safety educational cards are under development for point of purchase distribution.  Look for these cards with preservation tips, recipes, and food safety information at farmer’s markets, produce stands and farm stores beginning in the Spring of 2021.