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Thanks To Our Scramble Sponsors
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
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Sanitation Seminar Draws Many Participants
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 This week about 100 food industry representatives attended the MWFPA food plant sanitation seminar in Stevens Point, WI.
Cleaning and Sanitation in Food Plants: Issues and Answers was designed to help participants understand the role of proper equipment design and bacterial controls in implementing an effective cleaning and sanitation program.
Among the attendees were
processing plant managers, maintenance personnel, and engineers.
All available vendor display space was filled and there was plenty of interaction between vendors and attendees. This year's fine exhibitors included:
- Midwest Rubber
- AquaPulse Systems
- PureLine
- Precision Iceblast Corporation
- PeopleFlo Manufacturing
- Protective Coating Specialists
- Deibel Laboratories
- Ellingson Co.
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Dayton Delivers MN State of State Address
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Governor Dayton gave his fifth State of the State address last week highlighting his priorities as transportation, education, water quality and passage of a bonding bill this session. He said Minnesota should make use of the surplus the state has generated by investing in these priorities.
His two top priorities are spending an additional $695 million on K-12 with pre-K for 4 year olds and spending more tax dollars on aging and inadequate roads, bridges and public transit.
Legislative leaders noted that this speech was late in the session and did not provide any surprises. The Legislature already has the Governor's proposals and budget. Read more about the speech here.
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MN Legislature Continues Budget Deliberations
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|  The MN House and Senate are making their way through various omnibus finance bills that fund state government which must be out of committees by April 24. With just about a month left in the session, the pace of activity is expected to accelerate. Continue reading.
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WI Budget Committee Begins Voting
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|  The WI Legislature's budget writing Joint Finance Committee has begun to vote on Governor Scott Walker's proposed state budget.
The committee will consider the most controversial budget items last, including the transportation budget and funding for the University of Wisconsin System. One of the more notable actions the committee took this week was to remove more than a dozen non-fiscal policy items fro the proposed budget. It is expected that the committee will hold between 10-and-14 executive sessions where budget provision voting will take place prior to finishing up by Memorial Day. The final committee package will then go to the Legislature where some final changes could be made.
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.
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EPA Proposal Could Be Tipping Point In GMO Battle
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An EPA proposal could represent a tipping point for GMO opponents in their quest to eliminate them from the market. Continue
reading.
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Food, Not Fear - Why GMO's Deserve Our Trust
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A good GMO editorial published in "The Hill" by Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. He writes that "[m]andatory GMO labeling is not about warning anyone of an actual hazard but, often, simply a strike back at "bigness." True, there are only a handful of companies that can commercialize agricultural biotechnology today. But as technology spreads, we expect to see many more in the future." Continue
reading.
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MN's Peterson Backs Halt Of Flawed EPA Water Rule
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Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, is the lone Democrat on the list of 26 co-sponsors signed onto Rep. Bill Shuster's new bill to have EPA scrap it's proposed Waters of the United States rule and issue a new version that has considerable input from the states and regulated entities. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the legislation on Wednesday.
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Register Now For Spring Summit & Scramble!
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This is a Members-Only event.
On Wednesday evening, June 3rd, a reception will be held from 5-7 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn.
The shotgun style golf tournament will be played at Trapper's Turn June 4th, starting at 8:00 am followed by lunch, awards and cash prizes. Register early! This event fills up fast.
Last year over 200 golfers participated in this event and we awarded over $3,000 in cash prizes. The Spring Summit & Scramble offers many opportunities to promote your company* by sponsoring:
- A hole
- Wednesday evening reception
- Cash prizes
- Lunch
- Donating items for drawings and goodie bags
All sponsors will be recognized with signage at the event, on our website and social networking pages, and in our bi-monthly e-bulletin. The sooner you sponsor the longer your logo is displayed. This year's golf outing will again afford participants the opportunity to help raise money for MWFPA Scholarships. In 2015 MWFPA will award 14 $1,000 scholarships to the children of MWFPA member company employees. LODGING: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn, (608) 253-1100 at a rate of $129.00 per night plus room tax. Call direct or make your reservations online. Be sure to indicate that you are with MWFPA.
The cut-off date for the block rate is May 3, so make your reservation NOW!
*If your company plans to bring a door prize, please contact
brian.deschane@mwfpa.org, or phone 608-255-9946 in advance of the event so your contribution can be included on the appropriate signage.
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GMA FSMA Inspections Webinar Set For May 19
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Manufacturer facility inspections will change drastically upon the final implementation of FSMA regulations this fall. Early FSMA preparation is vital to effectively managing these upcoming industry-changing regulations.
Start preparing today and register for the May 19th GMA webinar, FSMA Inspections: Get Ready Now or Get Cited Later! Attendees will learn how inspections are expected to change, consequences to non-compliance, FSMA preparation planning tips and more.
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Registration Now Open For Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum October 19-22, 2015
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| Food Leaders Summit Offers Opportunity To Learn From Industry Innovators |
MWFPA is a proud partner in The Food Leaders Summit 2015.
The Food Leaders Summit is a three day event with 250 stakeholders from the R&D, Sales & Marketing, and Technology sectors of the food industry, and is occurring April 27-29, 2015 at the Westin Chicago River North. MWFPA is proud to partner with FLS and chart a course forward to greater trust, transparency and profitability.
At The Food Leaders Summit, you will learn what's trending from industry innovators:
- Facts, Trust & Transparency: Navigating Consumer Desires in the Era of Too Much Information
- Generational Perceptions of Packaging and Messaging
- Eat This, Not That: Options for PHO and Trans Fat Replacements
- Beyond Clean Labels
- Future Innovations in Product Development
Join your industry peers in Chicago, IL April 27-29, 2015 to look closely at the transformative changes impacting every aspect of the food industry -- and work collaboratively to succeed in this new environment.
An MWFPA member exclusive: register today using code MWFPAFLS15 and save 50% on your conference pass! Find more information and
register for this event!
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| Think Asia, Think Hong Kong Seeks Food Processors For One-On-One Business Meetings |
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is organizing an event in Chicago on June 10, 2015 called "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong."
The Council is bringing 6 business delegations from Hong Kong and China (100+ companies) representing 6 different industries. In addition to attending TATHK, they will also do some company visits and participate in One-on-One Business Matching meetings with local companies. They are looking to meet with food & wine producers, food processing companies, food packaging companies, etc. for both sourcing AND selling opportunities.
If your company would like to participate, please click here for more information.
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May 13, 2015: MWFPA Safety Committee, 10 a.m. MWFPA Offices, Madison, WI.
June 4, 2015:
Spring Summit & Scramble. Trappers Turn Golf Course, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
October 6, 2015:
Sporting Clays Challenge. Whispering Emerald Ridge Game Farm, N3954 640th St., Menomonie, WI.
October 19-22, 2015:
AFFI/MWFPA Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum, Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, WI.
Register.
December 1-3, 2015 -
MWFPA 111th Annual Convention and 88th Processing Crops Conference. KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI.
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Other Educational Opportunities
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May 6-7, 2015: IRC Research and Technology Forum, Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI. Technical sessions covering topics including: welding procedures and practices, mechanical integrity, experiences with stainless piping, and others. For information and registration, click here.
May 7, 2015:
Allergens & Food Processing Workshop, U of M, Continuing Education Center, St. Paul, MN
. For more information and registration click here.
If you have any questions about the workshop or registration, please feel free to reach out to Jennifer Pierquet at Jennifer.pierquet@state.mn.us.
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