Safe Food California is where the industry comes together
The food safety landscape is evolving—driven by regulatory changes, technological advancements, and supply chain complexity. California continues to lead the nation in agricultural production and food safety standards. Decisions made in California’s specialty crop industry influence not only the state but also the global market.
This April, Safe Food California brings together scientists, regulators, producers, and quality leaders who are shaping what comes next. Proudly presented by DFA of California, the West Coast’s top food safety and quality conference was built by the industry, for the industry. Here is exactly what you can expect when you attend.
A Power-Packed Agenda Built for Real-World Impact
Safe Food California advances food safety education beyond theoretical concepts. Our expert-led keynote addresses, panels, and breakout sessions explore the latest developments in food safety and quality, including topics like “The Changing Landscape of Food Safety,” “Leading the Food Safety and QA Teams of the Future,” and “The Current State of Food Policy in Washington: Chaos or Change?” The agenda this year emphasizes food safety, technology, regulation and compliance, as well as operations and plant management. Key speakers include Frank Yiannis, Jorge Hernandez, Wendy Maduff, Steve Lutes, Maria Wedel, and Kelly Leighton.
Click here to view the agenda.
Pre-Conference Academy Courses Jump Start Professional Development
Safe Food California offers three highly sought-after preconference academy courses. These four-hour courses provide an in-depth overview of critical food safety topics. Attendees will leave with expert insights, actionable steps to take back to their facility, and a certificate of training for their professional development.
This year’s academy courses are:
- CAPA, CARs, and Root Cause Analysis
- Fundamentals of Environmental Monitoring Workshop
- Understanding and Applying Food Safety Culture
More Networking Opportunities Than Ever Before
Safe Food California 2026 brings more networking opportunities than ever before. Attendees make connections that lead to real business opportunities, partnerships, and career growth. Discover more about all the food safety fun here.
Homecoming Party at Tipsy Putt
This pre-conference kickoff event sets the tone for the incredible week ahead. This event offers a perfect opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and welcome new members to the community. Attendees can expect friendly competition, drinks, and great conversation all in a relaxed environment.
This exciting event is available to all attendees but is free for DFA members.
Conference Kick-Off Reception
Safe Food California’s Opening Reception is what brings this conference to life. This event, available to all conference pass holders, brings attendees and exhibitors together in a relaxed, stress-free environment. Held in the exhibit hall, this event offers attendees the opportunity to explore the show floor, grab a drink, and build quality connections.
Spotlight: The Harris Woolf Paw Pavilion
One highlight of the conference kick-off reception is the Harris Woolf Paw Pavilion in partnership with Animal Friends Rescue Project (AFRP). AFRP partners with local animal shelters to rescue the most vulnerable and at-risk animals. This includes animals in urgent medical need, underage puppies and kittens, and those who require extra time to adjust. AFRP will showcase adoptable animals at the Paw Pavilion. Attendees interested in adopting can schedule a meet-and-greet with the prospective pet during the reception. They can also visit the Paw Pavilion to win exciting prizes and cuddle friendly local animals.
Dark and Dazzling: a Moulin Rouge Inspired Evening Gala
Safe Food California’s closing night party is the best party in food safety, no contest. Sold out year after year, this event is tailored for the bold, the brilliant, and the leaders shaping food safety and quality’s future. Attendees can look forward to upscale cuisine, craft cocktails, and an environment brimming with impressive spectacle. Dark and Dazzling provides an ideal conclusion to your Safe Food California experience, allowing you to celebrate with the community that positions California as the hub of food safety excellence.
Click here to learn more about the best party in food safety.
Making the Business Case: Why It’s Worth the Time and Travel
The Investment Pays for Itself
Attending Safe Food California is an investment for the whole team. Attendees walk away with real-world takeaways from practical sessions, workshops, and case studies that offer actionable strategies to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and enhance product quality. These areas provide the following return on investment:
Cost Savings
Attendees save significant money by attending Safe Food California rather than taking the same training year-round. The preconference academy courses cost just $299, and participants receive their certificates within a week of the event. The conference also features sessions on audit preparation, including topics like SQF, BRCGS, an Auditor’s Perspective, and Internal Audits. This event offers extensive knowledge and training to ready your team for the year ahead.
Risk Reduction
- Attending Safe Food California can help prevent costly recalls by staying ahead of the curve and learning from our curated breakout sessions.
- Attendees walk away with actionable insights to improve and strengthen their compliance program.
- Safe Food California provides the most relevant updates on key industry regulations.
Operational Efficiency
- Safe Food California’s breakout sessions offer digestible, relatable content that helps attendees learn from other facilities’ experiences.
- Attendees walk away with the tools to implement these proven systems, which, in turn, reduce the cost of system inefficiencies.
Need to Convince Your Boss?
Download our ‘Convince Your Boss’ Template, which outlines the key reasons why Safe Food California is worth the investment. Simply copy and paste the email template and send it to your boss! Click here to download the template.
Exclusive Value for DFA Members
With exclusive member discounts on registration and free tickets to the Homecoming Party at Tipsy Putt, attending Safe Food California as a DFA Member is an easy decision. DFA of California was founded to bring the industry together, and that mission continues today through Safe Food California. This conference allows DFA Members to connect with key players across the food supply chain to tackle shared challenges.
Be Part of Deciding the Future
Food safety is constantly evolving, with California leading the way. As new regulations, sustainability efforts, and technological advancements emerge, continuous adaptation is essential. Safe Food California serves as the hub where theory turns into practice—industry leaders are not only discussing the future of food safety but actively shaping it. Join us this April at Safe Food California and help define what’s next.
Click here to register.
