SEMA_________________________________

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

SEMA Convention

Nestled among the North Georgia Mountains, Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa quietly redefines the typical mountain getaway.  The SEMA convention is family-oriented and there will be plenty to keep everyone busy on the 503 acre resort including golf, tennis, horseback riding, stream or pond fishing, outdoor and indoor swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center and over 9 miles of hiking trails or enjoy a luxurious spa experience at the Equani Spa, a full-service spa.  In the surrounding area, nature lovers will enjoy rock climbing, white water and tube rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and guided lake tours.  Friday and Saturday evenings will be filled with great food, family fun and entertainment. 

• “The Value Driven Workforce” - Curt Fowler, President of Fowler & Co.

Curt Fowler has a passion for business and the good that can come from values driven organizations.  He loves to share his message with groups in an interactive and engaging format.  He always leaves audiences inspired and with actions that they can take immediately to improve their situation at work and in life.

• Exporting Opportunities - Steve Isaf, Pres. of Interra International & Chairman-Elect -U.S.  

Meat Export Federation  Steve Isaf will give you the inside scoop on what you need to know about exporting.  Interra International based in Atlanta, GA. is a global leader in trade and distribution of food products.  Interra International sells over 4,300 products in 85 countries.

• “GFSI Standards: Which One Is Best For Your Company?” - Michael Pearsall, UL DQS Inc

Mike Pearsall has over 30 years of professional experience in the fields of Food and Beverage Processing, Packaging Material Manufacturing, Product Development and Implementation, Process Improvement, Quality System Development and Auditing. Mike is the first British Retail Consortium Approved Training Provider located in North America and the only ATP currently certified as a trainer in all of the BRC standards: Food, Packaging and Consumer Products. He is also a certified auditor in the BRC Food and Packaging Standards; an ASQ Certified Auditor and trained as an ISO Lead Auditor and a Safe Quality Foods auditor.

• "Getting the Most From Your ERP System" - Jack Payne, CDC Software
•  FSIS USDA Regulator Update - Dennis Reisen, USDA FSIS Deputy District Manager
•  Food and Agriculture Critical Infrastructure & Food Defense - Dr. James Daniels, UGA
  The state of Georgia was one of the first nominated for national consideration as critical infrastructure, and one of the first food and agriculture sectors ever designated by the Department of  Homeland Security

• A Virtual Plant Tour of a Southeastern Processor

The SEMA Board of Directors is looking ahead at the future leaders (40 and younger) of our industry and association.  This year there will be a Young Executives Meet & Greet.  This gives the young people in our industry an opportunity to network with their peers.             

Convention registration and information is on the SEMA web site or call the office 407.365.5661.

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Things to Ponder. . . . . 
There are three cures for ennui: sleep, drink & travel.
D.H Lawrence, British novelist
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Lawmakers Call on USDA to “Correct the Record” after LFTB Controversy

Thirty lawmakers signed a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking USDA to take a greater role in setting the record straight and standing up for Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB).

The letter specifically asks FSIS what it has already done and what it can do in the future to help “stop the campaign of misinformation” and “correct the public record and educate consumers about the safety of LFTB”.

“Although we believe the USDA is in a unique position to help bring to light the facts about LFTB, we understand that Congress, too, can play a role,” reads the letter. “We will continue to do our part to educate the public about this important issue and the significant role that BPI has played in advancing food safety in America, but we also believe that we must work in concert with the USDA.”

“Given the tremendous amount of simply incorrect information that has been released to the public about LFTB, it is no surprise that some consumers have begun to question the quality of this product.  However, we understand the truth: LFTB is 100 percent beef, safe, and cost-effective.”

The lawmakers -- mostly from Iowa, Kansas, and Texas -- explain that it’s not just a problem for the industry, but it’s a problem for consumers: “every American who buys beef could end up being harmed by this information,” due to higher prices.                                                                   From NAMP newsletter

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Things to Ponder . . . . . 
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
Thomas Edison, American inventor
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Some Target Stores to Feature More Fresh Food

Some 90 Target stores will be expanding their fresh food selections this June.  Nearly 1,000 Target stores currently offer an expanded food layout.   At these stores, about 10,000 square feet is dedicated to a vast array of fresh food choices such as fresh produce, baked goods and meats.

The Minneapolis-based Target Corporation operates 1,765 stores across the United States, with its first stores in Canada to open in 2013.

NAMA

The Executive Committees of NMA and NAMP met in Washington, DC, to continue working out the logistics of bringing together the two associations under the banner of the North American Meat Association (NAMA). They plan on having the consolidation done by July 1, 2012.

Barry Carpenter, future CEO of NAMA and Phil Kimball, future Executive Director of NAMA, joined in the productive discussions, helping to fill out the details and taking away long “to-do” lists for the staff to work on.

The two Executive Committees also confirmed a first year of events: the Outlook Con­ference in October, MEATXPO in February 2013, and continuation of a wide array of educational programs including the very popular Center of the Plate Training program.  NAMA will continue the events that have been popular with each group over the years.

Odom's Tennessee Pride

ConAgra is expected to close on the purchase of Odom’s Tennessee Pride within the next month subject to customary closing conditions.  Odom's Tennessee Pride with more than $190 million in annual revenue is the second-largest producer of frozen breakfast sandwiches in the U.S., and employs about 750 employees.  The agreement includes Odom's facilities in Little Rock, AR, Dickson, TN, and its Headquarters office in Madison, TN.

FSIS Extending Implementation Date on Routine Sampling Program for Non-O157:H7

FSIS is extending for 90 days the implementation date for routine sampling of six additional STEC serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145); the implementation date will begin June 4.  The purpose of the extension is to provide additional time for establishments to validate their test methods and detect these pathogens prior to entering the stream of commerce.

FSIS will initially sample raw beef manufacturing trimmings produced domestically and imported, and test the samples for the serogroups.  On September 13, 2011, USDA announced that if the serogroups are found in raw ground beef or its precursors, those products will be prohibited from entering commerce.
Date extended from March 5 to June 4, 2012

Residue Requirements / Improve Compliance & Increase Testing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced two steps designed to prevent meat products that contain illegal residues from reaching consumers: the issuance of a compliance guide that will help livestock slaughter establishments avoid purchasing animals with illegal drug or other chemical residues; and increased testing of animals from producers with a history of residue violations.

The residue compliance guide is intended for all livestock slaughter establishments, particularly those for dairy cows and bob veal calves, which account for the majority of residue violations. The guide outlines basic measures that slaughter establishments can employ to prevent or reduce residues in livestock.

FSIS administers the U.S. National Residue Program (NRP) to keep products with illegal residues from reaching consumers. As part of today's announcement, FSIS stated that a key part of the NRP, the Residue Repeat Violator List, has been revised and streamlined to be more user-friendly. The list now includes only producers who have supplied more than one animal with an illegal residue level in the past year. FSIS is interested in receiving comments on the list, including how to improve its usefulness, and whether the Agency should provide additional information on producers who supply animals with violative residues.

The Agency's increased testing applies to animals from producers who have been identified by the Food and Drug Administration as producing livestock with residue violations.

FSIS will post the compliance guide, which can be utilized immediately on its Web page at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Compliance_Guides_Index/.  The Agency is inviting interested persons to submit comments on both the notice, which will be published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2012, and the compliance guide, by June 25, 2012 at http://www.regulations.gov.

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Things to Ponder . . . . . Time is the coin of your life.  It is the only coin you have,
                                        and only you can determine how it will be spent.
                                          Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."
                                                                               Carl Sandburg, American poet, historian and novelist
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Comment period extended
FSIS has extended the comment period for proposed rulemaking, ``Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection'' in response to questions raised by both consumer advocacy organizations and trade groups. (Read More)

FSIS-ASK

Q: If I am producing a product for another company or distributor, does my company name need to appear on the label?

A: No, the regulation (9CFR317.2) requires that the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor be displayed on the label.  If you are preparing the product for a distributor, then you should use a phrase such as “prepared for”.  Your official establishment number always has to be on the label.

The regulation is at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2001-title9-vol2/xml/CFR-2001-title9-vol2-part317.xml#seqnum317.2

SEMA Partners on Center of the Plate Training at Texas A&M

SEMA is partnering with the North American Meat Processors Association (now NAMA) on its flagship Center of the Plate (COP) Training Course at Texas A&M University, which will be held June 12-14, 2012.  The most in-depth of the COP Courses offered, the course demonstrations show the breakdown of full carcasses of beef, pork, lamb, and veal into the cuts commonly sold in retail and foodservice that are featured in the NAMP Meat Buyer’s Guide.  Class participants learn about industry standards, purchasing options, factors affecting variations of quality, how value can be determined, and the latest cuts being merchandised in the industry.

Register now as this will be the only Center of the Plate Training held in 2012.  SEMA members will receive a discounted members-only registration fee.

The course is co-sponsored by the Beef Check-off, the Pork Check-off, the Lamb Check-off, and Merck.  The course is being co-hosted by NAMP, SEMA, NMA, AAMP, SMA, American Meat Institute Foundation, American Meat Science Association, and Chicago Midwest Meat Association.  For more information and to register, go to www.namp.com or contact Ann Wells at awells@namp.com.

SEMA Member News

For a copy of the training catalog click on the PDF Training Catalog icon.
For information or questions contact; Gary Ostrow, Southeast Regional Sales   Cell 561-613-1950.

Welcome New SEMA Associate Members

G. Chitwood LLC
6998 W. 5th Lane
Hialeah, FL 33014
Gary Chitwood
305.794.0904
Service, consulting, sales new & used equipment; vacuum packaging, grinding, cutting-slicing

Kremin Food Technologies
P.O. Box 70
Des Moines, IA 50306
Adam Synoground
Antimicrobials, mold inhibitors, natural antioxidants plant extracts, synthetic antioxidants

Ecodrum Composter
P.O. Box 299
Pembina, ND 58271
Timothy Epp
204.746.6401

Correction from April SEMA newsletter.  Please note corrected phone number.
Zep Sales and Service
1310 Seaboard Industrial Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30318
Pat Cauller
843.290.2821

Get to Know Your Associate Members

Hollymatic has been a leading manufacturer of food processing equipment for 75 Years.  Best-known for the inventions of the Hamburger Patty Machine and the Mixer/Grinder, Hollymatic continues to lead the industry in innovative machines designed to enhance the ability to produce high quality, profitable products.  Hollymatic proudly manufactures a wide variety of meat processing equipment for today’s processor.  Current models include forming machines, grinders, mixer/grinders, band saws, tenderizers, tumblers, bulkers, intervention cabinets, and de-linkers.  Please visit our website at www.hollymatic.com for more information and to view our equipment. 
Contact: Clay Robertson, Southeast Regional Manager
Cell (770) 530-8892 Fax (770) 917-7864

RDP Consulting Services offers a wide variety of services.  Specializing in HACCP Plan Development and Reassessment for USDA and FDA Regulated Facilities.  RDP can assist with USDA or FDA Regulatory issues, preparing for and assisting with USDA Food Safety Assessments or handling follow-ups from FDA citations.  If you are having to obtain a GFSI Certification RDP can assist with complete SQF or BRC assistance from GAP Analysis to Plan development through Implementation and available to assist during the Audit process as well.  If you only need quality programs developed RDP will assist with development of your Quality Plan.  In today’s tough economic times, let RDP help you maximize your company’s potential by reviewing your operation and identifying methods to maximize labor efficiency and yields while minimizing costs.  In today’s world if you have an issue, you need an answer quickly and RDP can be quick to respond to your needs any time of the day or night.  Please contact Bobby Pace at (706) 799-5279 or email me at bobbypace@knology.net.  Visit the RDP website at www.rdpfoodconsulting.com for more information. 

G. Chitwood, LLC is about Food Processing Equipment; Service, Consulting and Sales. 
G. Chitwood is in the Southeastern United States as well as the Caribbean, Latin and South America (flying out of Miami, Florida).  Delivering results for the lowest possible price in today’s market. Over 20 years experience working in the industry; in pork and beef slaughtering facilities as well as pork, beef and chicken processing facilities. If you have a problem with conveyors, tank dumpers, tenderizers, presses, saws, slicers, grinders, mixers, patty machines, overwrap or vacuum packaging machines (rollstock or chamber) call Garry Chitwood at 305-794-0904.
Website is www.gchitwood.com  E – Mail is  chitwood@bellsouth.net

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