Learn about Food Processing Technology Degree at GCC

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Greg Sharpe

BATAVIA, NY (03/06/2015)(readMedia)-- The food industry is a family business for Greg Sharpe. His father was a professor of Food Technology at SUNY Morrisville and Greg has 25 plus years in the field. He brings that expertise to GCC as instructor in the new Food Processing Technology degree program. You can learn more about the program and meet Sharpe during an upcoming informational tour that includes Open House April 25, 2015 at GCC's main campus in Batavia and visits to all six GCC campus center locations in Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming Counties.

With more than 100 food-related manufacturers in Western New York, food processing is a burgeoning regional industry with abundant opportunities for secure and profitable careers. The New York State job bank (http://newyork.us.jobs/) currently lists many positions in the food industry in the Western and Finger Lakes regions including process development engineer, senior bakery technologies, senior food packaging technologist, quality assurance manager and many others.

GCC responded to this demand by developing the food processing technology degree program which launched in fall 2014. The two-year, 63 credit program educates students in food safety, sanitation and hazard analysis; food and dairy processing operations; analytical methods and food labeling. Graduates of the program understand basic principles of food science including the chemical, physical and microbiological properties of food, as well as the technology used to create an abundant supply of safe, nutritious and delicious food.

For the Fall 2015 semester, GCC will be offering two sessions of Food Processing Technology 101. FPT 101 is being offered on both Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. as well as on Thursdays, from 4 to 6:45 p.m., accommodating students who may also be working different shifts within the food industry.

"In developing this course, we listened very closely to many leaders and team members working within our regional food industry. We have endeavored to not only make our course content relevant to today's needs and standards, but also align our course schedule with the interests of our local food workforce," said Dr. Rafael Alicea-Maldonado (Dr. RAM), dean of Math, Science and Career Education.

Learn more at these upcoming Food Processing Technology Info Tour dates, and play the Fun with Food Facts Wheel of the Future and earn a chance to win a mini shopping basket filled with local produced foods.

• Thurs., March 26, 2015 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. GCC Medina Campus Center

11470 Maple Ridge Rd., Medina

• Wed., April 1, 2015 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. GCC Dansville Campus Center

31 Clara Barton St., Dansville

• Thurs., April 9, 2015 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. GCC Warsaw Campus Center

115 Linwood Ave., Warsaw

• Tues., April 14, 2015 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. GCC Albion Campus Center

456 West Ave., Albion

• Thurs., April 23, 2015 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. GCC Lima Campus Center

7285 Gale Rd., Lima

• Thurs., April 30, 2015 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. GCC Arcade Campus Center

25 Edward St., Arcade

In addition, Sharpe will be on hand to speak with visitors who attend Open House at the GCC Batavia campus on Saturday, April 25, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. -12 noon.

He will also reach out to students in the southern tier at a STEM event in Cattaraugus County's Portville High School, 500 Elm St., Portville, NY 14770 on Friday, April 17, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note:

A photograph of Greg Sharpe is available here:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/GregSharpe.jpg