Food safety update 2026
Technical update on fresh produce safety science and evolving audit requirements, covering microbial risk reduction, audit standards, and compliance timelines for growers, packers, and auditors at the Henderson County Center.
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Hands-on food safety workshop for packing house managers and staff covering produce handling, haccp basics, and regulatory compliance to prepare teams for the 2026 season.
Hands-on food safety workshop for packing house managers and staff covering produce handling, haccp basics, and regulatory compliance to prepare teams for the 2026 season.
Hands-on food safety workshop for packing house managers and staff covering produce handling, haccp basics, and regulatory compliance to prepare teams for the 2026 season.
Hands-on workshop teaching how to grow, preserve, and cook with culinary herbs, covering planting, harvesting, drying, and simple kitchen techniques like sauces and infused oils.
Hands-on workshop teaching how to grow, preserve, and cook with culinary herbs, covering planting, harvesting, drying, and simple kitchen techniques like sauces and infused oils.
Hands-on workshop teaching how to grow, preserve, and cook with culinary herbs, covering planting, harvesting, drying, and simple kitchen techniques like sauces and infused oils.

Conference-style talks and stakeholder discussions focused on practical food waste reduction strategies, including recovery, composting, and circular economy solutions. Designed for regional partners to share resources, policy ideas, and implementation roadmaps.

Conference-style talks and stakeholder discussions focused on practical food waste reduction strategies, including recovery, composting, and circular economy solutions. Designed for regional partners to share resources, policy ideas, and implementation roadmaps.
Conference-style talks and stakeholder discussions focused on practical food waste reduction strategies, including recovery, composting, and circular economy solutions. Designed for regional partners to share resources, policy ideas, and implementation roadmaps.
Hands on class teaching seed to table skills for culinary herbs, including planting, harvesting, drying, freezing, and simple herb infused recipes for sauces, butters, and oils. Suited for home gardeners and beginning cooks.
Hands on class teaching seed to table skills for culinary herbs, including planting, harvesting, drying, freezing, and simple herb infused recipes for sauces, butters, and oils. Suited for home gardeners and beginning cooks.
Hands on class teaching seed to table skills for culinary herbs, including planting, harvesting, drying, freezing, and simple herb infused recipes for sauces, butters, and oils. Suited for home gardeners and beginning cooks.
Hands on food safety manager training with practical applications, followed by a proctored certification test and focused skills practice to prepare learners for manager level compliance and on the job implementation.
Hands on food safety manager training with practical applications, followed by a proctored certification test and focused skills practice to prepare learners for manager level compliance and on the job implementation.
Hands on food safety manager training with practical applications, followed by a proctored certification test and focused skills practice to prepare learners for manager level compliance and on the job implementation.

ServSafe food safety training geared toward restaurant and hospitality staff, covering core sanitation and safe food handling practices. ARA-hosted session also doubles as an industry meet up for local Asheville foodservice professionals.

ServSafe food safety training geared toward restaurant and hospitality staff, covering core sanitation and safe food handling practices. ARA-hosted session also doubles as an industry meet up for local Asheville foodservice professionals.
ServSafe food safety training geared toward restaurant and hospitality staff, covering core sanitation and safe food handling practices. ARA-hosted session also doubles as an industry meet up for local Asheville foodservice professionals.
Walk through mixed-species plantings and propagation beds to learn agroforestry design, native plant selection, and nursery propagation techniques from horticultural science experts during a hands-on morning field tour.
Walk through mixed-species plantings and propagation beds to learn agroforestry design, native plant selection, and nursery propagation techniques from horticultural science experts during a hands-on morning field tour.
Walk through mixed-species plantings and propagation beds to learn agroforestry design, native plant selection, and nursery propagation techniques from horticultural science experts during a hands-on morning field tour.

An 8-class garden-to-table series covering planting, growing, and harvesting for small and medium gardens, then turning the harvest into simple, delicious meals. Includes free seeds and handouts plus a shared meal cooked together each month.

An 8-class garden-to-table series covering planting, growing, and harvesting for small and medium gardens, then turning the harvest into simple, delicious meals. Includes free seeds and handouts plus a shared meal cooked together each month.
An 8-class garden-to-table series covering planting, growing, and harvesting for small and medium gardens, then turning the harvest into simple, delicious meals. Includes free seeds and handouts plus a shared meal cooked together each month.
Hands-on 4 H educator training builds STEM and ag programming through electric kit assembly and plant systems lessons. Outdoor learning in pollinator gardens and research plots centers on growing systems, habitat, and practical classroom activities.
Hands-on 4 H educator training builds STEM and ag programming through electric kit assembly and plant systems lessons. Outdoor learning in pollinator gardens and research plots centers on growing systems, habitat, and practical classroom activities.
Hands-on 4 H educator training builds STEM and ag programming through electric kit assembly and plant systems lessons. Outdoor learning in pollinator gardens and research plots centers on growing systems, habitat, and practical classroom activities.
Hands-on training for small-scale chicken and poultry keeping, covering breeding plans, incubator hatching basics, and flock health essentials. Practical guidance on humane processing and regulations for selling poultry products from a homestead or farm.
Hands-on training for small-scale chicken and poultry keeping, covering breeding plans, incubator hatching basics, and flock health essentials. Practical guidance on humane processing and regulations for selling poultry products from a homestead or farm.
Hands-on training for small-scale chicken and poultry keeping, covering breeding plans, incubator hatching basics, and flock health essentials. Practical guidance on humane processing and regulations for selling poultry products from a homestead or farm.

An online deep-dive into tomato varieties that thrive in western North Carolina mountain conditions, with practical guidance from starting seed to harvest. Covers dwarf tomato cultivation plus basics of home tomato breeding for resilient backyard crops.

An online deep-dive into tomato varieties that thrive in western North Carolina mountain conditions, with practical guidance from starting seed to harvest. Covers dwarf tomato cultivation plus basics of home tomato breeding for resilient backyard crops.
An online deep-dive into tomato varieties that thrive in western North Carolina mountain conditions, with practical guidance from starting seed to harvest. Covers dwarf tomato cultivation plus basics of home tomato breeding for resilient backyard crops.

Plant focused happy hour with hands on horticulture tips and casual Q and A on keeping houseplants and garden starts thriving. Relaxed after work social vibe at a Sweeten Creek Road venue.

Plant focused happy hour with hands on horticulture tips and casual Q and A on keeping houseplants and garden starts thriving. Relaxed after work social vibe at a Sweeten Creek Road venue.
Plant focused happy hour with hands on horticulture tips and casual Q and A on keeping houseplants and garden starts thriving. Relaxed after work social vibe at a Sweeten Creek Road venue.

A fast-paced 2-hour gardening crash course focused on maximizing limited time in the yard with practical, efficient routines and planning tips. Set at an arboretum for hands-on inspiration and seasonal takeaways.

A fast-paced 2-hour gardening crash course focused on maximizing limited time in the yard with practical, efficient routines and planning tips. Set at an arboretum for hands-on inspiration and seasonal takeaways.
A fast-paced 2-hour gardening crash course focused on maximizing limited time in the yard with practical, efficient routines and planning tips. Set at an arboretum for hands-on inspiration and seasonal takeaways.
Hands-on beginner sourdough baking class led by a local Extension Agent, covering starter basics and the bread making process. Practical instruction in a Cooperative Extension classroom geared toward first-time home bakers.
Hands-on beginner sourdough baking class led by a local Extension Agent, covering starter basics and the bread making process. Practical instruction in a Cooperative Extension classroom geared toward first-time home bakers.
Hands-on beginner sourdough baking class led by a local Extension Agent, covering starter basics and the bread making process. Practical instruction in a Cooperative Extension classroom geared toward first-time home bakers.
Hands-on beginner class on identifying Blue Ridge Mountain mushrooms with certified wild foragers, focusing on key field marks and local species. Ideal for new foragers wanting practical, safety-minded ID skills.
Hands-on beginner class on identifying Blue Ridge Mountain mushrooms with certified wild foragers, focusing on key field marks and local species. Ideal for new foragers wanting practical, safety-minded ID skills.
Hands-on beginner class on identifying Blue Ridge Mountain mushrooms with certified wild foragers, focusing on key field marks and local species. Ideal for new foragers wanting practical, safety-minded ID skills.

Hands-on outdoor class covering plant ID strategies to recognize invasive plants common in Western North Carolina. Learn ecological impacts plus practical management and control tactics for home landscapes and public spaces.

Hands-on outdoor class covering plant ID strategies to recognize invasive plants common in Western North Carolina. Learn ecological impacts plus practical management and control tactics for home landscapes and public spaces.
Hands-on outdoor class covering plant ID strategies to recognize invasive plants common in Western North Carolina. Learn ecological impacts plus practical management and control tactics for home landscapes and public spaces.

Double safety class blending bear behavior and coexistence tips with practical wildfire prevention and fire control basics. Led by an N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission bear biologist and a veteran forest and environmental regulations specialist at a botanical garden setting.

Double safety class blending bear behavior and coexistence tips with practical wildfire prevention and fire control basics. Led by an N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission bear biologist and a veteran forest and environmental regulations specialist at a botanical garden setting.
Double safety class blending bear behavior and coexistence tips with practical wildfire prevention and fire control basics. Led by an N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission bear biologist and a veteran forest and environmental regulations specialist at a botanical garden setting.

Hands-on STEM festival with interactive science demos and casual conversations with working scientists, set amid the trails and gardens of the NC Arboretum. A free, curiosity-driven day of nature exploration for all ages as part of the NC Science Festival.

Hands-on STEM festival with interactive science demos and casual conversations with working scientists, set amid the trails and gardens of the NC Arboretum. A free, curiosity-driven day of nature exploration for all ages as part of the NC Science Festival.
Hands-on STEM festival with interactive science demos and casual conversations with working scientists, set amid the trails and gardens of the NC Arboretum. A free, curiosity-driven day of nature exploration for all ages as part of the NC Science Festival.

An in depth botany session on plant cells, tissues, and structural growth from trout lily scale to white oak scale. Focuses on how plant structures mature and support function, building on Beginning Botany prerequisites.

An in depth botany session on plant cells, tissues, and structural growth from trout lily scale to white oak scale. Focuses on how plant structures mature and support function, building on Beginning Botany prerequisites.
An in depth botany session on plant cells, tissues, and structural growth from trout lily scale to white oak scale. Focuses on how plant structures mature and support function, building on Beginning Botany prerequisites.
Hands-on mushroom cultivation workshop where you drill and inoculate sustainably sourced hardwood logs with gourmet and medicinal spawn for home harvests. Practical growing tips and take-home inoculated logs in a garden nursery setting.
Hands-on mushroom cultivation workshop where you drill and inoculate sustainably sourced hardwood logs with gourmet and medicinal spawn for home harvests. Practical growing tips and take-home inoculated logs in a garden nursery setting.
Hands-on mushroom cultivation workshop where you drill and inoculate sustainably sourced hardwood logs with gourmet and medicinal spawn for home harvests. Practical growing tips and take-home inoculated logs in a garden nursery setting.