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President's Message
By Gary Ford Dear ACFSQ/DFA and SCTC Members: As I reflect on the passing of another year I am filled with a sense of bitter-sweetness. With headlines featuring the unsteady economy and food safety scares, it was easy to get swept up in the frenzy the media created for us. But even in these hard times I am thankful for the continued success of our industries and am filled with a respect for the people who continue to make them so wonderful. As we move into the new calendar year, we must remember that food safety is more than a nice phrase- it’s an action we must incorporate in our every thought and action. Many of you are aware that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added additional inspection personnel across the U.S. (including in CA). The inspections will be more frequent and detailed, and may include environmental swabbing. ACFSQ/DFA has been communicating with the FDA about these new inspections and they have agreed to present their new approach to our members. For more information on the meetings held in Fresno and in Sacramento in January, please contact the ACFSQ/DFA office. We encourage you to send your plant managers and Q&A managers to attend one of these special meetings. Another important date to mark on your calendar is February 19. The annual ACFSQ/DFA meeting will be held at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. With highly respected professionals whose expertise is directly in the dried fruit and nut industries, we are certain that this will be the best conference yet. This workshop centric event will focus on food safety and transportation issues that directly impact your company and industry. I encourage you to read the article "Mark Your Calendars" for more information. As always, ACFSQ/DFA is working hard to increase our knowledge and improve our food systems to be a more valuable resource to you. We have recently invested in new lab technology, which will allow us to reduce the turnaround time on pathogen testing (which will now be close to 24 hours), and will also reduce the potential for false-positives. This new equipment was purchased after consulting with the FDA to make sure the ACFSQ/DFA's testing methods are in line with the FDA's. My hopes for 2010 include continual investment in technologies and projects that will make the ACFSQ/DFA a more efficient and valuable resource for our members. As our employees continue to expand their knowledge, I encourage you to contact us with any concerns or questions you may have. I look forward to seeing you in Monterey in February! Best, Gary |
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Comments, questions or story ideas? Please contact newsletter editor Richard Cherrix at 916.561.5900 ext. 107 or richc@agfoodsafety.org  View Newsletter Archive IN THIS ISSUE Member Spotlight: Valley Fig Growers 24th European Dried Fruit Meeting ACFSQ/ DFA Board Members: Don Soetaert, Chairman Shoei Foods USA, Inc. Susan Brauner Blue Diamond Growers Sam Keiper Diamond Foods, Inc. Jack Mariani Mariani Nut Company George Sousa, Sr. Mariani Packing Company, Inc. Barry Kriebel Sun-Maid Growers of California Mark Dalrymple Sunsweet Growers Inc. Mike Emigh Valley Fig Growers Pete Turner Wilbur Packing Company SCTC Board Members: Michael Cassidy, Chairman Sun-Maid Growers of California Chip Litten CalDak International, LLC Bruce Higton California Food Connections Craig Duerr Campos Brothers Farms N. Leon Dermenjian Derco Foods Martin Mariani Mariani Nut Company Jim Zion Meridian Nut Growers, LLC Everett Golden Otis McAllister, Inc. Linda Robbins Pacific Century Trading, Inc. President’s "E" Award By Erika Tarr Known as one of the oldest and most widely trusted companies dealing in global trade of food products, Otis McAllister, Inc. is truly a shinning star. Founded in 1892 by James Otis, Jr., M. Hall McAllister and Everett N. Bee, their mission was simple: to provide their global customers the widest breadth of sources for high quality and reasonably priced foods, beverages and food ingredients and to conduct business with all suppliers and clients in an ethical manner. This practice has continued for one hundred and sixteen year history as a key company in the worldwide food industry. <read more> Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) 2010 Ag Shipper Workshops By Erika Tarr The Specialty Crop Trade Council works closely with The Agricultural Transportation Coalition (AgTc). The AgTC monitors government and commercial activity on ocean shipping and other transportation issues and keeps AgTC members up-to-date on how these will impact their business. To view Ag Shipper Workshop Dates and Locations, please visit http://www.agtrans.org/Section.asp?article_id=1989 American Shipper <view PDF> |
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