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Commodity volatility remains front of mind for ABA. If you recall, January opened with this very troubling quote from Bloomberg News: "Wheat futures for March delivery rose 23 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $8.1725 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade. Earlier, the price touched $8.25, the highest for a most-active contract since Aug. 6. The commodity climbed 47 percent last year, the first gain since 2007." Little did we realize that these were conservative estimates compared to the actual numbers. Further weather challenges have the potential to exacerbate an already volatile market. ABA is continuing to aggressively seek relief from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from the undue influence of index fund speculation in the wheat futures markets. Read the Full President's Letter
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ABA is taking the unprecedented step of asking all bakers to immediately contact the CFTC to implement rules enforcing contract limits on index funds. Please take a couple of minutes to visit ABA's RisetoAction.org grassroots Web site. The risk to your business is too great to not invest those couple of minutes.  |
ABA applauds U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for introducing "The Ethanol Subsidy and Tariff Repeal Act," which would end 30 years of tax credits for conventional ethanol and end the tariff on imported ethanol on July 1. Co-sponsors also include Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Richard Burr (R-NC), Jim Webb (D-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), and James Risch (R-ID). [Read the full press release]
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Yes, it's true. All Things Baking will be held in lieu of RBA's standalone annual event, the American Retail Bakery Exposition, and is being designed for a much wider audience than has frequented traditional "retail baking" events in the past. Professional bakers, caterers, restaurateurs, pastry chefs, cake decorators, chocolatiers, bakery directors and other culinary professionals are encouraged to attend to get ahead of consumer trends, explore the ever-changing art of pastries, desserts and breads, hone their skills and get the information, answers and strategies they need to make their businesses more productive and profitable. www.AllThingsBaking.org |
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The Bread Art Project is in full swing and we're so pleased to have the help of television star Teri Hatcher to raise awareness about childhood hunger in America. This year's Bread Art Project kicked off with a launch event in Los Angeles where Teri spoke to local families and media about creating bread art to raise funds for Share Our Strength, a nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America by 2015. Don't forget to remind your friends and family to do their part in the fight against childhood hunger. For each piece of bread art created through June 30, 2011, the Grain Foods Foundation will donate $1 to Share Our Strength. Visit breadartproject.com to get started today!
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 Manufacturer of quality flavorings: oil-soluble, water-soluble, spray-dried, natural, artificial, and N&A flavoring; vanilla extracts and other "Sweet and Brown" flavors. www.mothermurphys.com |
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Upcoming ABA Meetings
The Energy & Environment Committee will meet May 10-11, 2011 at the ABA office in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, May 10: Committee Meeting (1:00-5:00pm)| Dinner (6:00pm)
Wednesday, May 11: Committee Meeting (8:30am - 3:30 pm)
Register Now | See the agenda topics here.
FTRAC will meet June 27-28, 2011 at the Covington & Burling office in Washington, D.C.
Monday, June 27: Group Dinner (6:30pm)
Tuesday, June 28: Committee Meeting (8:30am - 4:00 pm)
Register Now | Agenda coming in May.
The Human Resources Committee will meet July 17-19, 2011 at the Nemocolin Resort in Farmington, Pa.
Sunday, July 17: Golf (approx.12:00-5:00pm ) | Reception (6:30-7:30pm)
Monday, July 18: Breakfast (8am) | Committee Meeting (8:30am-3:00pm)
Group Activity (3:00-5:00pm) | Dinner (7:00-9:00pm)
Tuesday, July 19: Committee Meeting (8:00am - 2:00pm)
Register Now | Agenda coming soon.
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| What is ABA? Who does ABA represent?
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700
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The American Bakers Association (ABA) advocates on behalf of over 700 baking facilities and their suppliers.
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$70B | The baking industry generates more than $70 billion in economic activity annually.
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500,000 |
The baking industry employs close to half a million highly skilled people. |
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It was our pleasure to bring this message to you from the American Bakers Association. Please contact us if you have comments or suggestions.
If you would like to be removed from the ABA What's New e-mail sent to ABA members each week, please make your request to Margaret Collins or call 202-789-0300.
Have a great day!
ABA Membership & Communications Department
Karin Soyster Fitzgerald, CMP, CAE - Vice President, Membership Services
Kelly Kotche - Director, Membership and Marketing
Margaret Collins - Digital Communications Manager
American Bakers Association
1300 I Street, NW, Suite 700 West
Washington, DC 20005
202-789-0300 phone
202-898-1164 fax
 October 2-4, 2011 Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center Schaumburg (Chicago), Illinois
www.allthingsbaking.org
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