Volume 5, Issue 1 :: July - August 2000
Have a Food Processing Idea? Maybe FoodPAC Can Help. FoodPAC serves as the coordinating organization for the food processing component of the Governor’s Traditional Industries Program. This industry-led initiative is designed specifically to improve the competitiveness of Georgia’s food processing industry through research. In his FY 2001 budget, Governor Roy Barnes targeted $200,000 through FoodPAC to assist in the development of value-added industries for fruit and vegetables (The Food Chain, Vol. 4, No. 6, May-June 2000). Georgia growers have long produced for the fresh market. This initiative seeks to broaden those horizons and hopefully create jobs across rural parts of the state. On June 29, the FoodPAC Steering Committee, led by Chairman Bob Budd of The Halifax Group Inc. (Oak Hill Farms) and Vice Chairman David Lee of D.L. Lee & Sons Inc., met to develop a plan for putting these state resources to work. After discussing several options, the Committee agreed upon a plan that will be managed through UGA’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development (led by Dr. John McKissick) and coordinated with Georgia Tech’s Economic Development Institute. Committee members agreed that one of the greatest stumbling blocks entrepreneurs face is finding an answer to the question “Is my business plan sound?” Beginning this fall, the initiative will be positioned to accept feasibility proposals, i.e., proposed business plans, from any group of individual Georgia producers who have the desire to cooperatively add value to their vegetable, fruit, or nut production by specific marketing or processing techniques. This does not exclude communities or other development groups from partnering with producer groups, but individual growers (or potential growers) are the targeted applying agent. The applicants do not currently have to be organized as a cooperative, but must show a plan that will lead to a cooperative project. According to McKissick, “the Center will perform feasibility studies utilizing engineers, economists, and food scientists from UGA and Georgia Tech. We believe this team effort will pay dividends for Georgia producers.” “We look forward to promoting this opportunity by September, if not before,” said Budd. The program criteria, including requirements for matching state resources with private funds, will be available from local Chambers of Commerce, County Extension offices, and FoodPAC’s website: http://foodpac.gatech.edu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fruit/Vegetable Subcommittee Holds Strategy Meeting As part of FY 2001 funding allocations, FoodPAC received $200,000 to research further processing of fruits and vegetables in South Georgia. At the April 11 Steering Committee meeting, a special subcommittee was formed to provide oversight and initial strategic development for the project. Subcommittee members include Bob Budd (The Halifax Group Inc.), Gary Black (Georgia Agribusiness Council), Charles Hall (Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association), Doug Horn (The Halifax Group Inc.), David Lee (D.L. Lee & Sons Inc.), Jim Lovett (Georgia Power), Susan Shows (Georgia Tech), Kristina Stroede (Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget), Steven Woodruff (Gold Kist Inc.), and Craig Wyvill (Georgia Tech). The subcommittee and several invited guests, including university researchers, county agents, and fruit and vegetable processors, met May 9 for a 3-hour strategy session. During the meeting, the group held an intensive brainstorming session to generate focus area ideas. After much review, it was decided that Georgia Tech and UGA would assemble teams to coordinate and submit a proposal/plan to conduct a Survey/Inventory study. The proposal/plan will focus on conducting surveys of farmers and county agents and generating a regional inventory of processing, capacity, facilities, economic and technical feasibility trends, diseases, and environmental regulations. The Steering Committee will review the proposal/plan at a special June 29 meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Final reports due by September 1 Final reports for projects conducted during FY 2000 are due by September 1. Please submit reports to: FoodPAC GTRI/EOEML/FPTD c/o J. Craig Wyvill IPST Engineering Center Atlanta, GA 30332-0823		As agribusiness, particularly the food processing industry, continues to grow, keeping abreast of innovative approaches to enhancing operations and tackling challenges remains a priority. Below are two opportunities of potential interest to FoodPAC members. Georgia Agri-Leaders Forum The mission of the Georgia Agri-Leaders Forum is to provide a forum for developing individual leaders skilled in communications; educated in local, national, and world affairs; familiar with the changing needs of our society; and prepared to meet the present and future challenges. With this in mind, the Forum conducts the Study Institute Program, a one-year program designed to provide participants with an intensive exposure to a wide range of issues and policy discussion, ranging from the economy to governmental process. Participants are also given a liberal opportunity to broaden leadership skills. Six Study Institutes are offered during the year: four In-state Institutes, covering three days and two nights; a Government-in-Session (Atlanta/Washington) Institute, which covers eight days; and a National Travel Experience Institute in another state that covers six days. Each institute stresses leadership skills and generates sensitivity to pertinent issues. Participants receive an in-depth understanding of what it takes to get involved in bringing about solutions to political, economical, cultural, social, and agricultural concerns. Program participants are selected by a Selections Committee based on submitted applications, personal interviews, and the evaluation of five criteria: leadership integrity and effectiveness, communication and analytical skills, potential for personal growth, commitment to Georgia agriculture and related industries, and commitment to program participation. The program is endorsed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the Georgia Agribusiness Council. To learn more about the Forum and to obtain application submission information, visit the Forum’s website at http://www.thehillgroupinc.com and click on the Agri-Leaders link. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Poultry Maintenance Symposium Don’t miss an opportunity to learn everything you need to know to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and productivity of your maintenance department! Join Georgia Tech and Poultry magazine September 21-22 at the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, as they co-host the 2000 Poultry Maintenance Symposium. This one and a half day information-packed event is perfect for today’s maintenance professional committed to obtaining firsthand education and training in areas related to developing a master maintenance program. Industry leaders and experts will provide invaluable knowledge on topics such as: The Return on Investment Equation for Maintenance Water Conservation and Reuse Computerized Maintenance Management Systems OSHA’s Perspective on PSM and Injury Statistics in Poultry Processing Refrigeration Maintenance | HACCP Inspection Modeling Program Waste Management Issues in Poultry Processing Plus Several Other Topics and Roundtable Discussions Lunch will be provided on day one of the symposium. Later that evening a reception will be held where attendees can mingle informally and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The evening reception will also feature vendor tabletop exhibits showcasing various products. For registration and hotel accommodation information, contact: Sheron Meyers at (404) 894-3412 or sheron.meyers@gtri.gatech.edu or on-line at http://atrp.gatech.edu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Correction: In the May-June 2000 issue of The Food Chain, Judy Adler of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources was inadvertently left off the list of recent additions to the Environmental Technical Committee. We apologize for the oversight. Welcome Judy! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FoodPAC Dates to Remember Sep 1 FY 2000 final reports due . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Remember… Submit comments and story ideas to Angela Colar, Editor at (404) 894-3412 or angela.colar@gtri.gatech.edu

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

Return to the What's New at FoodPAC . . . . . . . . . . Return to FoodPAC Publications Authored by the Food Processing Technology Division Georgia Tech Research Institute Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0823 USA Telephone: 404-894-3412 Make comments pertaining to this website to: Steven Thomas <steven.thomas@gtri.gatech.edu> Copyright © 2000 FoodPAC Last Modified: November 2000 URL: foodpac.gatech.edu