SEMA_________________________________ SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
SEMA CONVENTIONThe SEMA convention will be held at the Four Star, Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach FL, June 2nd & 3rd. This year’s theme will be “Charting the Course” and will have topics of interest to owners and top management. SEMA Associate members will be exhibiting the latest technology in our industry. There will also be time for fun with a golf tournament on Saturday and Daytona’s own American idol variety show at the Saturday night farewell banquet. Convention information and registration can be found on the SEMA web site or call the SEMA office at 407.365.5661. Companies that invest in employee learning have higher productivity, revenue growth, and profit growth than companies that do not. FSIS CONSUMER WARNINGSummer is coming and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is advising consumers of cooking temperatures for meat and poultry. FSIS is issuing a public health alert to remind consumers to ensure that meat products are fully cooked and properly handled before they are consumed. FSIS advised consumers that cooking raw poultry to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F would eliminate pathogens and viruses. ANIMAL TRACE PROCESSING SYSTEMAgriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the release of an implementation plan that outlines timelines and benchmarks for the establishment of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), along with a plan for the initial integration of private and state animal tracking databases with NAIS. The implementation plan continues to set an aggressive timeline for ensuring full implementation of the NAIS by 2009. It establishes benchmarks for incrementally accomplishing the remaining implementation goals to enable the NAIS to be operational by 2007, and to achieve full producer participation by 2009. By early 2007, USDA expects to have the technology in place, called the Animal Trace Processing System or commonly known as the metadata system, that will allow state and federal animal health officials to query the NAIS and private databases during a disease investigation. The animal tracking databases will record and store animal movement tracking information for livestock that state and federal animal health officials will query for animals of interest in a disease investigation. Scoring Systems' William Kanitz will be presenting a Farm to Table tracking system at the SEMA convention. SEMA MEMBERS RECOVERINGKallis German Butcher Co. located in Punta Gorda, FL, is back in business processing over 100 specialty items including cooked and smoked sausages, natural casing hot dogs and bolognas. Kallis was closed 14 months due to hurricane Charley. The building survived but all the contents were overcome with bacteria and had to be replaced. Manfred Kallnischkies said his USDA inspector and suppliers worked with them during the recovery process, but had trying moments working with insurance and contracting companies. All of Manfred’s employees had to find other jobs during the rebuilding, but having loyal employees is a blessing and all but one has returned to work. Manfred said many of his retail customers have returned but has found it a little more difficult to get his foodservice business back. With all new equipment, loyal knowledgeable employees and supplier support, Manfred only needs to get the word out that Kallis German Butcher Co is back. You may contact Manfred at kallis1@earthlink.net . Ratchford Meats of AL, a past SEMA member, burned to the ground last October and everything was lost. Ratchfords was a hot-boned sausage processor and their main business was fresh sausage based on a recipe that dated back to his wife's great-grandfather. After Scott Hinson's misfortune, he turned to SEMA members for help and advice. Scott said, "The response has been overwhelming and when my business gets back on its feet, I will be rejoining SEMA. I didn't realize how much I really needed y’all". REGULATORY UPDATE
Directives Summary 11/2005 – 3/2006
Note importance of 5100.2 for all companies and 10,240.4 and 10,240.5 for all RTE companies. CONGRATULATIONS TO SEMA’S RISING STARSSEMA member company Kelley Foods has two “Rising Stars”. Scott Kelley, VP of Manufacturing and Alex Mount, Controller were honored in the March issue of Meat Processing Magazine as rising stars in our industry. Members of industry companies nominated Scott and Alex. Kelley Foods is fortunate to have these talented and dynamic people working on their team. Congratulations to Scott and Alex and the best to them in their careers. AAMP SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLEAAMP each year gives a $2,000 Scholarship to a sophomore, junior or senior undergraduate who plans to pursue a curriculum leading to a BS in Animal/Meat/Food Science/Ag Engineering or related fields with an orientation toward post-harvest processing of meat food products. Applicants must be a dependent of an AAMP member, an AAMP member’s employee or the dependent of an AAMP member employee. Deadline to apply is April 30, 2006. For more information contact the AAMP office at 717.367.1168.
<<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->> SEMA INDUSTRY NEWSTipper Tie, Inc.'s Technology Days; May 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Tipper Tie will be showcasing new innovative equipment. Call today and reserve your preferred date. 919.362.8811 ext 290. WELCOME SEMA NEW MEMBERULMA PACKAGING SYSTEMS, INC. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Companies that invest in employee learning have higher
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