Nearly 500 people with a professional stake in the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed worldwide will gather at Sherwood Hall in Salinas on May 3-4 for the 18th Annual Western Food Safety Conference.
The conference will be held at Sherwood Hall at 940 N. Main St., in Salinas, and will focus on the theme, “Food Safety: The State of the Industry” through speakers, intensive dialogue and education concerning how to keep consumers safe and maintain their confidence.
The conference will provide participants with current produce safety information, research, and regulatory developments in the fresh produce industry that they can apply to today’s environment. The event features industry-leading scientists, executives, and professionals for the latest science-based industry information and networking opportunities. Speakers and panelists include experts in water quality, data science, sustainable agriculture and state and federal regulation.
The May 3 keynote speaker will be William (Bill) Marler, attorney and national expert in food safety with Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm. The May 4 keynote speaker will be Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Topics for the 2023 conference include:
- FDA Field Sampling
- Rethinking Recalls and Communication in the Supply Chain
- Technology Advancements for Enhanced Traceability
- FSMA Inspections
- Ag Water Regulation Update
- Field Equipment Sanitation
Who should attend this conference:
- Executive Management: growers, shippers, processors, cooling facilities, shipping facilities, and suppliers
- Food safety directors, managers, and supervisors
- Quality assurance foremen and crew leaders
- Recall team and farm labor contractors
- Auditors
- College students
Registration fees and sponsors’ support in 2022 helped raise $15,000 for scholarships for Hartnell College agricultural students, adding to more than $100,000 previously shared as a result of the conference.
The Western Food Safety Conference is committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities participating in the event. Online activities are designed to be accessible, meeting the Rehabilitation Act (Section 508). If a person with a disability is requesting reasonable accommodations due to a disability to participate in the event, requests need to be sent to Hartnell College Foundation, (831) 755-6702. Requests for disability accommodations received three business days in advance of the event will be given priority, although an attempt to fulfill all requests will occur.
Registration and sponsorship opportunities can be found on the conference website at: https://thewesternfoodsafetyconference.com/.
