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Thank You 2019 MWFPA Spring Scramble Sponsors
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- Crown
- Hays Companies
- Hydrite Chemical Co.
- JAX, Inc.
- Langguth America Ltd.
- Lubriplate Lubricants
- Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
- Plainfield Trucking, Inc.
- RSM USA, LLP
- Seneca Foods Corp.
- Silgan Containers
-Summit Refrigeration Group
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
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FDA SETS PUBLIC HEARING ON FOOD & DRINKS CONTAINING CBD
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On May 31, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold its first public hearing on legalizing cannabidiol (CBD) in food and drinks.
The agency is
calling for data on CBD's safety in food products as well as suggestions on how the FDA might regulate manufacturing, marketing, and labeling CBD-infused products.
In a
statement released on April 2, the FDA commissioner stated that the agency is responding to the growing interest in the development of medical therapies and consumer products that derive from cannabis and its components, including CBD.
For additional background on CBD and food manufacturing, read this article from
Food Processing.
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Alliant Energy
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CANADA READYING NEW TARIFF LIST AGAINST U.S., INCLUDING AG PRODUCTS
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David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the United States said that Canada could announce a new list of retaliatory tariffs on more U.S. goods, including agricultural products, as early as this week.
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MN LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS STATE-MANDATED WAGE & HOUR, FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE ISSUES
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Last week marked the third and final committee deadline for the Minnesota Legislature, requiring committees in both the DFL-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate to act on major finance and appropriation bills.
After the committees finished their work on Friday afternoon, legislators departed the Capitol for a 10-day Easter/Passover Break, returning to business on Tuesday, April 23.
Lawmakers continue to consider a series of bills that would mandate that employers provide certain benefits to their employees.
These proposals include state-mandated paid time off policies, paid family and medical leave, and several bills related to wage and hour issues.
HF 5 (Rep. Halverson, DFL/SF 1060 (Sen. Kent, DFL): These bills create an expansive, state-administered paid leave insurance program on all employers and employees including independent contractors. The bill mandates a 12-week paid family (maternity/paternity/bonding/caregiving) and a 12-week paid medical (serious health condition/pregnancy) leave program. Employees may access both types of leave in a 12-month period. It is funded through a payroll tax on employers and employees to partially replace wages during their absence.
HF 11 (Rep. Lesch, DFL)/ SF 528, (Pappas, DFL): These proposals modeled after ordinances in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth and would create a statewide mandate on all employers to offer at least one hour of paid sick & safe leave for every 30 hours worked up to a maximum of 48 hours annually. Employers face much greater liability, stricter record-keeping requirements and stiff penalties for violations under the proposed legislation.
Both measures have been included in House Jobs Omnibus legislation.
HF 6 (Rep. Mahoney, DFL) and its senate companion, S.F. 1933 (Sen. Champion, DFL), seek to broadly define "wage theft" to include all situations where "an employer has failed to pay an employee all wages to which that employee is entitled." MWFPA opposes this legislation because the bill's definition of "wage theft" would presumably include situations where an underpayment was unintentional, which could, therefore, criminalize honest mistakes.
Instead, MWFPA supports
SF 1816 (Sen. Pratt - R) which addresses the concerns with H.F. No. 6. Specifically, SF 816's definition of "wage theft" requires an employer to have an "intent to defraud" for wage theft to occur. This likely seeks to eliminate critics' concerns that, under H.F. No. 6's definition of "wage theft," employers would be penalized for inadvertent, unintentional shortages in payments to employees.
HF 6 is included in the House Jobs Omnibus while SF 1816 in included in the Senate Jobs Omnibus.
After the legislature returns from break on April 23, action will shift from committee hearing to floor debates on spending bills, followed by conference committees meeting to iron out the differences.
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IL LEGISLATURE ADVANCES INCOME TAX HIKE, WORKS ON MANDATORY SICK LEAVE; GOV. SIGNS BAN ON LOCAL RIGHT-TO-WORK LAWS
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The IL House and Senate have embarked upon a two-week break. After that they will reconvene in Springfield where they will have just five weeks of session left to take on numerous issues, including: a graduated income tax, energy reform and a capital infrastructure plan.
The Sen. Executive Committee pushed forward with Governor Pritzker's proposal to impose a massive $3.4 billion income tax hike on IL families and businesses over objections from Republicans and the business community.
Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1, sponsored by Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), passed the committee on a partisan vote of 12-5.
After years of battling Governor Rauner over the role of unions in the workforce, the legislature passed a measure that prevents municipalities and counties from passing right-to-work measures and provides that employers and labor organizations may execute and apply agreements requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment. The bill, SB
1474 passed the Senate and was immediately signed into law by the Governor.
Senator Toi Hutchinson's (D-Chicago Heights) amended SB
471 creates the Healthy Workplace Act and provides for mandatory paid sick leave of at least 40 hours a calendar year. While the bill amendment did not advance before the Third Reading Deadline, the Senator has indicated that the bill would receive a deadline extension and that the issue will be discussed and debated when the Senate returns from its break.
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WI GOV. EVERS MOVES AHEAD ON GAS TAX DESPITE OPPOSITION
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WI Gov. Tony Evers vowed last week to press ahead on his plan to raise the gas tax one day after a Marquette Law School Poll showed the majority of Wisconsinites oppose the idea.
Evers' comments, which come as the state budget season goes
into full swing, illustrate the governor's unwillingness to bend to popular opinion on one of his few budget proposals for which the Marquette poll did not show broad public support. Fifty-seven percent
of respondents
said they do not support raising taxes for
roads.
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ProEx Food, LLC
- 
a global processing and packaging technology provider for the vegetable and fruit industry with decades of experience in the food and agriculture markets. Our Project Managers and Engineers in the USA and Europe work closely together with customers to develop the best solutions and deliver high quality production lines.
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FEEDING AMERICA SHOWS HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES
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Feeding America is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization-a powerful and efficient
network of 200 food banks across the country. It feeds 46 million people at risk of hunger, including 12 million children and 7 million seniors.
Many of the members of the Midwest Food Products Association make sizeable product donations to its food banks.
Read
here how your donations go to work and benefit everyday families in the Midwest.
Feeding America food banks want to be your partner. For more information on how you can work together, contact your local food bank or Tony Mans at Feeding America
[email protected]
Thanks so much for all of your support!
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The Annual Member Spring Summit & Scramble is fast approaching!
MAY 29, 2019 - Summit -
Kalahari Convention Center
MAY 30, 2019 - Scramble -
Trappers Turn Golf Course
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Save the date and join MWFPA, Focus on Energy and Miron Construction for a forum designed to increase awareness of projects that could be implemented to reduce energy consumption within food manufacturing plants. Watch for further information in this newsletter and at the MWFPA
website.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR: MWFPA EVENTS YOU
WON'T
WANT TO MISS
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September 19, 2019: Food Energy Forum. Miron Construction, 1471 McMahon Drive, Neenah, WI. Join MWFPA, Focus on Energy and Miron Construction for a froum designed to increase awareness of projects that could be implemented to reduce energy consumption within food manufacturing plants. Watch for further information in this newsletter and at the MWFPA
website.
October 10, 2019:
MWFPA Sporting Clay Challenge, Millford Hills Gun Club, Johnson Creek, WI.
December 3 - 5, 2019:
MWFPA 115th Annual Convention and 92nd Processing Crops Conference. Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
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OTHER EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS
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April 3, 2019:
Lessons on Becoming a Certified USDA Vendor
, Webinar, 2 p.m.(EST). The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites you to a live, interactive webinar on lessons learned in becoming an approved USDA Foods vendor. Each year, AMS purchases over 300 different food products to feed millions of school children, families, and other qualified individuals through USDA's nutrition assistance and international food aid programs. Find out how your company can participate in these purchases that support American agriculture. The webinar is FREE. However, registration is required and space is limited. Andrea Lang, New Vendor Coordinator, AMS Commodity Procurement Program will be your speaker. More details are available here:
Become a USDA Foods Vendor.
April 23, 2010:
Unlocking Potential - Workforce Development Initiatives Summit/Reentry
, Sheraton Madison Hotel, 706 John Nolen Dr, Madison, WI.
This is a day long
employer
focused seminar on how to utilize the re-entry population as a workforce strategy. I
ndustry leaders and employers will come together to learn more about how individuals reentering the workforce from incarceration can be a valuable addition to your workforce and how Wisconsin is working to integrate corrections and workforce strategies. Click
here
more information and to register. Registration is $75. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.
April 29 - May1, 2019:
The FDA Better Process Control School
,
Pyle Conference Center, 702 Langdon St, Madison, WI. Early registration deadline is Monday, April 15, 2019. The Better Process Control School provides the canning industry with qualified personnel to meet FDA and USDA regulations. All processing of thermally processed low-acid or acidified foods which are packaged in hermetically-sealed containers must have certain critical operations supervised by a qualified person. Better Process Control School trains individuals to supervise these critical operations. Science and industry experts will deliver the training. Registration link and more information can be found here:
https://foodsafety.wisc.edu
May 23, 2019:
PFAS: Life Cycle, Regulations and Solutions
,
Ingleside Hotel, 2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI. Join the
American Institute of Professional Geologists and
learn the history, chemistry, sampling techniques and current treatment options of PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) as well as developing regulatory proposals throughout the country. Over 4,700 PFAS exist in the world today. Many PFAS transform into highly persistent perfluorinated chemicals in the environment. Short-chain PFAS tend to be more water soluble and move more easily through soil to contaminate ground-water, surface water or drinking water. Click here for an
agenda
and a
registration form
.
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