Community

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Experts from the Mississippi State University Extension Service will offer a workshop designed to help food-related business owners prepare for disasters.

“Food as a Business: Disaster Preparedness for Food Businesses” is for anyone who currently operates or is interested in operating an agriculture-based food business, including retail, cottage food or food processing operations.

Topics include financial preparedness, risk management, record keeping, crisis communication planning, emergency-action planning and food recall and traceability planning.

Mississippi fruit and vegetable producers, specialty foods producers and interested farmers can learn how to get their products on local store shelves and into new markets during an upcoming meeting.

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum in Picayune will host the Piney Woods Heritage Festival Nov. 16.

The 17th annual event celebrates the region’s heritage with musical performances and displays and demonstrations of traditional skills and arts, including blacksmithing, spinning, quilting, butter churning, basket making, Native American dancing and more.

BILOXI, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service invites volunteers to participate in the rescheduled 2019 annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Nov. 16.

Volunteers will remove litter from 30 sites across Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties beginning at 8 a.m. A complimentary lunch will be provided after the cleanup ends at 11 a.m.

Community organizations are encouraged to participate in an upcoming community training forum on racial understanding Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.