Food Safety Task Force Annual Seminar Focuses on Local Foods

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Deputy State Epidemiologist John Dunn, DVM, Ph.D., will welcome a panel of Tennessee food producers on Wednesday, May 1, to the “Local Foods:  Trends, Initiatives and Food Safety” seminar. The event will be held in the Ed Jones Auditorium at Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville.

The annual Food Safety Task Force seminar, hosted by TDH and the Department of Agriculture, offers Tennessee consumers, food producers, restaurant owners and others the opportunity to learn from national experts about delivering the safest possible food supply to consumers. Topics will include adding value through farmers markets; direct marketing and agritourism; local food production and safety research; raising profits and a discussion of outlets for local foods.

Who:  John Dunn, DVM, Ph.D., Deputy State Epidemiologist, TDH

Allan Benton, Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams

Danny Shelton, Shelton Farms

                Amy Delvin Tavalin, Delvin Farms

                Jeremy Barlow, Sloco

                Sarah Johnson, Nashville Grown

What:  Local Foods:  Trends, Initiatives and Food Safety

                                When:             Wednesday, May 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT

                                Where:            Ellington Agricultural Center

                                Ed Jones Auditorium

                440 Hogan Road

                                Nashville, Tennessee  37220

Media note:  Participation in this event is by invitation only; however, media are welcome to all sessions, and interviews will be available throughout the day.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Shelley Walker, 615-253-5184 or Shelley.Walker@tn.gov.