URBANA, Ill. — Contamination in wash and pack areas remains one of the leading causes of foodborne illness outbreaks in fresh produce. Without proper handling and sanitation practices, even the most carefully grown crops can pose a serious health risk to consumers and a financial risk to producers.
Discover practical strategies to improve food safety in fresh produce wash and pack areas during “Food Safety in Fresh Produce — Wash and Pack Areas,” an expert-led webinar presented by University of Illinois Extension. Whether managing a small farm or overseeing a large-scale operation, this session offers essential guidance on reducing contamination risks and protecting customers and businesses from foodborne illnesses.
“The growing season is a busy time for fruit and vegetable farmers. Before we wrap up this season, let's pause and reflect on one of the key reasons we engage in growing fruits and vegetables, which is to provide nutritious and safe food to our communities,” says Lillian Nabwiire, food safety educator. “In this webinar, we will focus on protecting fresh fruits and vegetables from contamination after harvest."
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025
Time: 4 to 5 p.m.
This webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 5 p.m. Registered participants will receive a link via email a few days before the event.
Register at: go.illinois.edu/FoodSafetyWebinar.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this webinar, please contact Samantha McLain at slangley@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.
SOURCE: Lillian Nabwiire, food safety educator, Illinois Extension.
WRITER: Herbert Chavez, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.