Protect Food from Microbial Contamination through Food Safety Education (Bernalillo County)

Indian Livestock Days in May provided opportunities for the Home Economists to share tips on food safety and safe food preservation practices with the participants of the event.

The Bernalillo County Master Gardeners held the annual Tomato Festival on August 23rd 2009. The Home Economist participated in various food demonstrations and taught a workshop on preserving tomatoes. There were an estimated over 800 people who attended the event.

The summer of 2009 food preservation classes were presented to the public in Bernalillo County. The county saw an increase in home gardens and there were many requests on what to do with all the produce once it was harvested. Using Cooperative Extension curriculum and handouts good research based education was share with many through these classes and through numerous phone consultation. The classes were on freezing and drying food, canning and making jams and jelly for a total of 5 classes. A waiting list for next year’s classes has already begun.

August 22; BCEA program on Safety Tips for seniors and people with disabilities. 16 ladies attended and I shared senior safety kits and we had a lively discussion of simple ways to make our home safer to avoid things like falls and bruising.

30% of participants, including county agents, will have sustained use of adopted safe food handling practices 3 years after program completion. 30% of participants will decrease their rates of food born illness. 80% of NM food service operators will use NMSU for some part of their food product development including chemical and microbial laboratory analyses and technical support. 30% of participants will implement some type of food safety or HACCP plan 3 years after program completion.