NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting

Held annually, the NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting provides an opportunity for regional partners to connect in person to discuss current training, education and outreach trends and activities related to the FSMA associated Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule.

2026 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting

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                                                  Save the Date
                                     Graduate by Hilton Providence
                                                  Providence, RI
                                          February 3rd - 5th, 2026

                                     Registration Information Coming Soon
Save the Date 2026 NECAFS Annual Meeting, Providence, RI, February 3rd - 5th

Summary of 2025 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Pittsburgh, PA

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The 2025 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting was held in Pittsburgh, PA, January 22 & 23. The agenda and meeting materials are provided below.

Full Agenda
SessionMaterials

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

  • Chris Callahan, Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS)
  • Annie Fitzgerald, NECAFS
  • Sean Fogarty, NECAFS
  • Anna Loewald, NECAFS
  • Elizabeth Newbold, NECAFS
Integrated Produce Safety Educators and Research

Expanding Horizons: Peer Learning and Innovative Approaches to Community Engagement - Panel Discussion and Group Activity

  • Lindsay Gilmour (Organic Planet, LLC)
  • Hans Estrin (University of Vermont)
  • Jennifer Hashley (New Entry Sustainable Farming Project)
  • Aleya Fraser (Chesapeake Ag Innovation Center)

Project Showcase and Practical Learning: Hands-On with a Variety of Educational Modalities

  • Rob Machado (University of Maine)
  • Shauna Henley (University of Maryland)
  • McKenna Hayes (The Food Connects Food Hub)
  • Andy Chamberlin (University of Vermont)
Preventive Controls for Human Food Workgroup Meeting

Preventive Controls Workgroup Activity Updates

  • Luke LaBorde (Penn State University)

Building a Better Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse - Preventive Controls Topic Review Activity

  • Annie Fitzgerald (NECAFS)

Shared-use Kitchen Panel: Exploring Benefits and Overcoming Challenges

  • Moderator: Nicole Richard (University of Rhode Island)
  • Liz Buxton (Western MA Food Processing Center)
  • Clint Stevenson (North Carolina State University)
  • Mike Mowry (Hope & Main)
  • Wendy White (GeorgiaTech MEP)

FSPCA Update: Recent Developments and Initiatives

  • Martin Bucknavage (Penn State University)

Applying Innovative Media Principles - Motivations and Methods for Educational Resource Development 

  • Matheus Cezarotto (New Mexico State University)

From Ideas to Impact: Turning Concepts into Reality

  • Byron Chaves (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Jan. 23, 2025

Integrated Produce Safety Regulatory, Educational, and Research Meeting

Risk Identification and Risk Prioritization

  • Jeff Stoltzfus (Penn State University)

Conducting Agricultural Water Assessments: A Hands-On Table-top Exercise

  • Chris Callahan (NECAFS)
  • Anna Loewald (NECAFS)
  • Tucker Diego (VT Agency of Agriculture)

What's Next? Awareness and Educational Planning Perspectives from the PSA

  • Betsy Bihn (Produce Safety Alliance)

On-Farm Observational Data: Regional Produce Safety Inspections and Readiness Reviews

  • Ben Comeau (MA) (Slides)
  • Meredith Melendez (Rutgers University)

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

  • Moderator: Amanda Kinchla (University of Massachusetts)
  • Jason Holleran (Ohio Department of Agriculture)
  • Sarah Czapranski (New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets)
  • Joanna Stores (New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets)
  • Liz Wirsing (Vermont Department of Health)

Crafting a Learning Pathway: Leveraging Collaborative Insights Using the Sanitation Control Practitioner Program

  • Annie Fitzgerald (NECAFS)
  • Amanda Kinchla (University of Massachusetts)
  • Christina Allingham (University of Massachusetts)
  • Gokhan Durmaz (University of Massachusetts)
  • Clint Stevenson (North Carolina State University)

Reflections, Future Planning, and Report Out

  • Annie Fitzgerald (NECAFS)

 

Summary of 2024 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Portland, ME

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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

Full Agenda with Slides
SessionMaterials

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

  • Chris Callahan, Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety (NECAFS) (Slides)
  • Annie Fitzgerald, NECAFS
  • Sean Fogarty, NECAFS
  • Anna Loewald, NECAFS
  • Elizabeth Newbold, NECAFS
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

  • Craig Kahlke (Cornell) (Slides)
  • Laura Strawn & Alexis Hamilton (VA Tech) (Slides)
  • Wendy Johnecheck (UNH), Moderator (Slides)

Translating Science: Development of Educational Tools

Risk-Based Decision Support Tool

  • Chris Callahan (NECAFS), Betsy Bihn & Laura Pineda-Bermudez (Cornell) (Slides)

Assessing Animal Intrusion and Contamination Risk Tool

  • Robert Hadad (Cornell), Lisa McKeag (UMass), Anna Loewald (NECAFS) (Slides)

The Agricultural Water Risk Management Tool

  • Phil Tocco (MSU), Don Stoeckel (PSA), Annalisa Hultberg (UMN) (Slides)

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

  • Adam Baker, Stephen Hughes, & Rebecca Bell (FDA) (Slides)

University Researchers and How Produce Safety Research is Prioritized by Academic Scientists

  • Kali Kniel (UDE) (Slides)
  • Shirley Micallef (UMD) (Slides)
  • Jennifer Perry (UME)

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

  • Meredith Melendez (Rutgers) (Slides)
Preventive Controls for Human Food Workgroup Meeting

Processors’ Food Safety Toolkit

Overview and early usage trends

  • Annie Fitzgerald, University of Vermont and Beth Demmings, Cornell University (Slides)

Regional PCHF Course Evaluation Tool

Launch of regionally developed tool to collect PCHF evaluation and processor educational needs data 

  • Nicole Richard, University of Rhode Island (Slides)

Exploring Projects with Creative Approach to Implementation and Their Successes

Improving the Development of Food Safety Plans through the Advanced Preventive Controls School Initiative

  • Byron Chaves-Elizondo, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Slides)

Development and Implementation of a Hands-on Food Safety and Regulatory Curriculum for Members of Shared-use Commercial Kitchens in Florida

  • Matt Krug, University of Florida (Slides)

Building Capacity: Customized Food Safety Educaiton and Outreach in Rhode Island

  • Nicole Richard, University of Rhode Island (Slides)

Food Safety Management and Document Development for PCHF Rule Qualified Exemption-Eligible Food Facilities

  • Abby Snyder, Cornell University (Slides)

Multi-Modal Dairy Food Safety Plan Education to Support Small and Medium Dairy Producers

  • Sam Alcaine, Cornell University

Summary of 2023 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Hartford, CT

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Summary of 2022 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Virtual

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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.

All videos from the meeting are available on the NECAFS YouTube channel.

Summary of 2021 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Virtual

Summary of 2020 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Philadelphia, PA

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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.

All videos from the meeting are available on the NECAFS YouTube channel.

Summary of 2019 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Albany, NY

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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.

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

Summary of 2018 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Baltimore, MD

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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

Summary of 2017 NECAFS Annual Conference and Meeting - Boston, MA

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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.