2009 Programs & Seminars: Satisfying Your Hunger for Information

The 2009 3rd Bi-Annual Southern California Meet Your Inspectors Forum was held on March 25, 2009 at the Southern California Gas Company ERC in Downey.  This 2009 Project of the Regional Wholesale Food Processor Committee (RWFPC) a co-operative group among FIBR and the Regulatory Community of Southern California, included Federal, State and Local County agencies (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, San Diego and the City of Vernon).  Among the presenters were CalOsha, the FDA, USDA and the State of California Department of Public Health. 

Morning Presentations included: Basic GMP’s: Getting The Message Across To Employees ; New Country of Origin Labeling Requirements (COOL):What You Need To Know!; Tips To Success!  Getting Through Third Party Audits; Employees FIRST! An FDA Food Defense Awareness Program; and a Networking Lunch  SPONSORED BY: Zep Superior Solutions.

The afternoon program included: CalOSHA Consultation Services: Helping Protect Employees & Save You Money!; Imports & FDA Requirements: Get The Facts!; Recalls: A Multi-Perspective Panel/Q&A Session and concluded with a networking session, where participants were able to "Meet Their Inspectors".  The program was a big success with over 100 attendees representing food processors and grocers from the Southern California region.

Surviving & Thriving in a Down Economy was presented by FIBR Associate Member Moss-Adams, LLP  The March 3rd program, held at So. Ca Gas Company in Downey was attended by FIBR Members and included the following agenda items: Taking Nothing for Granted:  Your Market, Your Target Customers and Your Competition; Maximize Your Resources: Effectively Manage Your Most Important Assets (Your Time &Your Employees); Cash Is Still King: 5 Proven Ways to Find Hidden Cash in Your Business; Forewarned is Forearmed:  Business Plans, Budgets, Benchmarking & Forecasts and Tax Strategies to Conserve Cash

On June 11th, Harassment in the Workplace: Preventing a Crisis was held at So Ca Edison's Monterey Park Facility.  FIBR Associate member United Agencies put together a wonderful program, where FIBR members learned a great deal about harassment in the work place, including the Legal Significance of Harassment, Understanding and Identifying Harassment, How to respond If you see Harassment in the Workplace and The Elements of a Good Harassment Policy.  Thanks to Richard Hing and Kristine Kwong for sharing their Expertise.

Saving Green by Greening Your Plant: Help the Environment, Save Money and Stay Compliant! was held on July 30th at the So. Ca Edison's CTAC Facility in Irwindale, CA.  This program focused on Title 24 Refrigerated Warehousing Requirements and was designed to keep Food Processor compliant in the new "green" environment.  The program also included presentation on programs and incentives available from Southern California utility companies, information on the Climate Registry and tracking your Carbon Footprint and about ways to greener processing and updates on important "green" legislation by the California Manufacturing Technologies Consulting (CMTC).  This program was generously sponsored by Southern California Edison and presented in cooperation with the Southern California Gas Company, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, The Climate Registry and FIBR Member the CMTC.

A Chinese Delegation Meeting was held in July of this year.  FIBR was contacted by U.S.-China Business Matchmaking Council dba U.S.-China Business Training Center to coordinate a meeting between FIBR members and 38 delegates from China, primarily food manufacturers.  Nearly a dozen FIBR members came together  and met with the delegation at a downtown Los Angeles restaurant.  FIBR also arranged for two short presentations for the participants including Tom Tseng of New American Dimensions who presented on America food trends and Ofelia Barretto, internationally recognized food safety expert, who presented on American food safety standards.  The U.S. China Business Training Center considered the meeting a big success!

FIBR members who participated included: Don Whittemore, Owner, Dandy Don's Homemade Ice Cream & FIBR President,  Henry C. Leong, President, Quon Yick Noodle Co and FIBR Vice President, Ozabe Banks, President, Money Saver's Meats, & FIBR  Board Member, Selene Wang, Starlite Cusisine  & FIBR Board Member, Maury Thomas, Caldwell & Sons, Hiro Watanabe, President, Red Shell Foods, Laura Lee, Soy Foods of America, Michael Banner, President & CEO, LA Local Development Corporation, Ofelia Barretto, Food Safety Expert, Jeff Nelken, Food Safety Consultant and June Lim from Starlite Cuisine

In 2010 FIBR will be working to provide you direction in global marketing.  In co-operation with FIBR Associate Member Gathers Strategies, Inc, we will be providing informative articles and programs to help you explore the benefits of exporting to the global market.  Look for the first in a series of articles in our next issue.