WASHINGTON, DC - Industry members have until the end of Friday, April 5, to register for the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Produce Safety Immersion Program. This program will serve as an excellent opportunity for attendees to develop their food safety knowledge.

"Demand for qualified food safety professionals has continued to grow, and this program provides an opportunity for those looking to build capacity in food safety to learn from industry leaders, build their professional network, and become more confident about produce safety best practices and the regulatory landscape," said IFPA Food Safety Council Chair Jennifer Pulcipher, Director of Food Safety and Compliance for North Bay Produce.

Sponsored by EcoLab, the six-month program consists of a mix of virtual and in-person education opportunities designed to develop the technical capacity, critical thinking skills, and leadership attributes of the next generation of produce safety professionals, a release detailed. Program fellows also have access to peer-to-peer networking and mentorship connections.

Members of last year’s cohort represented a diverse group of grower-shippers, foodservice distributors, and indoor agriculture firms.

"The immersion program is designed to prepare the next generation of food safety professionals to advance the science and how it is applied in the fresh produce industry," said IFPA Food Safety Council member Walter Ram, Corporate Vice President, Regulatory, Giumarra Companies.

The program's cost is $5,995 per person, which includes registration and hotel accommodations for IFPA’s Washington Conference and The Global Produce & Floral Show. Participants will also take part in 14 virtual sessions, which will include speakers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and industry.

Click here to apply.

For more useful tools and programs for produce industry members, keep reading AndNowUKnow.