Events & Education
Upcoming Events, Courses and Workshops:
CONNECT U by Dairy Connection | Online Courses: Ongoing
Created, produced, and hosted by Dairy Connection, CONNECT U is an online educational resource featuring presentations on a variety of dairy science topics. This easily-accessible, low-cost (often free) education and technical information platform is geared to assist cheesemakers, cheese retailers, and anyone interested in diving into the science of making cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products. All presentations are available a la carte, and new content and topics are added regularly. Learn more and enroll here: https://connectu.dairyconnection.com/
American Cheese Society (ACS) Annual Conference | Buffalo, New York: July 10-13, 2024
ACS' 41st annual conference will feature four days of educational sessions, tastings, networking and much more. To learn more, visit: https://www.cheesesociety.org/2024-conference/
Science of Farmstead Cheese | Online Course: Ongoing
Understand the fundamentals of cheese and milk chemistry with this self-paced online course. Modules include: Cheese, Culture and the Cheesemaker; Milk Chemistry; 10 Steps of Cheesemaking; Starter Culture Technology; Rennet and Coagulation; Salting and Molding; Cheese Aging Chemistry; Cheese Analysis and Evaluation; Course Summary and Next Steps. Cost of this course is $699 (discount available to Vermont Cheese Council members -- contact VCC for the discount code). Cost ranges from $20 to $135. To learn more about this course, visit: https://vermontcheese.thinkific.com/courses/science-of-farmstead-cheese
UW Center for Dairy Research Shortcourses | Madison, WI: Ongoing
The University of Wisconsin CDR offers a variety of shortcourses throughout the year. To learn more and view the current schedule, visit: https://www.cdr.wisc.edu/education
Food Safety Basics for Artisan Cheesemakers | Online Course: Ongoing
This online course is intended to equip artisan and farmstead cheesemakers with basic knowledge about food safety concepts and serve as a primer for further training programs, such as how to develop and implement a preventative controls food safety management plan. For a limited time, this $49 course is available at no cost when you use discount code DC-FREE at registration. To learn more, visit: https://units.cals.ncsu.edu/foodsafety/food-safety-basics-for-artisan-cheesemakers/
Environmental Monitoring in the Dairy Industry | Online Course: Ongoing
This online course, developed by North Carolina State University, is intended to provide users with the knowledge and skills required to develop and implement an Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) in the food industry. In this course, users will learn alongside virtual dairy processors in a virtual dairy processing facility to simulate on-the-job training. Fee for this on-demand course is $350. To learn more, visit: https://units.cals.ncsu.edu/foodsafety/environmental-monitoring-in-the-dairy-industry/
Artisan Cheese & Sensory Fundamentals | 4-week Online Course: next session Fall 2024 (date tbd) | University of Vermont
The University of Vermont's Artisan Cheese & Sensory Fundamentals Professional Certificate is a foundational four-week online program for aspiring cheesemakers, cheesemongers and food systems professionals. Ideal training for those new to the cheese industry or those who have some basic knowledge but want a more holistic foundation. Cost of this course is $750; a discount is available for University of Vermont affiliates. To learn more, visit: https://learn.uvm.edu/program/certificate-in-artisan-cheese/
Artisan Dairy Food Safety Plan Coaching | Online: Ongoing
Do you have questions about your food safety plan? Are you a new or expanding artisan dairy producer? Are you curious about what steps you need to take to be FSMA compliant? Cornell University experts are here to help via regular "office hours" Q&A sessions. These FREE sessions take place twice per month, every month on Zoom. Each session will focus on a different food safety topic, but there will also be time for questions about any specific food safety plan. There is NO COST to attend the Online Dairy Food Safety Chat sessions. Bring your food safety plan and your questions! Learn more here: https://cals.cornell.edu/northeast-dairy-foods-research-center/artisan-support
Dairy Science and Sanitation | Online Course: Ongoing
Available from Cornell University in either Spanish or English, this online self-paced Dairy Science and Sanitation workshop is tailored to dairy processing personnel and is designed to help participants understand the basic principles of dairy science and safety, as well as emphasize dairy processing establishment needs related to dairy sanitation to ensure that proper programs are conducted in their establishments. To learn more, visit: https://dairyextension.foodscience.cornell.edu/programs/certificate-program/basic-dairy-science-and-sanitation/