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Extension Food Safety Experts Help Expand Apple Business
When Jeff Nix took over management of Flavor Full Farms, a multi-generational apple orchard in Henderson County, he wanted to expand the business.
Nix and his wife, Dale, turned to NC State Extension food safety experts Lynette Johnston and Elena Rogers, who helped the farm launch a packing house and apple slicing operation.
Over the past few years, they have imparted a deep knowledge of food safety that enables the Nixes to comply with federal and state sanitation standards.
I love the purpose of Extension; it’s all about service and helping people find solutions.
-Lynette Johnston
The apple slicing business provides tasty, nutritious snacks to school children in Western North Carolina. Launching it required an in-depth understanding of pathogenic contamination and how to keep microscopic germs out of the slicing room.
“In helping them see the value of food safety, we're ultimately protecting public health,” Rogers said. “You can’t get it wrong.”
Johnston made on-farm visits to conduct food safety training. Rogers makes regular visits to check in and answer questions.
If it hadn’t been for Elena and Lynette, I don’t know how we'd be operating.
-Dale Nix
