SEMA_________________________________

SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 620777; Oviedo, FL 32762 Phone: 407-365-5661

SEMA CONVENTION IN “WINNER’S CIRCLE”

The 2004 SEMA Convention was in the “Winner’s Circle” with the attending members.
Exhibitors marketed their products. Processing members learned that working together can be profitable. Convention speakers gave us ideas on how to stay pro active in food safety and what consumers are looking for.

Between the Silent Auction, Live Auction, and Raffle approximately $3,100 was raised for the scholarship fund and a good time was had by all.

A new Board was elected at the convention. The following is your 2004-2005 Board of Directors.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Jimmy Carroll, Jr.; Sunset Farm Foods – President
Adam Chernin; Central Beef, Inc. L.L.C. – Vice-President
Scott Downing; Lowell Packing Co. – Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Allen Cherry resigned from the SEMA Board. Allen has been a member of SEMA for some 25 years and has served on the Board and as Treasurer, Vice-President and President. Allen will be devoting his time to running for the office of Tax Collector of Madison, Florida this year.

The Nominating Committee welcomes Ferril Maddox as he takes Allen Cherry’s place and will work with David Lee (Chairman) and Adam Chernin.

TWO CASES OF BSE IN THE WORKS

The first has come back negative. Deputy Administrator, Dr. John Clifford, said “the inconclusive result does not mean we have found another case of BSE in this country. Inconclusive results are a normal component of screening tests, which are designed to be extremely sensitive so they will detect any sample that could possibly be positive.”

Tissue samples are sent to USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories—the national BSE reference lab—which will run confirmatory testing. The carcasses have been accounted for and are not in the food supply. Check USDA.gov for the latest news.

REQUIREMENT CHANGE

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending its regulations by removing meat yield requirements in the standard of identity for “Beef with Barbecue Sauce” and Pork with Barbecue Sauce.” This rule is effective July 23, 2004.

This action is in response to a petition. The petitioner states that the current food standard places producers of these products at a competitive disadvantage because producers of other meat and sauce products do not have a cooked meat yield requirement or a raw meat yield requirement.

To review the new regulation go to:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/FRPubs/96-006F.htm

RECALL DIRECTIVE REWORKED

Recall of Meat and Poultry Products, FSIS Directive 8,080.1, Revision 4 has been revised.
The significant modifications include:

• Clarification that FSIS will not issue a press release for Class III recalls under most circumstances, and no press release will be issued if the company has recovered 100 percent of the suspect product before FSIS requests the recall. In addition, all classes of recall will generate a Recall Notification Report on the FSIS Web site.
• Press releases (or RNR, when appropriate) will be sent to the recalling firm 30 minutes prior to its release to the media.
• In the event that the Under Secretary or FSIS Administrator receives word of an outbreak of food-borne illness and contaminated products and no official source is determined, FSIS may issue a press statement to provide guidance to consumers and health professionals on the risk of illness and the associated symptoms.

For more detailed information on the directive, visit the FSIS Web site.

ELECTION MAY KEEP “COOL” COOL

According to R-Nebraska, Senator Chuck Hagel, “COOL” will get very little action this year due to the election. “COOL” was set to go into effect October of this year but now may be pushed back to 2006.

TRUCKER TOLL LANE

There is talk of making a toll lane for 18-wheel trucks only.

Extra lanes would be added to highways to separate cars from trucks, moving freight more efficiently. The Federal Highway Administration predicts a 31% increase in truck freight by 2015.
For this reason, Congress is favoring a truck-only toll lane (TOT). The construction would be paid for with the toll money. Some 16 states are looking at the TOT idea.

EATING OUT

Over the next few years, more than half of every dollar spent on food will be spent outside the home.

Americans will spend $440 billion eating out this year, according to the National Restaurant Association. That’s 70 million meals at 878,000 locations. If the country’s move to a service economy wasn’t already apparent, restaurants employ more people than any other except the government – 12 million in all. That is 9% of the U.S. work force.

PETA

Thanks to Lamar Outdoor, Daytona Beach, PETA did not get to welcome SEMA to Daytona Beach. PETA wanted to put an advertisement on a billboard near the Adam’s Mark Hotel implying that eating meat will cause impotence. Due to the subject matter, the Billboard Company, Lamar Outdoor, did not feel it was suitable for the market area.

THE BIG GETTING BIGGER

Wal Mart currently has 11% of the U.S. grocery business. It is predicted that within 10 years
Wal Mart will have 21% of the market.

Sysco Corporation acquired Plant City, Florida-based International Food Group. International Food supplies products to fast-food restaurants in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

EVERYONE’S IN LOVE WITH HOT DOGS

July is National Hot Dog Month. Hot Dogs are a favorite at the ballparks and for family cookouts, with 7 billion hot dogs consumed between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Consumers spent 1.8 billion on hot dogs in 2003. Over the years we have seen many changes with packaging and low fat but it seems consumers still love the traditional hot dog they grew up eating.

FACT: Fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona consumed 56,000 hot dogs at the Daytona Cubs games.

FACT: Americrown purchases 10 tons of hot dogs and 7.5 tons of hamburgers for the Pepsi 400 Weekend.

ASSERTIVE SKILLS TRAINING

Are you taking on too much? Do you say “yes” to doing everything even though you know you should have said “no”? In a healthy workplace we have to be able to set clear boundaries around work demands and pressures. A quick lesson in assertiveness might help you lighten your workload and focus on more worthwhile tasks. To be assertive, you need to:

1. Be a good listener
2. Be able to identify how the issue affects you.
3. Be as specific and clear about what you want, think and feel.
4. Be direct.
5. Stick to your own position and ask for feedback from other.

National Food Processors Association

WISDOM FOR A YOUNG CEO

What does it take to become a CEO?

At 14, Douglas Barry of Philadelphia sent letters to chef executive officers across the country seeking an answer to that simple question. He was amazed that 80 percent responded, and that two even called him at home to chat.

While reading the responses, Douglas discovered that there are seven attributes that a leader needs to succeed: respect, passion, vision, humanity, curiosity, integrity and pragmatism. He said, “I found out that, besides the fact there is no secret ingredient to becoming a CEO, there is also no prerequisite. The men and women who responded to my letter, and whose names we read about in newspapers every day, were themselves just kids once with big dreams.”

Douglas is now a 17-year-old high school senior preparing to attend Tulane University in the fall.

SEMA FALL WORKSHOP

SEMA is teaming up with the University of Florida and John R. White Company to put together a hands on fall workshop. The program is being finalized and will be in the next newsletter. It will be held October 21-22 at the University of Florida. Lodging will be available at the Cabot Lodge in Gainesville. Cost for the workshop will be approximately $100 with discounts available for additional people from the same company attending.

MEMBER TO WED

Karla Weiszer of Wolfson Casing Company and Tom Topkoff will be married September 5, 2004.
Attendees at the convention celebrated their engagement. Congratulations and Best of Luck to Karla and Tom.

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BETWEEN 1945 AND 2004, U.S. WORKERS EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING DROPPED FROM 40 PERCENT TO 12 PERCENT.
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KNOW YOUR ASSOCIATE

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

AZAR & COMPANY SAUSAGE
Philip Azar, Vice-President/Secretary
P.O. Box 5662
Jacksonville, FL 32247-5662
Phone: 904.358.2354
Fax: 904.301.1388
E-mail: RPAhere@aol.com

Thanks to Gene Funkhouser, A.C. Legg!!!

TOWNSEND ENGINEERING COMPANY
Phil Stines, Sales Engineer
2425 Hubbell Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50305
Phone: 515.265.8181
E-mail: phil_stines@teconet.com