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 The MWFPA Bulletin is underwritten in part by Focus on Energy | | |
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Reid Looks To Lame Duck Session On Energy | |
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that he intends to bring an energy bill to the floor for a vote this year (possibly during a lame duck session), and believed that at this stage the bill would not include a cap on GHG emissions because the provision "lacks traction."
However, should there be a power shift in Congress, as some political pundits are predicting, little might happen during a lame duck session. When Republicans last took control of Congress in 1994, the ensuing lame duck session lasted but three days.
MWFPA continues to monitor the situation on Capitol Hill. It has opposed efforts at both the state and federal level to enact GHG emission standards that fail to recognize the necessary role of fossil-based fuels in our energy policies.
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Johnson Gets WI GOP Nod To Face Feingold | |
Ron Johnson crushed small-business owner Dave Westlake in Tuesday's Republican primary (85%-10%). Johnson is the president of Pacur, an Oshkosh-based plastics company.
He will go on to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, who is seeking his fourth term. A Rasmussen poll taken after the primary has Johnson holding a seven-point lead over Feingold, 51% to 44%, though it considers the race a toss up at this point.
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IL Senate Race Set | | |
Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk will face each other in November's general election to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat left by President Obama. Both were favorites and long-time front-runners in their respective primary elections.
A recent poll by Rasmussen Reports shows a tight race with Kirk picking up 41% of the vote, while Giannoulias earns 37% support. Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones, included for the first time in a Rasmussen Reports survey of the race, earned nine percent (9%). Five percent (5%) prefer another candidate in the race, and another nine percent (9%) are undecided.
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| WI Nanotech Committee Begins Hearings | |
Presentations were heard from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
It was noted that entities manufacturing or using nanomaterials in Wisconsin are not required by state or federal regulation to identify what materials they are using, how they transport and dispose of them, or where such work is taking place. Discussion touched on establishing a nanotechnology registry to monitor the use, manufacture and disposal of nanomaterials in Wisconsin.
Nanotechnology is playing an increased role in the way food is produced, processed, packaged, transported, and consumed. MWFPA will continue to monitor the legislative and regulatory environment surrounding this important subject area and provide timely updates to our readers.
The Committee is scheduled to meet again on September 30 and on October 26 with the goal of developing legislation that can be submitted in 2011.
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| WI To Set Seed Rules | |
A public hearing on proposed changes to the rule governing the sale, distribution, testing and labeling of agricultural and vegetable seeds is set for Oct. 13 in Madison at the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
The proposed changes will:
- Update standards for inspection, sampling, testing and germination of seed
- Set new seed labeling rules
- Incorporate the fees for seed labeler licenses that were set in state statute
- Prohibit and restrict certain noxious weed seeds
The standards for things like seed label contents, germination levels, weed seeds and the definition of those standards have changed substantially over time. The updated rule will make Wisconsin's law consistent with practices throughout the United States and with official standards by the Association of Official Seed Analysts.
The hearing will be held from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. in the DATCP Board Room (CR-106), first floor, 2811 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI. Written comments on the rule will be accepted until Wed., Oct. 27. Comments can be emailed to greg.helmbrecht@wisconsin.gov or mailed to Greg's attention at DATCP, PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911. For a copy of the rule, click here, then search on 'ATCP 20' or contact Greg Helmbrecht at (608) 224-4596.
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| Barrett, Walker Roll To Party Nominations in WI | |
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett easily won the Democratic nomination in the Wisconsin governor's race. Barrett beat little-known Milwaukee businessman Tim John in Tuesday's primary (90%-10%).
Barrett will face Republican and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker in the Nov. 2 general election. Walker handily defeated former Congressman and current home builder Mark Neumann (59%-39%) to win the Republican Party nomination. Walker was the candidate endorsed by the WI Republican Party.
Since Barrett didn't have a serious primary challenge, he has been able to save money heading into the general election. At the start of the month, Barrett had $2.6 million cash on hand, compared with $1.2 million for Walker.
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| Welcome New Members! | |
Help us welcome our newest Association Members! Find out more about these companies by clicking on their company name and visiting their website.
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| MWFPA Directory Coming Soon | |
MWFPA is pleased to announce that the 2010-2011 printed edition of the Membership Directory has gone to press and will be mailed out September 22nd to all eligible members.
All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy of this Directory from the available records in our Membership Database. Please contact us at info@mwfpa.org if your details need to be corrected.
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| Register Now For MWFPA Convention! | |
The MWFPA 106th Annual Convention and 83rd Food Processing Crops Conference will be held Tuesday, November 30, 2010 through Thursday, December 2, 2010 at the
Green Bay, Wisconsin, KI Convention Center. The preliminary convention agenda is below. Additional speakers are being added. A full agenda will soon be available.
This three-day event will feature a full program of educational seminars, high level industry and government speakers, break-out sessions, networking events and a resource-rich trade show exhibition with over 120 exhibitors. Exhibit booths are selling fast. Don't miss your chance to showcase your company at this show!
Exhibitor and General registration and convention information is available on our website
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
- MWFPA Board Meeting
- Exhibitor Check In
- Registration Open
- Processing Crops Conference Begins
- All Industry Reception -- Lambeau Field Atrium
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
- Convention and Trade Show Begins
- Keynote Speaker -- Elizabeth Pavonka, president of the Produce For Better Health Foundation
- Motivational Speaker -- Santana Dotson, retired defensive tackle, Green Bay Packers
- Registration Continues
- Processing Crops Conference Continues
- Chairman's Reception -- Hotel Sierra
- Dance to R2, Classic Rock tribute band -- Hotel Sierra
Thursday, December 2, 2010
- Convention and Trade Show Continues
- Safety Breakfast -- Economist & Futurist Dr. Jay Lehr
- Lunch Speaker -- Tim Walkoe, Chicago Comedian
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| MWFPA Cosponsors Food-Borne Illness Forum | |
MWFPA is proud to be a cosponsor of the American Conference Institute's 4th National Forum on Food-Borne Illness Litigation to be held October 27-28, 2010 at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago, IL.
 In the wake of one of the largest national egg recalls in history, now is the time for in-house counsel, regulatory affairs and compliance officers within the food industry to closely evaluate what your company is doing to prepare for the impending e.coli/salmonella season and the litigation that follows. Led by the two most prominent food-borne illness litigation attorneys - on both sides -Alan Maxwell and Bill Marler, Bill recently had the opportunity to discuss the legal ramifications of the salmonella-tainted eggs as a featured commentator on Larry King Live
MWFPA members will obtain highly-specialized, practical information on how to respond to heightened litigation exposure crated by emerging risks in the food supply chain.
See the forum brochure for more information and registration details.
MWFPA members are entitled to a $400 discount off the full price (pay $1795 instead of $2195) by using a discount code when registering. Members wishing to use the code should contact the MWFPA office.
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Americans Still Not Eating Enough Fruits & Veggies | | |
A report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that Americans are not eating enough fruit and vegetables.
The report reveals that across the nation as a whole, the number of people eating the target daily amount of fruit and vegetables is only half of what the government was aiming for by the year 2010, and across America no state is achieving national targets for fruit and vegetable consumption.
Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St Louis, said that among the reasons why meeting the recommended intake is so difficult is the failure to recognize nutritional values of frozen or canned fruits and vegetables.
Produce for Better Health Foundation President Elizabeth Pivonka will address this issue at the December MWFPA Annual Convention. Earlier this year, MWFPA stressed the value and convenience of canned, frozen and dried foods in a person's diet. |
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Kraft Named To Sustainability Index | | |
Kraft Foods has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the sixth year in a row, an honor that recognizes the company's economic, environmental and social performance.
Kraft achieved the food industry's leading scores in operational eco-efficiency and this year had leading scores in innovation management, codes of conduct and compliance, and corporate citizenship and philanthropy.
Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are the first global stock indexes tracking financial performance of leading sustainability-driven companies.
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MN Freezer Warehouse For Sale | |
A 73,727 square foot freezer is coming available for sale on I-90 in Worthington, Minnesota, apprxoimately 55 miles east of Sioux Falls, SD. All frozen; blast cells; rail-served (UP). Asking $1,474,551 ($20 per square foot).
For mor information contact:
Scott Delphey
310.550.2531
626.590.0490 (c)
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Act On Energy Benefits Processors | |
Act On Energy is a service of the Ameren Illinois Utilities that provides energy saving resources and incentive programs, along with safety tips to businesses throughout central and southern Illinois. Cash incentives from Act On Energy typically pay for 25% of an energy efficiency project and reduce the project payback by about one year.
Incentives are available to food processors for a variety of energy-saving projects, including heating and cooling, refrigeration, motors, process improvements, and custom projects.
To learn more, contact Bob Baumgartner, Industrial Energy Efficiency Manager, at 1-309-349-2417 or baumgartnerr@saic.com.
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| MWFPA Calendar of Events | |
November 30-Dec.2, 2010: MWFPA 106th Annual Convention and 83rd Annual Processing Crops Conference, Green Bay, Wisconsin, KI Convention Center. Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to gain exclusive insights from some of the industry's most innovative and knowledgeable representatives and to make meaningful contacts with clients, prospects and referral sources. Register now at our website.
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| MWFPA Educational Opportunities | |
September 29-30, 2010: Waste Heat Recovery Workshop for Power and Heat, Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL. This two-day event is organized by the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Energy Application Centers and is one of the only workshops in the nation devoted to industrial waste heat recovery for power and heat applications
The workshop will provide a venue to gain insight on industrial waste heat recovery concepts and technologies, meet with project industry experts, engage in discussion panels with project developers, engineers, and system operators, and learn about financial and policy related activities impacting the waste heat recovery industry. For further information, see here.
September 20 - October 1, 2010: Thermal Processing Professional Training Program, Grocery Manufacturers Association Headquarters, 1350 I Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005. The GMA's training program is a two-week intensive program of instructions designed to teach thermal processing professionals the most current science-based techniques to be applied in the development of optimal thermal processes and the migration of thermal process deviations. Click here for an overview of the program and registration.
October 4-5, 2010: Dryer Technology, Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton St., Madison, Wis. The UW-Madison Department of Engineering provides a practical course covering continuous dryers including dryer operation, improving efficiency and reducing energy costs. For more information and to enroll, click here.
October 6-7, 2010: Food Labeling: Complying with Regulatory Requirements for the Labeling of Packaged Foods Workshop: Washington, D.C. GMA staff experts in food labeling and nutrition will teach food company personnel the food labeling skills they need, whether they are responsible for labeling compliance, food product marketing or product development. Topics include: general statutory authorities and rules governing all required label elements, special labeling provisions, information about food label claims and the latest developments on food labeling rules. For more information and to register, click here.
A 1 p.m. webinar that will outline ways to prevent economic adulteration of consumer products and what defensive actions should be taken if it occurs. Register today!
October 19-20, 2010: Evaporators: Designing, Evaluating, and Operating, Madison Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton St., Madison, WI. Attend this detailed introductory course sponsored by the UW-Madison, Dept. of Engineering to learn about the fundamentals of evaporation and evaporators, the process design of evaporators and methods for improving evaporator efficiency. For additional information and registration, click here.
November 2, 2010: Export Education Seminar Product Pricing, Payment, and Placement, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Brookfield, WI, co-sponsored by the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Food Export Association. Participants will be exposed to a wide range of information from strategies for developing an export price to logistics of delivering the products to your global customers. Companies registered before October 19 will receive, for no additional cost, a market analysis of their products top markets. Registration deadline is October 19 and the cost is $50 per person. For more information or to register, contact: Kelsey Olson, WI DATCP, Email: kelsey.olson@wi.gov; Tel: 608.224.5117
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Sponsor The MWFPA Bulletin!
By becoming a sponsor of the MWFPA Bulletin, your banner will be viewed by a very targeted group of persons, firms and corporations that provide technology, logistics, ingredients and packaging to the food processing industry.
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is published twice monthly or as developments warrant, and is intended for a general audience of manufacturers and suppliers of food and agricultural products. |
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