Now is the time to invest in your team. AFDO can help!
Now is the time to help your team lay out their professional development plans. AFDO has a host of options for employees – from new to experienced – to fit every budget. There are offerings for you, too. Check out these training opportunities and pass them along to anyone you want to help succeed.
2024-2025
AFDO Annual Trainings
Download the printable brochure
Environmental Sampling: A Tool for Solving Outbreaks at the Retail Food Level
Seat limit:
30
Technical
Training
Cost
Varies
AUDIENCE
Inspectors, Leaders
About this
In-person
training
This course is intended to provide hands-on experience with planning and conducting environmental sampling activities primarily in a retail setting.
Learn how to build a sampling team and plan for an environmental sampling exercise, target sampling areas based on specific pathogens, and how sampling can contribute to an overall environmental assessment of a facility. This one-day workshop includes a half-day of classroom and hands-on learning, followed by a half-day of putting those skills into action in a real kitchen/food production environment.
Who Should attend
Field-level staff who conduct environmental sampling/environmental assessments and supervisors/coordinators who plan sampling assignments and outbreak responses, particularly at retail facilities.
Location
In-person
TBD
Cost
Varies
Dependent on location. AFDO will work with the workshop host to determine costs. Workshops can often be supported through appropriate grants, cooperative agreements, and/or registration fees.
Training Dates
This course will be held in multiple locations throughout the country. If you are interested, please contact AFDO at afdo@afdo.org for suggested dates and locations.
Cost
Free
AUDIENCE
Leaders, Regulatory
About this
In-person/Virtual
training
Note: By application only. Please email pkennelly@afdo.org for more information or to express your interest.
The course is designed to provide insight into key knowledge points that Food Program Managers need to effectively implement their programs. Topics include media relations, emergency response, integrated food safety systems, budgeting, human resources, legal and regulatory authorities, compliance, and enforcement.
Who Should attend
New, existing, and future program leaders currently employed by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.
Location
In-person, Virtual
Dallas, Texas
Cost
Free
Training Dates
There will be three 4-hour virtual course meetings followed by an 8-hour in-person course throughout 2025.
- January 2025 (virtual course)
- March 2025 (virtual course)
- May 2025 (virtual course)
- June 21, 2025 (in-person course at the AFDO Annual Education Conference in Dallas, TX)
Specific dates will be announced in the coming months. Some travel funding support may be available for the in-person course date.
May 5, 2025
– May 9, 2025
Basic Inspections and Investigations Course for New Manufactured Food and Retail Regulators
Seat limit:
18
Technical
Training
Cost
$
350
AUDIENCE
Inspectors
About this
Virtual
training
This course provides basic and fundamental learning opportunities for new food regulators who have responsibilities for conducting routine and non-routine inspections, conducting investigations, and collecting product samples for analysis by a laboratory.
This hands-on training will benefit those who have learned from ORA LearnED web-based training courses and will include live activities and exercises in a virtual setting. Topics will include a review of the basics of conducting an inspection, including equipment and tools; conducting the opening and closing interviews; observation skills; and how to prepare a defensible report. A brief overview of investigations and sampling techniques is covered.
A computer with a video camera is required for participation.
*If your organization would prefer a train-the-trainer level course for this learning opportunity, please contact afdo@afdo.org. If your jurisdiction would like this delivered in person to your organization, that can also be arranged.
Who Should attend
Manufactured and Retail food inspectors with less than 2 years of experience.
Location
Virtual
Cost
$
350
Training Dates
May 5-9, 2025 | Register Now | Download the printable agenda
Cost
Varies
AUDIENCE
Leaders
About this
In-person
training
Are you prepared to lead your business’ food safety program with purpose? This high-energy workshop is designed for operations leaders and franchisees who want to move beyond checklists and truly take control of food safety. Whether you’re running one location or overseeing multiple teams, you’ll discover how to drive performance by putting food safety at the heart of your leadership strategy.
Through interactive sessions and real-world scenarios, you’ll gain the tools, confidence, and mindset to lead a culture of accountability, excellence, and food safety — day in and day out.
What You’ll Master:
- Active Managerial Leadership that Works
- Creating Positive Food Safety Culture
- Purpose-Driven Leadership that Inspires Action
- Building and Sustaining a Food Safety Management System that Delivers
Location
Publix Orlando Distribution Center
7350 Hazeltine National Drive
Orlando, Florida 32822
There is no room block for this training. Participants can book room reservations at a nearby hotel.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando Airport
5555 Hazeltine National Drive,
Orlando, Florida 32812
(407) 856-0100
SpringHill Suites Orlando Airport
5828 Hazeltine National Drive,
Orlando, Florida 32812
(407) 816-5533
Wingate by Wyndham Orlando International Airport
5750 Hazeltine National Drive,
Orlando, Florida 32812
(407) 826-5258
Travel
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is 4 miles away.
Who Should attend
Food safety industry leaders such as operations leaders, franchisees, and food safety managers.
Location
In-person
Orlando, Florida
Cost
Varies
$350 AFDO members
$600 non-members
Training Dates
July 8, 2025, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Register Now | Download the printable agenda
July 15, 2025
– July 18, 2025
Basic Inspections and Investigations Course for New Manufactured Food and Retail Regulators Train-the-Trainer
Seat limit:
18
Technical
Training
Cost
Varies
AUDIENCE
Inspectors, Regulatory, Trainers
About this
In-person
training
This three-and-a-half-day train-the-trainer course will provide future instructors with the tools, resources, and skills needed to be an instructor for the Basic Inspection and Investigation Course. The participants will be guided through the materials and provided key concepts for instruction for basic and fundamental learning opportunities for new food regulators.
Location
Ohio Department of Agriculture,
Bromfield Administration Building Auditorium
8995 E. Main St.
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
There is no room block for this training. Participants can book room reservations at a nearby hotel.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Columbus East
2826 Taylor Road Extension
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(614) 864-4555
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
2806 Taylor Road Extension
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(614) 861-8888
Home2 Suites by Hilton
2426 Taylor Square Drive
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(614) 328-9010
Hampton Inn Columbus-East
1890 Winderly Lane
Pickerington, OH 43147
(614) 864-8383
Travel
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is located 13 miles away from the training site.
Who Should attend
Advanced manufactured food and retail food program instructors, lead trainers, and those desiring to be a lead trainer.
Location
In-person
Reynoldsburg, OH
Cost
Varies
$750 AFDO Members
$950 Non-Members
Training Dates
July 15-18, 2025 | Register Now | Download the printable agenda