Joe Smith is the Produce Safety Specialist with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. His career in food safety began with the MDARD Food and Dairy Division in April 2018 after earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Lake Superior State University in 2017. Since 2018 Joe has held inspector roles with the food, dairy, and produce programs within MDARD. Joe has worked with the Produce Safety Unit conducting food safety inspections on Michigan fruit and vegetable farms since 2019. In his new role of Produce Safety Specialist, Joe is responsible for reviewing Produce Safety Risk Assessment submissions, providing technical assistance to inspectors and educators, as well as ensuring consistency in understanding and application of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule among the Michigan On-Farm Produce Safety team, among other duties and responsibilities. Joe’s favorite part of the job is meeting farmers throughout Michigan and learning more about farming every day, as well helping others learn. In his free time Joe enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with family and friends. Joe lives near Lansing with his wife and their two cats. Joe has also spent time on his friends’ dairy farms helping with various tasks from picking rocks to baling hay and straw.