Space is still available for a one hour webinar entitled "Cooperative Interstate Shipment: How's It Working Out?" on February 4 at 1:00 EST. The webinar is presented by the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN) in collaboration with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

 The NMPAN/USDA-FSIS webinar will feature inspection program directors and plant operators from Ohio and Wisconsin who will talk about why their states signed up and how it's working out so far for the participating food plants. The directors will also describe the process they went through to qualify. An official from USDA-FSIS will provide background on the CIS program.

 The CIS program was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and launched by FSIS in 2012. The goal was to expand market opportunities for small meat and poultry processors by allowing state-inspected meats from qualifying plants to be shipped across state lines. Ohio was the first state to qualify in August 2012, followed by Wisconsin.

 TO ATTEND:Go to https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/nichemeat a few minutes before start time and log on as a guest. All NMPAN webinars are free and open to the public.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION: email Lauren Gwin, NMPAN Co-Coordinator at lauren.gwin@oregonstate.edu or call her at +1 541.737.1569.

Source: NMPAN