Thank you,

Christie

Writer: Martha Filipic filipic.3@cfaes.osu.edu 614-292-9833

Source: Janet Buffer, Human Nutrition jbuffer@ehe.osu.edu 614-247-8388

Lydia Medeiros, Human Nutrition lmedeiros@ehe.osu.edu 614-292-2699

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans now can get [...]]]> Thought I would pass this link along as it can be a great resource to help with educating consumers on food safety.  Please check it out http://foodsafety.osu.edu and link to your website if you feel it would assist your consumers.

Thank you,

Christie

Writer:
Martha Filipic
filipic.3@cfaes.osu.edu
614-292-9833

Source:
Janet Buffer, Human Nutrition
jbuffer@ehe.osu.edu
614-247-8388

Lydia Medeiros, Human Nutrition
lmedeiros@ehe.osu.edu
614-292-2699

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans now can get the food safety information they need thanks to a new Ohio State University food safety website.

The website, http://foodsafety.osu.edu, offers consumers, health professionals and people who are at high risk of food-borne illness easy-to-understand, “plain talk” information that they can incorporate easily in their day-to-day life, said Lydia Medeiros, food safety specialist with Ohio State University Extension and one of the leaders in developing the site.

“We focused on information that helps people build skills,” said Medeiros, who is also a scientist with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and professor of human nutrition in the College of Education and Human Ecology. “Knowledge is good, but having the proper skills is the necessary factor that people need to implement their knowledge.”

The site contains numerous photos to illustrate food safety concepts for consumers in the “Ask Mom” area of the site, Medeiros said, including how to properly wash hands, test meat with a food thermometer, and prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen. The area for health professionals, “Ask the Doc,” provides food safety fact sheets that can be downloaded and shared with patients or clients who have been diagnosed with cancer or HIV/AIDS, who have had an organ transplant, who are pregnant or who have chronic conditions that make them more vulnerable to food-borne disease. In the “Ask the Teacher” portion of the site, educators have access to a PowerPoint presentation they can download to teach food safety concepts.

More materials will be added to the site, Medeiros said. “This is a dynamic website that will get deeper and broader as we add information to it,” she said.

In addition, the site offers users a way to ask Ohio State’s food safety professionals questions they can’t find answers to, by e-mailing foodsafety@osu.edu or calling Ohio State’s Food Safety Information Line, housed at the university’s Food Industry Center, at 800-752-2751 (toll-free in Ohio), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The website and food safety e-mail and phone line are made possible by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Integrated Food Safety Initiative; The Kroger Co., which also supports a broader food safety outreach program through its in-store educational campaign; and the Center for Innovative Food Technology, which helps support the Food Safety Information Line.

Christie Welch, Farmers’ Market Specialist
The Business Development Network
at The OSU South Centers
1864 Shyville Rd.
Piketon, OH 45661
welch.183@osu.edu
740-289-3727 Ext. 234
800-860-7232 (Ohio only) Ext. 234
740-289-4591 (Fax)
http://ohiofarmersmarkets.osu.edu

1. Farmers’ Markets, Cottage Foods, Home Bakeries and Exemptions for Farm Market Registration;

2. Determining [...]]]> Attached for your information and use is a joint (ODA and ODH) training announcement which has been sent to all local health departments. The training options will address three separate topics offered at different locations and dates. They include:

1. Farmers’ Markets, Cottage Foods, Home Bakeries and Exemptions for Farm Market Registration;

2. Determining Cost Methodology; (for local health departments only)

3. Labeling.

These sessions are being held to help educate local health department personnel in being more consistent and uniform in how they regulate food establishments throughout Ohio.

See Schedule Announcement for ODA Training

TRAFFIC STOPPERS: Start a conversation at your market table by growing unusual produce Discussion will focus on fruits and vegetables such as jerusalem artichokes, broccoli raab, garlic scapes, tomatillos, and others that grow well but aren’t commonly seen at area farmers’ markets. Led by Melinda O’Briant and Nancy Ogg of Shady Grove Farm. February 23, 7:00-9:00 pm.

Fee [...]]]>

TRAFFIC STOPPERS:
Start a conversation at your market table by growing unusual produce
Discussion will focus on fruits and vegetables such as jerusalem artichokes, broccoli raab, garlic scapes, tomatillos, and others that grow well but aren’t commonly seen at area farmers’ markets. Led by Melinda O’Briant and Nancy Ogg of Shady Grove Farm. February 23, 7:00-9:00 pm.

Fee for class is $12. Turner Farm, 7400 Given Rd, Indian Hill 45243.  Reservations can be made by calling the farm at 513-561-7400 or emailing them.

We have partnered with Ohio State University South Centers and the Ohio Department of Agriculture to present Ohio’s first statewide farmers market conference.  This two-day conference will cover topics such as direct marketing,  insurance and funding.

Farmers’ market managers and vendors are invited to attend to [...]]]> March 4-5, 2010 at the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg

We have partnered with Ohio State University South Centers and the Ohio Department of Agriculture to present Ohio’s first statewide farmers market conference.  This two-day conference will cover topics such as direct marketing,  insurance and funding.

Farmers’ market managers and vendors are invited to attend to network and share ideas that will improve their market.  Members of the Farmers’ Market Management Network will receive a discount on conference registration.

See all Details at:  http://ohiofarmersmarkets.osu.edu/conference.htm