Volume 4, Issue 3 :: Nov — Dec 1999 . .
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Ammonia Refrigeration Technician Training Program Update On November 3, an Industry Advisory Group consisting of representatives from Gold Kist, Fieldale Farms, Cagle’s, Seaboard Farms, ConAgra, and Tyson, as well as personnel from Georgia Tech, The University of Georgia, and Lanier Technical Institute, met to discuss the progress of FoodPAC’s Ammonia Refrigeration Technician Training Program. Representatives reviewed plans for a pilot-scale system and further developed the program’s concept. In particular, the group will begin contacting major suppliers to secure bids for the pilot-scale system. Once the system is built, it will be used to provide hands-on training for operators. In addition, the group will utilize RETA (Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association) training materials and utilization software. The group also intends to incorporate OSHA-based lockout/tagout, confined space, and PSM elements into the program. The complete training program is expected to be in operation by July 2000. Call for Proposals Format on the Web You should have received the FY 2001 Call for Proposals packet in the mail. The proposal format is also available on the Web at foodpac.gatech.edu. Project proposals are due February 2, 2000. Annual Report Nears Completion Final reports for FY 1999 FoodPAC projects have been received, and the FoodPAC FY 1999-2000 Report to Industry is scheduled to be available in December. A copy of the report will also be available on FoodPAC’s website. FoodPAC Seeks New Members The FoodPAC Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for new members. The Committee is looking for representatives in many industry subsectors, particularly, snack foods, vegetables and fruits, confectionery, and bakery. If you are interested in joining FoodPAC and serving on any of its committees or know of someone who is, please contact any of the individuals listed below. Sammy Wright, Steering Committee Chairman (912) 242-0100 Bob Budd, Steering Committee Vice Chairman (770) 452-8828 Dan Cohn, Process & Product Competitiveness Technical Committee Chairman (770) 482-7466 Peter Simpson, Food Safety Technical Committee Chairman (404) 676-3872 Steve Woodruff, Environmental Technical Committee Chairman (770) 393-5203 FoodPAC Dates to Remember Feb 2 FY 2001 proposals due Remember… Submit comments and story ideas to Angela Colar, Editor at (404) 894-3412 or angela.colar@gtri.gatech.edu The Food Chain is a publication of the Food Processing Technology Division, Georgia Tech Research Institute.	.	– Project Spotlight – Georgia Environmental Technical Assistance Program (GETAP) for Food Processors Each year FoodPAC provides funds for the Georgia Environmental Technical Assistance Program (GETAP). During FY 1999, GETAP received $179,500 to provide assistance to food processors in an array of areas related to environmental issues, including air, water, and solid-waste regulatory compliance. Following are highlights of GETAP activities and results for FY 1999. GETAP assistance efforts saved food processors an estimated $2.2 million annually, while more than 70 food processing employees received specific in-plant or workshop training in product-loss minimization, water conservation, and pollution prevention. In addition, over 350 individuals were exposed to GETAP’s services, goals, and successes through GETAP program participants’ presentations at several national and regional industry-specific and environmentally based conferences and seminars. Project personnel also visited several Georgia food processing plants in the areas of red meat, poultry and egg, fruit and vegetable, restaurant condiments, baking, fresh fish, snack foods, and seafood processing. Multidisciplined teams conducted in-plant assessments to characterize overall potable water usage, product loss, and evaluate wastewater discharge and pretreatment operations. Finally, the teams reviewed records and interviewed plant personnel to determine overall facility environmental compliance. Methods to reduce water use, lower wastewater discharge (both in volume and pollutant loadings), achieve compliance with appropriate environmental regulations, and utilize possible byproducts from traditional production lines were identified. Through in-plant training workshops and a statewide conference, food processors received instruction on the proper procedures to characterize water usage and wastewater discharge; negotiate environmental permits with local, state, and national regulatory agencies; identify inefficient systems using statistical analysis and in-plant audits; and develop effective plans to solve current problems that result in lost profits. Presentations on the requirements of a Risk Management Program (RMP) were made up to and after the June 1999 deadline for industry program development. Assistance continued to be provided to various food processing groups across the state. An analysis of the release data for ammonia, propane, and chlorine was conducted to support the alternative release scenario required by the program. Five years of available data were analyzed. Water conservation audits were conducted at several facilities. These audits resulted in savings ranging from $15,000 a year in one small food processing plant to over $850,000 at one large south Georgia facility. Project staff also worked with several groups in addressing potable water withdrawal from both ground and surface water sources. GETAP staff also provided technical support by acting as liaisons between industry and local industrial pretreatment programs. Support included attending government meetings with agenda items impacting local food processors, interpreting local wastewater discharge permits and providing supporting data for permit revision related to concentration versus poundage limits for pollutants, and supplying unbiased information and vendors for environmental systems to improve plant efficiencies. Following the review of the new general discharge permit for storm water discharge from industrial activities the previous year, project personnel continued this year to participate in workshops where the requirements of the permit were presented. Several facilities were assisted with the development of new and the evaluation of existing storm water pollution prevention plans. A GETAP newsletter was also published and distributed to over 1,000 food processors in Georgia. Information for this Project Spotlight was extracted from GETAP’s FY 1999 Final Report. Project leaders include Jackie Sellers, William Merka, A. Estes Reynolds, and Egerton Whittle, The University of Georgia; and Jim Walsh, Georgia Tech. Project participants include David Gibson and Jeff Tepper, Valdosta State University; Mark Welford, Georgia State University; Brian Kiepper, The University of Georgia; and John Pierson, Georgia Tech.

For further information on FoodPAC, please contact: Executive Coordinator: Mr. Gary Black - Georgia Agribusiness Council, (770) 242-3834 Environmental Coordinator: Dr. Dale Threadgill- University of Georgia, (706) 542-1653 Food Safety Coordinator: Dr. Michael Doyle - University of Georgia, (660) 228-7284 Product/Process Competitiveness Coordinator: Mr. Craig Wyvill - Georgia Tech, (404) 894-3412

Making Georgia the national and international leader in the food processing industry in the 21st century

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