New Processing & Food Product Safety Workshop for Poultry Farmers
The Northwest Agriculture Business Center has developed a rigorous class in poultry processing in partnership with the Organic Farm School on Whidbey Island.The hands-on workshop will be held July 12th, 2017 at th
e Organic Farm School in Freeland and is relevant for both the commercial producer and the home flock farmer. Training will take place in both a classroom setting and on NABC’s staffed 30’ Mobile Poultry Processing Unit (MPPU) truck. Included will be overviews of regulations, processing methods, sanitation as related to food safety, quality control, and at the core a practical, hands-on master class where students will process live poultry into packaged product on board the MPPU. Students will slaughter, eviscerate and package birds purchased direct from a local farm and take their work home to prepare and enjoy. This is a great opportunity for new farmers and those ready to scale up production to tour the MPPU, see a demonstration of the unit in action, and learn what is required to process birds for sale.
e Organic Farm School in Freeland and is relevant for both the commercial producer and the home flock farmer. Training will take place in both a classroom setting and on NABC’s staffed 30’ Mobile Poultry Processing Unit (MPPU) truck. Included will be overviews of regulations, processing methods, sanitation as related to food safety, quality control, and at the core a practical, hands-on master class where students will process live poultry into packaged product on board the MPPU. Students will slaughter, eviscerate and package birds purchased direct from a local farm and take their work home to prepare and enjoy. This is a great opportunity for new farmers and those ready to scale up production to tour the MPPU, see a demonstration of the unit in action, and learn what is required to process birds for sale.NABC’s MPPU provides WSDA-approved, on-farm poultry processing services throughout Snohomish, Island, Skagit, San Juan, King and Whatcom counties.Developed to support the growing pastured poultry culture in northwest Washington, the program includes paying a fair crew wage, humane animal treatment, keen attention to food safety, and farmer engagement in both processing style and project direction in its mission focus. Students will learn the tools, techniques and rationale used on the unit in advance of service dates, to adapt to their own processing activity, or simply to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the myriad details that go into making the best possible product.
Training will take place in the classroom and on the unit combining lecture and practicum activity. Passing the exam at day’s end earns students a Certificate of Completion.The class and its materials will be translated into Spanish, as requested, by our bi-lingual instructor.More details about the class can be viewed on the NABC website. For more information, please contact Sera at the NABC office, sera@agbizcenter.org or 360-336-3727.