Conference Logo

National Project Directors' Meeting

May 28-29, 2025

Tampa, Florida

Overview

The USDA National Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) invites you to participate in the 2025 National Project Directors' Meeting. Over the two-day program, the Lead Regional Coordination Center (LRCC) and four regional centers (Southern (SC), North Central (NC), Northeast (NECAFS), and the Western (WC) will host FSOP grant awardees from around the country, both virtually and in person, as they discuss their accomplishments and success stories.

Despite being a hybrid meeting of virtual and in person, we hope that you will benefit from this meeting and enjoy hearing about all the incredible work performed around the country by so many dedicated food safety educators. We hope that you join us!

This work is supported in part by USDA NIFA grant no. 2021-70020-35740 and 2024-70020-42861. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Program Documents

For printer-friendly documents of program information, refer to the following PDFs.

Detailed Agenda

Day 1 | May 28, 2025
7:30am Morning Refreshments Foyer - 14th Floor Pre-Function Space
Welcome and USDA-NIFA & FSMA Regional Center Updates
Moderator: Keith Schneider
Time (ET) Title Presenter Institution
8:30am Welcome and Overview of Meeting Keith Schneider University of Florida, LRCC
8:35am USDA-NIFA Update USDA Representative
8:45am Southern Center Update Keith Schneider
8:55am NECAFS Update Elizabeth Newbold
9:05am NRC Update Ellen Johnsen
9:15am WRCEFS Update Sam Kilgore
Session 1
Moderator: Armitra Jackson-Davis
Time (ET) Title Presenter Institution
9:25am An Integrated Approach to Developing Extension Outreach Curricula for Home Food Preservation, Retail Food Safety, and Cottage Foods: A Food Safety Extension Network Effort
View Abstract (PDF)
Carla Schwan University of Georgia
9:40am Food Safety by Design: Adding Value, Ensuring Safety of Food Products Produced by Small Processors
View Abstract (PDF)
Kantha Channaiah University of Missouri
9:55am Bridging the Gap: Creating FSMA-PSR and GAP-Inspired Food Safety Outreach Program for Underserved Urban Growers in Illinois
View Abstract (PDF)
Pratik Banerjee University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
10:10am Addressing Produce Safety Educational Needs for Non-English Speaking Produce Growers in the Midwest
View Abstract (PDF)
Manreet Bhullar Kansas State University
10:25am Transformative Food Safety Learning 1.0: Using Virtual Simulation to Engage Small- and Very-Small Food Processors
View Abstract (PDF)
Yaohua (Betty) Feng Purdue University
10:40am Morning Break Foyer - 14th Floor Pre-Function Space
10:55am Evaluation Update Matt Benge University of Florida
11:05am CONTACT Grant Update Taylor O’Bannon University of Florida
Session 2
Moderator: Ellen Johnsen
Time (ET) Title Presenter Institution
11:15am Sanitation Control Practitioner Program (SCPP)- The Development of an Education Sanitation Program for Small Processors
View Abstract (PDF)
Amanda Kinchla University of Massachusetts, Amherst
11:30am Training Beginning, Socially Disadvantaged, and Organic Specialty Crop Producers in Food Safety / FSMA Compliance to Access Intermediated Markets
View Abstract (PDF)
Emily Round New Entry Food Hub
11:45am De-Mystifying FSMA: Creating a Food Safety Education and Training Program to Increase Market Access for Black Producers and Chefs in the Mid-Atlantic US
View Abstract (PDF)
Marcus Roberson Good Earth Therapy
12:00pm Group Working Lunch Starling Room
Session 3
Moderator: Elizabeth Newbold
Time (ET) Title Presenter Institution
1:45pm Developing a Hazards and Controls Guide to Support Safe Seaweed Production and Marketing
View Abstract (PDF)
Razieh Farzad University of Florida
2:00pm Expanding Food Safety Resources for Small and Mid-Size Processors of Low Moisture Foods
View Abstract (PDF)
Abigail Snyder Cornell University
2:15pm Young Farmer Food Safety Education Project: Developing and Implementing Food Safety Outreach Activities for WV High School Horticulture Instructors as Supplement to the Farm-to-School Program
View Abstract (PDF)
Nettie Freshour West Virginia University
2:30pm FSMA Traceability Requirements in Retail Food Establishments: Development of an Educational Training Program
View Abstract (PDF)
Ellen Shumaker North Carolina State University
2:45pm Afternoon Break Foyer - 14th Floor Pre-Function Space
3:00pm Instructions for Breakout Groups Elizabeth Newbold
Time (ET) Breakout Sessions Facilitator Room
3:05pm Breakout #1 Elizabeth Newbold Wilson Plover North
Breakout #2 Taylor O’Bannon Wilson Plover South
Breakout #3 Billy Mitchell Skylark
Breakout #4 Stephanie Brown Skylark
4:05pm Breakout Report Out
5:00pm Poster Session and Reception Foyer - 14th Floor Pre-Function Space
6:30pm Dinner on Own
Day 2 | May 29, 2025
8:00am Morning Refreshments Foyer - 14th Floor Pre-Function Space
Updates from Associations
Moderator: Keith Schneider
Time (ET) Title Presenter Institution
8:30am Day 2 Welcome
8:40am Produce Safety Alliance Yulie Meneses Produce Safety Alliance
8:50am Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance Jason Wan FSPCA - Institute for Food Safety and Health IIT
9:00am Local Food Safety Collaborative Billy McCarthy National Farmers Union
9:10am Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative Kaycee Captain Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative
Session 4
Moderator: Stephanie Brown
Time (ET) Title Presenter Institution
9:20am Equipping Small Processors to Thrive in Larger Markets: A Hybrid Approach to Support Training Efficacy
View Abstract (PDF)
Alexis Hamilton Virginia Tech University
9:35am GLEAN (Game Learning to Educate and Advance kNowledge): Transformative Food Safety Training for Farmers Market Vendors
View Abstract (PDF)
Kristen Gibson University of Arkansas
9:50am Leveraging Partnerships Among North Carolina Extension Programs to Build Food Safety Educational Capacity and Expand Industry Accessibility to Resources
View Abstract (PDF)
Lynette Johnston North Carolina State University
10:05am Enhancing Food Safety for Underserved Farmers in Rural Mississippi
View Abstract (PDF)
Nicole Bell Mississippi Association of Cooperatives
10:20am Morning Break Foyer - 14th Floor Pre-Function Space
10:35am Empowering Faculty and Staff from Minority-Serving Institutions to Successfully Write Grants
View Abstract (PDF)
Angela Walla Texas Tech University
10:50am Minimizing Postharvest Loss, Improving Product Quality, and Food Safety in the Black Belt Food Corridor
View Abstract (PDF)
Kristin Woods & Terri Lewis Tuskegee University
11:05am FSMA and Business Development Training to Underserved Small Food & Beverage Entrepreneurs and Future Capacity Building
View Abstract (PDF)
Jennifer Stone Georgia Tech Research Corporation
11:20am FSMA Training Cohort for Small Georgia Food Producers
View Abstract (PDF)
Jennifer Stone Georgia Tech Research Corporation
11:35am Developing an Engaging Produce Safety Add-On Training for Soilless Growing Operations
View Abstract (PDF)
Laurel Dunn University of Georgia
11:50am Meeting Final Remarks / Adjourn Keith Schneider University of Florida
12:00pm Grab and Go Lunch Foyer - 14th Floor Pre-Function Space

Poster Directory

Numerous poster presentations were presented during the conference. Scroll through the table below and click on the icon to view each poster presentation. The Posters listed below are in order by last name.

# First Last Organization Regional Center Poster Title PDF
1 Matheus Cezarotto New Mexico State University Western Regional Center to Enhance Food Safety Recent FSOPs completed by New Mexico State University and Partners
2 Laurel Dunn University of Georgia Southern Regional Center Managing Water Well: Enhancing Water Quality to Foster Food Entrepreneurship and Farm Food Safety
8 Yaohua (Betty) Feng Purdue University North Central Regional Center Immersive Learning: Virtual Reality (VR) for Enhanced Food Safety
9 Yaohua (Betty) Feng Purdue University North Central Regional Center Produce Drying Food Safety: A Curriculum for Small-scale Operations
3 Aliyar Cyrus Fouladkhah Tennessee State University Southern Regional Center Public Health Microbiology and Process Authority Support For Tennessean Entrepreneurs
4 Peggy Geren University of Florida Southern Regional Center Assessing the Southern Regional for FSMA Food Safety Training and Outreach Impacts
5 Ravi Jadeja Oklahoma State University Southern Regional Center A Collaborative Approach to Provide Food Safety Training and Technical Support to Small and Medium Sized Food Businesses in Oklahoma
6 Ellen Johnsen Iowa State University North Central Regional Center Regional Center Collaboration from NASDA
7 Carla Schwan University of Georgia Southern Regional Center An Integrated Approach to Developing Extension Outreach Curricula for Home Food Preservation, Retail Food Safety, and Cottage Foods: A Food Safety Extension Network Effort

Registration

This meeting is supported in part by USDA NIFA grant no. 2021-70020-35740 and 2024-70020-42861.
What does the in-person attendance include?

In-person registration provides participation in the meeting, a printed program and abstract book, light morning, mid-morning, and afternoon refreshments, a served lunch and a poster session social (Wednesday), and light morning refreshments with a boxed lunch (Thursday).

The deadline to cancel is Monday, May 5th

What does virtual attendance include?

Virtual registration provides access to the live-stream of the presentations, participation in Q&A via chat, and the program and abstract book PDF. Please note that virtual participation does not include streaming of the breaks, lunch, breakouts, or Poster Session. 

The deadline to register is Tuesday, May 27th

Venue

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

2900 Bayport Drive
Tampa, FL 33507
PH: (813) 874-1234
Visit Website

Discounted Group Rate
Room Type Standard King Double-double
Rate $189.00 $189.00
  • The rate being offered to attendees is exclusive and may not be used in conjunction with any advertised or unadvertised promotional specials existing or yet unreleased.
  • This discounted room rate is available one day prior the meeting (based on hotel availability).
Hotel Reservation Deadline: Event has Passed

Travel

Browse below for some helpful information about transportation to and from the meeting.

For an extensive list of things to do in the Tampa Bay area, check out Visit Tampa Bay's Event Calendar!