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Monthly News & Updates
December 2020
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Supporting Business Growth in Oklahoma
FAPC and the Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers are working together to support entrepreneurial and small businesses in the state.

“Both FAPC and OKSBDC are very similar in our missions,” said Roy Escoubas, FAPC director. “We both are here to help support business growth in Oklahoma.”
Business Spotlight
Valley View Pecans
Valley View Pecans

Valley View Pecans, located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, is a retail and wholesale pecan store that also commercially shells pecans for local Oklahoma growers, adding value to their crops.

“FAPC began assisting us before construction began, giving advice on processing floor layout and product label design to make health inspections and future expansions simple,” said Josh Grundmann of Valley View Pecans. “Our first health inspection after construction was a breeze because of their help!”
Featured Research
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Degradation of Compostable Plastics

Concern about plastic pollution has spurred interest in compostable plastics. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a closed-loop system that includes compostable biopolymers that are collected in an integrated regional system and composted to inert materials within a relatively short time period. The efficiency of this integrated system is directly linked to the efficiency of the commercial compost process. Time is money, and relatively little is known about the optimal conditions necessary for fast and efficient breakdown of biodegradable polymers. Work is being initiated to evaluate the compost process parameters that will hasten the breakdown process for compostable polylactic acid products.
Featured Video
Sustainability & Environmental Concerns
A sustainable food system is one that provides healthy food to meet current food needs, while maintaining healthy ecosystems that also can provide food for generations to come with minimal negative impact to the environment. FAPC can help processors examine their current practices regarding water usage, waste management and utilization, packaging selection, distribution options and other efficiencies within a company’s process flow.
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Fall in Love with FAPC
Oklahoma State University is a beautiful campus year round, but especially during the fall as the leaves start changing colors. The trees outside the FAPC building are one of the best views on campus during November. Megan Silveira, FAPC communications graduate student, recently captured the beauty of the trees during the peak of the fall colors. 🍂🍁
FAPC Building Fall 2020
The Food Files Podcast & Value-Added Voice Blog
Stephanie Baker
The Role of a Quality Management Specialist in the Food Industry

In this episode of The Food Files, host Darren Scott discusses food safety and food quality issues with Stephanie Baker. Stephanie recently was hired by FAPC and the Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers as a quality management specialist to serve the food processing industry in the state.

"My goal is to connect with companies who are looking for assistance with preparing for their first food safety audit, starting a quality management-focused project, or are in need of technical or regulatory advice."
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Quality Management - Necessary for the Food Industry

In the latest Value-Added Voice blog post, Stephanie Baker, FAPC quality management specialist, explains the importance of quality management in the food industry and her plans for helping small businesses in the state.

"I look forward to being able to help you develop programs for your operations that can meet Global Food Safety Initiative standards for food safety and quality. We can work together on a continuous improvement project related to quality, and I would like hear from you about the specific needs in your industry."
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