SEMA_________________________________

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

USDA-AMS Final Rule – Mandatory Price Reporting for Wholesale Pork

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published in the Federal Register a final rule, Livestock Mandatory Reporting Program; Establishment of the Reporting Regulation for Wholesale Pork that establishes a mandatory price reporting program for certain wholesale pork products.

This final rule requires packers to report wholesale pork sales to AMS.  Specifically, the rule outlines what information packers will be required to submit to AMS, how the information should be submitted, and other program requirements. Packers will submit the price of each sale, quantity, and other characteristics (e.g., type of sale, item description, and destination) that AMS will use to produce timely, meaningful market reports.  The final rule is effective January 7, 2013.

AMS will conduct an industry education and outreach program concerning the provisions and requirements of this rule and will continue publishing voluntary wholesale pork reports for a period of 180 days after the effective date of this regulation.
To read the final rule click on: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-08-22/html/2012-20443.htm

Renewable Fuels Standards

Between the drought and flooding we are being told our food prices will be higher along with our gas.  SEMA has signed a letter along with many other food and beverage associations to the Honorable Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the EPA to waive the amount of renewable fuel that must be produced under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).  This was brought on due to the U.S. expecting to experience a significant drop in corn yields due to historic drought conditions across America's heartland.

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Things to Ponder . . . . .
                  The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place but
                       to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
                                                                                           Lady Dorothy Nevill, British writer
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District Office Contact Information

The USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service provide updated contact information for the Field Operations District Offices at the following web address: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Contact_Us/Office_Locations_&_Phone_Numbers/index.asp

This web page includes directory entries for each of the fifteen District Offices and other key FSIS field offices.  These entries provide the names and contact information (telephone number, mailing address, and e-mail address) for the District Managers, Deputy District Managers, and administrative personnel for each District Office.

QR CODES

The Quick Response Code (QR Code) system has become popular due to its fast readability and large storage capacity compared to standard UPC barcodes.  The QR Code can be read by many cell phones and smart phones and have become a new form of marketing.  QR-Codes have become more popular than the typical barcode as the typical barcode can only hold a maximum of 20 digits, whereas the QR-Code can hold up to 7,089 characters, making the QR-Codes much more appealing.

No matter how small or large you business is you can use QR codes in a number of ways.  Add them to any print advertising, business cards, product labels, flyers, posters, TV ads etc containing:

• Product details
• Contact details
• Offer details
• Coupons

For more information click on: http://www.qrstuff.com

SEMA Committees

The following committees were appointed to help better serve the needs of the association.  If you have something to offer, please contact one of the committee members or Anna Ondick.  Contact information can be found on the web site www.southeasternmeat.com or by calling the SEMA office.

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Things to Ponder . . . . .
“The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with,
                                               but whether it is the same problem you had last year."
                                                                                                               John Foster Dulles
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SEMA Scholarship Recipient

connect with so many different people on many different levels and hear their stories on how they became a part of the meat industry.  I applaud Buckhead Beef of Florida, for not only have they created a successful company, they have created a strong family as well.  I feel so lucky and proud to be considered a part of the ‘Buckhead Beef’ family and to be told I am welcome back anytime.  As a student, I could not have asked for more inspiring role models or a better internship experience.

Hannah Shetters received a $2,000.00 scholarship this year from SEMA.  We encourage our members to look at internships for students that go to the Universities SEMA partners with. 

FSIS-ASK

Establishment Controls
Q:  Should FSIS inspection program personnel require an establishment to visibly control equipment or areas (e.g. attach a company hold tag) when the establishment finds them to be unacceptable when conducting Sanitation SOP monitoring?

A:   No. The regulations in 9 CFR Part 416 do not require that the establishment control areas or equipment with a company tag when they are found to be unacceptable during their Sanitation SOP monitoring. However, a prudent facility would elect to communicate the fact that the areas or equipment are not suitable for use either by verbally notifying FSIS inspection personnel or by applying a tag of some sort. If FSIS is aware that the establishment has initiated a control, those areas or equipment involved will not be inspected by FSIS until such time that the establishment releases them for use.

FSIS DIRECTIVES AND NOTICES

FSIS Notice 50-12 (Aug 23, 2012)
Inspection Responsibilities and Authorities for Reducing Slaughter or Evisceration Line Speed

FSIS Directive 5000.6 (Aug 14, 2012)
Performance of the Hazard Analysis Verification (HAV) Task

Industry News

Omaha Steaks launched a Referral Rewards program, giving customers a chance to earn E-gift cards for having their friends and family purchase products from the company.  The Referral Reward E-Card can be used on any Omaha Steaks purchase for every person they refer that places an order.

The new referred customer also receives a free gift for Omaha Steaks products with their first order of $50 or more.  The E-Cards are sent to the referring customers immediately after their friends’ orders ship.  The E-Cards can be redeemed online or at one of the company’s locations.
                                                                                                                                   Omaha Steak, July

US Foods has acquired New City Packing Company, a meat cutting and distribution warehouse in Aurora, Illinois.  The facility will become the new site of US Foods’ Stock Yards Chicago expanding US Foods customer base.                                                                                     U.S. Foods June release

SEMA Member News

Quality Casing announced Jean Ward a long standing employee of Standard Casing Co. has made a career change and is now with Quality Casing Co., Inc.  Jean chose not to follow Standard in the merger with Casing Associates.  Jean is looking forward to continued service of her valued customers and can be reached at her new # 866-854-0753.

Wampler’s Farm Sausage, Ted Wampler Jr., President and CEO made the cover of the Meatingplace magazine sharing their energy innovations.   Wampler’s has the largest solar array in the state of Tennessee, and this year they will also go live with the first commercial Proton Power Chyp system in the world. 
The link with more information:
http://www.wate.com/story/18850607/loudon-company-turns-switchgrass-and-trash-into-power

Lee Thomas, a past SEMA member and President is now an assistant principal at Indian Creek Middle School in Conyers, Georgia.  The Thomas family had Thomas Packing in Griffin, Georgia.

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Things to Ponder . . . . .  "Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time;
                                                serenity, that nothing is."
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