By Blake Jackson
Apple growers and packers in New York are invited to participate in an intensive, hands-on workshop focused on managing Listeria monocytogenes in apple packinghouse environments.
Scheduled for June 26, 2025, the event is hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program (CCE ENYCHP) in collaboration with food science experts from Cornell University.
The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will be held at two locations: the Hudson Valley Research Lab and Porpiglia Farms in Highland, NY.
With a registration fee of $40, participants will gain access to both classroom instruction and real-world, on-farm activities. Pre-registration is required, and walk-ins will not be accepted.
Morning sessions will feature presentations from Cornell faculty and graduate students on critical topics including Listeria biology, cleaning and sanitizing procedures, and environmental monitoring strategies.
Dr. Abby Snyder, a Cornell associate professor, will lead discussions alongside graduate researchers Calvin Slaughter, Rory Wang, and Lyle Massoia.
In the afternoon, attendees will head to Porpiglia Farms for practical training in sanitation protocols. Breakout stations will cover activities such as ATP testing, proper drain cleaning, roller brush sanitation, and visual inspections.
Participants will rotate through hands-on exercises, applying what they learned earlier in the day to real-life packinghouse scenarios.
The workshop aims to equip attendees with effective tools for reducing Listeria risks in produce handling facilities. Refreshments and lunch are included in the registration.
This educational event is supported in part by the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety. For questions or accommodation requests, including dietary restrictions, contact Dan Donahue at djd13@cornell.edu or 518-322-7812.
Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so early registration is encouraged.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dionisvero
Categories: New York, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Education