QIMA Morning Workshop Series Social Responsibility & Food Safety Readiness led by Brad Larson has been a Certified Social Compliance Auditor (CSCA) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) professional with over 25 years of combined hands-on manufacturing, engineering, social compliance auditing and Quality Management Systems documentation experience.
The National Watermelon Association is pleased to present a full-morning education workshop sponsored by QIMA, taking place Thursday morning at the NWA Annual Convention in St. Pete Beach, Florida, beginning promptly at 8:00 a.m.
Designed as a paired learning experience, this extended session brings together two timely, practical discussions addressing some of the most pressing compliance challenges facing the watermelon industry today. From evolving social responsibility expectations to upcoming PrimusGFS Version 4.0 requirements, attendees will gain insight into where the industry stands, what has changed, and how to prepare for what’s next.
These sessions are intended to be attended together and will provide attendees with both strategic perspective and actionable takeaways to support audit readiness, documentation, and on-site practices.
Who Should Attend
This workshop is especially valuable for:
• Growers, shippers, and packers
• Food safety, compliance, and quality assurance professionals
• Operations preparing for upcoming audits or certification updates
• Anyone responsible for social responsibility or food safety programs
Social Responsibility 1 Year Later – Lessons Learned
Join QIMA as we take a look at how far we have come since we were last together in Austin. It will be a valuable discussion with insights covering what we have learned as an industry and best practices moving forward.
Speaker:
Brad Larson has been a Certified Social Compliance Auditor (CSCA) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) professional with over 25 years of combined hands-on manufacturing, engineering, social compliance auditing and Quality Management Systems documentation experience. Brad loves to travel and lives in California at the end of 2025 joined the QIMA family.
PrimusGFS: Gearing Up for Version 4
The PrimusGFS session will review key Version 4.0 updates aligned with the latest Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarking requirements, regulatory expectations, and industry feedback, with a focus on documentation, on-site practices, and audit preparation. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the key areas of change and practical considerations to begin preparing their operations for the future implementation of Version 4.0.
Speaker:
Courtney Cox is an experienced food safety professional with extensive expertise in produce sector compliance, audit management, and certification readiness. With a strong background in PrimusGFS, she has worked closely with growers, packers, and supply chain partners to support the effective implementation of program requirements and audit preparedness.