There is considerable interest among some retailers and consumers to purchase foods grown locally. The stimulus driving this movement may be rooted in philosophical, environmental, economical or political systems of belief. Notwithstanding, the enhancements to quality and safety inherent to locally sourced foods is a debatable topic. The purpose of this interdisciplinary symposium is to explore multiple factors influencing the trend to local food preferences and discuss and highlight the impact that factors involved in the production and marketing of these foods may have on food safety. It is expected that this symposium will be of general interest to a wide spectrum of food safety professionals, including government, academic and industry IAFP members. Likewise, the topic addressed is relevant to a variety of food commodities including dairy, eggs, meat and poultry and fruits and vegetables. Speakers will address issues ranging from food safety knowledge and practices among small-scale producers who sell locally, the microbiological quality of foods available for at local markets, economics of locally sourced foods, consumers’ food safety concerns/beliefs about local foods and regulations governing locally produced foods.

Presentations