SEMA_________________________________

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

FOOD SECURITY CHECKLIST

The Industry Self-Assessment Checklist for Food Security is a tool for establishments to assess how well they have secured their operation. The food security plans are being issued in the form of guidance documents and are voluntary. FSIS will hold a workshop June 11th in Savannah, GA. Two of the topics to be discussed are the Self-Assessment Checklist for Food Security and Food Security Verification Procedures. The workshop is to assist the development and implementation of your food security plan. For more information log onto www.fsis.usda.gov

RETAIL STORE EXEMPTION RAISED

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has raised the dollar limitation for retail stores that sell meat and poultry products to qualify for an exemption from federal inspection. The 2005 limitations for meat and meat food products will be $54,500 and poultry will be $45,800. To be exempt, retail stores must not exceed the dollar limitation and sales to hotels, restaurants and similar institutions must not exceed 25% of your total sale.

USDA PURCHASING FOWL MEAT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to purchase fowl meat products for school lunch and other domestic food assistance programs. The amount of fowl meat purchased by USDA depends on the quantities offered, prices bid and recipient requirements. Interested suppliers should contact the Contracting Officer, USDA/AMS/Poultry Programs, Commodity Procurement Branch, 1400 Independence Ave. Washington, DC 20250.

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97% of food-borne illnesses are preventable
Wash your hands
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CUSTOMERS COMING YOUR WAY

Business should only get better as it is predicted that within three decades, nearly four in every ten Americans will call the South home, according to the Census Bureau.

By 2030, 39.4% of the populace will live in the South.

HOW IS YOUR COMPANY KNOWN?

Names, a sign, a symbol, single or combined, a company’s brand is an intangible good. A brand allows your product to be identified and differentiated, inspiring loyalty and repeat business.
Some of the elements that contribute to establishing a positive brand image include:

• Customer satisfaction with quality, service and pricing.
• Responsiveness, availability and convenience.
• Technical capabilities
• Coordinated Web presence
• Senior management availability, support and sincerity
• Communications
• Consistency
• Honesty

List provided byUCF Small Business Development Center

Perry Bagley of ProLabel, Inc. will be a speaker at the SEMA convention. He will share with us how to pick the colors, pictures, print size, etc. for our products to make them sell. The package and label sells the product the first time.

SEMA WEB SITE

The SEMA web site is a networking tool for you. The site in February had 1,278 unique visitors - a 24% increase from last year and March had 1,406 visitors. We get visitors not only from the U.S. but some 30 other countries. Most of the visitors come directly to the site and most traffic (84%) was during the week, which shows a majority of our traffic is from business people.

If you have a press release or would like to put something in the classified section it will be put in at no charge to SEMA members. Just mail or e-mail and we will put it in the next edition of the newsletter and on the web site.

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THINGS TO PONDER

You control your life by controlling your time
Conrad Hilton

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SEMA 2005 CONVENTION

“Improving the Bottom Line”

The Renaissance Resort @ The World Golf Village
St. Augustine, FL
June 10-12

For hotel reservations call
1.888.740.7020
The convention rate is $129.00 single or double
Plus a $15.00 resort fee

A FEW CONVENTION TOPICS

• Safety (a SEMA member shares their safety program that works)
• Label design and branding (what it can do for your companies’ image and sales)
• Communication skills (communicating correctly the first time, will save time & money)
• How to retain good employees (good employees will make your bottom line)

Again, this year we will have a dinner and silent auction to raise money for scholarships. There will be a golf tournament on Saturday afternoon. Many of our Associate members will be exhibiting the latest in industry technology. But most of all it is a great opportunity to network with your peers.

Convention information is available on the SEMA website

WELCOME NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

ProLabel, Inc.
4840 Hammond Industrial Drive
Cumming, GA 30041
800.844.9344
Becky Peffer

Global Sensors
P.O. Box 369
Mt. Holly, NC 28120
Chuck Gardener
866.402.8282

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS

Accent Marketing in Kenner, LA is looking for a manufacturer to represent in their market that produces a line of Pre-cooked Beef Items, Beef Patties, Salisbury Steaks, etc. Contact Gina Thibodeaux at 504.443.2024.

Habitat 2000 in Miramar, FL has hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico. They are looking for a meat supplier for 3 of their hotel-resorts (2,000 rooms) in the Dominican Republic. Contact Michael Piazzoli at 954.436.2955

Proprietary Foods, Inc. in Texas is looking for a processor to fully cook bulk chicken products and smoke chicken parts. Approx. starting volume of 200,000# per month. Contact Tom McWilliams at 770.993.2590 or e-mail profoods120@yahoo.com.

South Alabama Food Co-op, in Mobile, AL is looking for a processor to make private label products, supplies 1,500 families. Contact Linda Roland at 251.476.7808

Jonim Co., in Marietta, GA is looking for a supply of Danish Ribs, currently using 25 boxes a week. Contact Joseph Heggs at 770.891.2520 or e-mail mccantese@bellsouth.net.

EQUIPMENT WANTED

Kelly Foods in Orlando, FL is looking to purchase a 1,000# vacuum tumbler. Contact Dale Kelly at 407.654.0500 or e-mail dale_kelly@kellysfoods.com.

Register Meat Company in Cottondale, FL is looking for a good used roll-stock machine. Contact Al Kaempfer at 800.364.5790.