2026 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting
Registration now open!
NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting
Agenda
February 3-5, 2026
Providence, RI
Register Here
We are excited to announce that registration for the NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting is now open! Join us for an engaging and informative event, where you'll have the opportunity to connect and network with fellow food safety partners, participate in insightful sessions, and expand your knowledge on key topics.
Event Details:
- Dates: February 3-5, 2026
- Location: Graduate by Hilton Providence, 11 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903
Cost: there are two options available for attending:
- If you have funds available and prefer to pay for the conference, the cost is $260.
- If you do not have external funds, NECAFS will cover the cost for you. We have allocated funds in our grant specifically to ensure this event is accessible for those without external funding.
During the registration process, you will be asked whether you want to pay for the conference. Simply select the option that applies to you:
- If you choose to pay, you will be charged $260.
- If you choose not to pay, you will not be charged, and NECAFS will fund your participation.
- Please note: This support is intended to ensure everyone has the opportunity to attend, regardless of their funding situation. For more details on financial support, see the information provided below.
HOTEL ROOM BOOKING LINK
$154 Government Rate is available for all guests
Click here for hotel block
GROUP RESERVATION CODE: 92Q
PHONE: Guests can call a Hotel Reservations Agent directly at 401-421-0700 and choose Option 1, open seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, and use your group code (92Q) or event name (NECAFS) when speaking with the reservations agent.
Hotel Block Closes January 5, 2026. Rooms will likely still be available but we cannot guarantee the $154 rate beyond January 5.
Summary of 2025 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Pittsburgh, PA
The 2025 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held in Pittsburgh, PA, January 22 & 23. The agenda and meeting materials are provided below.
| Session | Materials |
|---|---|
Jan. 22, 2025 Welcome and Plenary Session | NECAFS Background & History, Current Work Plan, and Connection to Past Annual Meetings and to the current work of THIS YEAR’s Annual Meeting
|
| Integrated Produce Safety Educators and Research | Expanding Horizons: Peer Learning and Innovative Approaches to Community Engagement - Panel Discussion and Group Activity
Project Showcase and Practical Learning: Hands-On with a Variety of Educational Modalities
|
| Preventive Controls for Human Food Workgroup Meeting | Preventive Controls Workgroup Activity Updates
Building a Better Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse - Preventive Controls Topic Review Activity
Shared-use Kitchen Panel: Exploring Benefits and Overcoming Challenges
FSPCA Update: Recent Developments and Initiatives
Applying Innovative Media Principles - Motivations and Methods for Educational Resource Development
From Ideas to Impact: Turning Concepts into Reality
|
Jan. 23, 2025 Integrated Produce Safety Regulatory, Educational, and Research Meeting | Risk Identification and Risk Prioritization
Conducting Agricultural Water Assessments: A Hands-On Table-top Exercise
What's Next? Awareness and Educational Planning Perspectives from the PSA
On-Farm Observational Data: Regional Produce Safety Inspections and Readiness Reviews
Observed Food Safety Practices: Prioritizing and Categorizing for Improvement Transforming Observations into Research, Education, and Compliance Strategies Break out Groups and Report Out |
| Integrated Preventive Controls for Human Food Workgroup Meeting with Educators and Regulators | Regulatory panel - food safety threats, where is enforcement being prioritized, with Q&A
Crafting a Learning Pathway: Leveraging Collaborative Insights Using the Sanitation Control Practitioner Program
Reflections, Future Planning, and Report Out
|
Summary of 2024 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Portland, ME
The 2024 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held in Portland, ME, January 23 & 24. The agenda and meeting materials are provided below.
Summary of 2024 NECAFS Annual Meeting Evaluation Final Report
| Session | Materials |
|---|---|
Jan. 23, 2024 Welcome and Plenary Session | NECAFS Background & History, Current Work Plan, and Connection to Past Annual Meetings and to the current work of THIS YEAR’s Annual Meeting
|
| Integrated Research and Extension for Enhanced Food Safety | Integrated Research and Extension for Enhanced Food Safety Intent: Gain clarity around why it is important to integrate research and extension and how we might do it in our region. Connecting Research and Extension
Case Study Panel: Cleaning and Sanitizing Food Contact Surfaces in Apple Harvesting & Storage
Translating Science: Development of Educational Tools Risk-Based Decision Support Tool
Assessing Animal Intrusion and Contamination Risk Tool
The Agricultural Water Risk Management Tool
|
Jan. 24, 2024 Integrated Produce Safety Regulatory, Educational, and Research Meeting | Intent: Understand how produce safety priority research areas are determined and how can observational data be used to frame a regional research roadmap. A Look Inside Produce Safety Research Planning FDA Organization and Research Function in Produce Safety
University Researchers and How Produce Safety Research is Prioritized by Academic Scientists Review of Regional Data: Observations of On-farm Practices Overview of Regional Aggregated Northeast Inspectional Observations from 2023
On-Farm Readiness Review and CONTACT Industry Survey Results
|
| Preventive Controls for Human Food Workgroup Meeting | Processors’ Food Safety Toolkit Overview and early usage trends
Regional PCHF Course Evaluation Tool Launch of regionally developed tool to collect PCHF evaluation and processor educational needs data
Exploring Projects with Creative Approach to Implementation and Their Successes Improving the Development of Food Safety Plans through the Advanced Preventive Controls School Initiative
Development and Implementation of a Hands-on Food Safety and Regulatory Curriculum for Members of Shared-use Commercial Kitchens in Florida
Building Capacity: Customized Food Safety Educaiton and Outreach in Rhode Island
Food Safety Management and Document Development for PCHF Rule Qualified Exemption-Eligible Food Facilities
Multi-Modal Dairy Food Safety Plan Education to Support Small and Medium Dairy Producers
|
Summary of 2023 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Hartford, CT
The 2023 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held in Hartford, CT, January 18th & 19th. The agenda and meeting materials are provided below.
- Summary Evaluation Report for 2023 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting (PDF)
- Combined Meeting Notes (PDF)
- NE Regulator and Program Staff Meeting Agenda (PDF)
- Educators Meeting Agenda (PDF)
- Produce Safety Workgroup Meeting Agenda (PDF)
- Preventive Controls Workgroup Meeting Agenda (PDF)
All videos from the meeting are available on the NECAFS YouTube channel.
Summary of 2022 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Virtual
The 2022 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held jointly virtually, January 18th, 19th, & 20th, jointly with the Northeast Regulator One-Day Working Meeting. The agenda and meeting materials are provided below.
- Summary Evaluation Report for 2022 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting (PDF)
- Full Conference Agenda (PDF)SESSION VIDEO RECORDINGS
All videos from the meeting are available on the NECAFS YouTube channel.
Summary of 2021 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Virtual
The 2021 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held jointly virtually, February 16th, 17th, & 18th, jointly with the Northeast Regulator One-Day Working Meeting. The agenda and meeting materials are provided below.
- Summary Evaluation Report for 2021 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting (PDF)
- Full Conference Agenda (PDF)
- Combined Meeting Minutes (PDF)
- 2020 Regional Summary of PSA Grower Training Pre- and Post-Test Results
- 2020 Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse User Analytics
- List of Actively Funded Research Projects in the Northeast
- Number of Trainings in the Northeast in 2020 (PSA Grower Training, FSPCA QI Trainings, OFRR)
Summary of 2020 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Philadelphia, PA
The 2020 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held February 10-12 in Philadelphia, PA, jointly with the Northeast Region Produce Safety Workgroup. The agenda and meeting materials are provided below.
- Summary Evaluation Report of 2020 Annual Conference and Meeting (PDF)
- Full Conference Agenda (DOCX)
- Combined Meeting Minutes (DOCX)
All videos from the meeting are available on the NECAFS YouTube channel.
Summary of 2019 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Albany, NY
The 2019 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held February 4-6 in Albany, NY, jointly with the Northeast Region Produce Safety Workgroup. The agenda and meeting materials are provided below.
- Summary Report of 2019 Annual Conference and Meeting Evaluations (PDF)
- Overall Agenda (PDF)
- Combined Notes (PDF)
HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Summary of 2018 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Baltimore, MD
The 2018 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held Jan. 23-25 in Baltimore, MD, held jointly with the Northeast Region Produce Safety Workgroup. Agenda for the Conference and Meeting included:
Tuesday, January 23rd
- Focused meeting day, in two parallel tracks, dedicated to:
- Produce Safety, and
- Preventive Controls for Human Food
Wednesday, January 24th
- Joint conference session:
- Keynote speaker
- Updates from each state regulatory, research and extension
- Three panel sessions featuring producers, processors and buyers.
Wednesday Evening, January 24th
- Poster session that
- Highlighted poster presentations on extension, education and outreach activities across the region
Thursday, January 25th
- NECAFS Steering Team Meeting
EVALUATION FROM 2018 ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND MEETING
Attendees at the 2018 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting completed program evaluations. This evaluation asked questions about the Annual Conference and Meeting as well as overall NECAFS programming. Please download the full report here:
VIDEO FROM 2018 ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND MEETING
- All videos from the meeting are available on the NECAFS YouTube channel.
Summary of 2017 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Boston, MA
The 2017 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held January 10, 2017 in Boston, MA. Below is a full summary report and presenations from the meeting.