College ag group aiding growers against outbreak Saturday,
November 5, 2011 DURANGO, Colo. (AP) — The Fort Lewis College
agriculture department and the Colorado State University
Extension office are reaching out to help local growers and
public health officials avoid health threats such as the
listeria outbreak that officials have linked to the deaths of 28
people. "We haven't had any problems here, fortunately," said
Beth LaShell, a professor of agriculture at FLC and coordinator
of the project. The "Food Safety Begins on the Farm" series is
funded by a $30,000 grant from the Western Center for Risk
Management Education. The program started with a classroom
orientation and tours of several farms in La Plata, Montezuma
and Dolores counties. A related online program sponsored by
Cornell University concerning good agricultural practices is
designed to keep interest alive over the winter, LaShell said.
Several seminars are scheduled over coming months. The listeria
outbreak this summer has been traced to cantalo