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R. B. GRAVANI, Dept. of Food Sciences, Cornell Univ., Stocking Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853

Land Grant universities have long been recognized as excellent resources on a variety of topics ranging from information gathered in basic research for professionals to applied areas of interest to consumers. The complex Cooperative Extension system involves federal, state, county, and university partners and provides timely and useful information to many publics. In the area of food safety and quality, many effective outreach/extension programs have been funded by CSREES, USDA. A few examples of successful programs providing assistance to small- and medium-sized food companies and regulatory agencies by faculty at Cornell University are: (1) Home Study Courses. From July 1, 1998 through October 31, 1999, over 6,000 individuals in the retail food industry have enrolled in a popular Cornell Home Study Course in Food Store Sanitation. (2) Venture Center/Entrepreneurial Programs. In 1999, the New York State Venture Center at Cornell assisted over 300 entrepreneurs with scientific and technical information regarding their products, processes, and businesses. (3) HACCP plans. A HACCP demonstration project was developed in partnership with a small meat-processing company, an industry trade association, the USDA, and Cornell. The meat processor, with input from an advisory team, developed and implemented an effective HACCP plan. (4) Short Courses, Workshops and Training Programs. Specific programs in Food Quality Management, prerequisite programs, Good Manufacturing Practices and HACCP are conducted regularly for the food industry. (5) Regulatory Agency Inspection Updates. Each year, a three-day scientific and technical information update is provided to New York State Food Inspectors who inspect food processing plants, warehouses, and retail food stores. Land Grant University Outreach/Extension Programs provide all sectors of the food industry, as well as regulatory agencies, journalists, and consumers with timely, scientifically sound, and practical information.