I (www.billmarler.com) am off to Eastern Washington a bit later this morning to give a talk at the “Farm-to-Table” Conference. My talk is on “Hot Topics in Food Illness Litigation.” It is also a bit of a homecoming – I spent six years at WSU getting three bachelor degrees, four years on the Pullman City Council and eight years as a WSU Regent. The Conference topics are:

The Food Safety: Farm-to-Table Conference is back! The conference was initiated in 1991 and is offered through a collaborative effort between Washington State University and the University of Idaho. National and regional speakers present information on a variety of food safety issues, offering a professional development opportunity for state and local health authorities, Extension employees and food industry professionals. The conference offers networking opportunities to strengthen food safety partnerships in the Pacific Northwest. Topics reviewed at previous conferences include the following:

* Foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter

* Food safety management programs, such as HACCP and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)

* Food-specific food safety concerns, including produce and seafood

* Regulatory aspects of food production

* Foodborne outbreaks