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Thank You 2019 MWFPA Spring Scramble Sponsors
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- Axley Brynelson LLP
- Crown Cork & Seal USA Inc.
- Deville Technologies Inc
- Ellingson Companies
- Faribault Foods Inc.
- Hays Companies
- Hydrite Chemical Co.
- JAX, Inc.
- Langguth America Ltd.
- Lubriplate Lubricants
- Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
Nelson-Jameson, Inc.
- Plainfield Trucking, Inc.
- ProEx Food
- RSM USA, LLP
- Seneca Foods Corp.
- Silgan Containers
-Summit Refrigeration Group
- Syngenta Vegetable Seeds Inc
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
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MWFPA, AG ORGANIZATIONS URGE ACCESS IN U.S. - JAPAN TRADE DEAL
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 MWFPA joined nearly 90 agricultural organizations in urging the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate a trade deal with Japan that restores, expands, and accelerates meaningful access for U.S. food and agricultural products.
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LOBBYISTS SAY GROUPS HAVE REACHED CONSENSUS ON AG LABOR FIX
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The agriculture industry has coalesced around a potential labor fix that would provide a path to legalization for farm laborers currently in the U.S. and also expand the H-2A foreign guest-worker program so that farmers can more easily hire foreign workers.
The H-2A program allows employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis to fill positions for agricultural work they are unable to secure domestic labor to do.
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FDA RELEASES GUIDANCE ON INITIATING VOLUNTARY RECALLS
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 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 23 announced the availability of a draft guidance for industry and FDA staff to assist in the timely and efficient voluntary recall of FDA-regulated products.
The draft guidance, entitled "Initiation of Voluntary Recalls discusses a variety of recall issues, including recommendations associated with:
- Training appropriate personnel on their responsibilities.
- Establishing a recall communication plan.
- Identifying and complying with FDA reporting requirements.
- Establishing product codes and maintaining distribution records.
- Developing and implementing recall initiation procedures.
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FDA ANNOUNCES "NEW ERA" OF SMARTER FOOD SAFETY
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Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D., and Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas have announced a "
New Era of Smarter Food Safety," an effort intended to combine the implementation of FSMA with the use of new and emerging technologies.
This new approach will start with the development of a "Blueprint for a New Era of Smarter Food Safety," which will address several areas of food safety, including traceability, digital technologies, and evolving food business models.
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MN LEGISLATURE PASSES OMNIBUS BUDGET BILLS, HOUSE PASSES INCREASE IN GAS TAX
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After today the House and Senate will likely have passed all their respective budget bills.
Leadership will then have until May 6 to meet an informal deadline for coming up with budget targets,
but there is growing speculation that date may be extended.
The legislature must adjourn by midnight on Monday, May 20th.
The Minnesota House passed a 20-cents-per-gallon gas tax hike Monday delivering on one of Gov. Tim Walz's top policy priorities, but one that faces resolute opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate. The bill would raise the state gas tax over four years and then increase with inflation after that.
A provision in the Republican controlled Senate jobs, energy and commerce budget would stop cities from requiring higher minimum wages or sick time for workers that are different that what is already in state law. The proposal would be retroactive to 2017 and would undo minimum wage and other laws also enacted in Minneapolis.
Additionally, the House Omnibus Agriculture Food and Housing Finance Bill
includes grant
funds for the Second Harvest Heartland food bank to procure
produce and milk from Minnesota
processors for use in food shelves, and establishes new audit requirements for grain dealers and
handlers to avoid fraudulent bookkeeping.
The House Omnibus Jobs & Energy Bill
includes language punishing
wage theft, expanding rural broadband, and mandating paid family and medical leave statewide. MWFPA supports the expansion of rural broadband, but opposes the wage theft and family and medical leave provisions.
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APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS MINNEAPOLIS SICK LEAVE ORDINANCE
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The city of Minneapolis can now enforce its sick leave ordinance against employers based outside the city.
The state Court of Appeals upheld the city's sick leave rules Monday while also reversing an earlier Hennepin County district court ruling that exempted employers located outside Minneapolis.
The court ruled that the sick and safe time ordinance neither conflicts with state law nor oversteps its bounds in applying to Minneapolis workers with employers outside the city - a setback for businesses that oppose the policy.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce sued the city in 2016 and has argued that state law already covers paid leave, which prohibits Minneapolis from adding another requirement. Doug Loon, the Chamber's president, said in a recent statement that the ordinance "imposes significant administrative burdens" on companies. The ruling, he said, shows the need for a state law that prevents local governments from passing their own wage and benefit mandates.
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IL HOUSE AND SENATE RETURN, SET TO ACT ON GRADUATED INCOME TAX RESOLUTION
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 The IL House and Senate convene this week to kick off the remaining 31 days of the Spring Legislative Session.
Both Chambers are scheduled in be in session this week Tuesday through Thursday, however, the House is only scheduled to be in session 24 days during the rest of the spring session. The Senate is working fewer days than that.
The State Senate today passed a constitutional amendment (SJRCA 1) to implement a graduated income tax. The vote was 40-19. If approved by both houses of the legislature in identical form the plan would need voter approval in November 2020.
In addition to the graduated income tax, the General Assembly will also have to work to craft a budget for state fiscal year 2020 and address other matters such as legislation that legalizes adult-use of cannabis and sports betting. They also need to pass a capital bill to fund construction and repair projects for the state's infrastructure.
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MWFPA BOARD NAMES JASON CULOTTA AS PRESIDENT
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Jason Culotta
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MWFPA's
board of directors
has named Jason Culotta
as president of the Association. He
succeeds Nick George
who
has announced his retirement
after 14 years
with the organization.
Culotta will begin his duties on May 13, 2019.
Since September 2017, he
served as Director of Public Affairs at Progressive Rail
Incorporated headquartered i
n Lakeville, Minnesota. Progressive is a shortline railroad company operating in
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
Prior to that
he
was Senior Director of Government Relations at Wisconsin Manufacturers &
Commerce
(WMC)
, the state's cham
ber of commerce. His policy focus areas included tax and
transportation issues.
Welcome to MWFPA, Jason!
Read MWFPA's news release here.
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Kelley Supply -  a business-to-business distributor located in Colby, Wisconsin that provides solutions to the Food and Dairy industries in the United States.
For over 60 years, Kelley Supply has provided automation, packaging, safety wear, ingredients, chemicals and a variety of other products from coast to coast. Kelley supplies products to the food processing, meat, poultry, dairy, printing, packaging and other industries with convenient ways to order: online, phone, and fax.
Welcome to MWFPA!
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WYMAN MEMORIAL GOLF FUNDRAISER SET FOR MAY 14
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Jeff Wyman
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Join the Wisconsin vegetable community for a day of golf, fun, and comradery at the Jeff Wyman Memorial Golf Fundraiser on May 14, 2019 at the University Ridge Golf Course in Madison, WI.
Professor Jeff Wyman was a Professor of Entomology at UW-Madison, specializing in Extension-based pest management research in vegetable crops. He chaired the Entomology department from 1984 to 1988. He passed away in September, 2018.
Jeff was passionate about working closely with farmers, researchers, and industry colleagues to develop progressive and sustainable pest management systems that were both economically and environmentally sound. His work was based primarily in Wisconsin, but expanded to national and international levels, including work in Europe, northern Africa, and Asia.
Friends and colleagues of Jeff's are holding a golf fundraiser in his honor. Proceeds from the outing will be used to develop the "Wyman Memorial Kitchen Garden" in the Allen Centennial Gardens at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. The garden plot will be named in his honor and will include aspects from his professional work in vegetable entomology while also highlighting his personal love of gardening.
There are still openings for golfers so consider putting together a foursome for the event. If you can't take the time to golf, consider sponsoring a hole or event. In order to register for golf or make a donation to the memorial garden go to
Wyman Memorial Garden (
wisconsinpotatoes.com/wymangolf).
Help recognize the work of a friend of the vegetable industry by participating/contributing to the Wyman Memorial Kitchen Garden today!
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MEMBERS - REQUEST FOR DIRECTORY UPDATES!
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We need your help!
If you've registered for an event or paid your dues online in the last few months, you've likely noticed that MWFPA has upgraded to a membership management tool that is all encompassing.
Now members have the ability to register for events, pay membership dues and connect with other members by searching the member directory through
InfoHub.
The
InfoHub is your one-stop shop for all things MWFPA. It's also our team's one-stop shop for all member data - we need your help to keep us in the loop on company changes, locations and employee updates.
We've done our best to ensure the new system has accurate data, but with all new technologies comes a few glitches.
NO TE: InfoHub will be the source for the next printed membership directory, so please take a moment now to update your information!
Go to Info Hub now to create your login and review your company information for accuracy.
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This year's golf scramble has hit the registration capacity and we thank you, our sponsors, and everyone who is helping to make this great turnout possible.
A sell-out means great exposure for your company as a sponsor!
We are looking for general sponsors, prize sponsors, hole sponsors, as well as goodie bag items. (Sponsors listed above.)
Please consult the list of branding opportunities below, and consider sponsoring this event.
Sponsorship Levels
- Gold - $2500
- Silver - $1000
- Bronze - $500
- Beer & Wine Unwind - $1500
- Lunch - $500
- Hole Sponsor - $350
- Gift Bag Donation
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September 19, 2019: Save the date and join MWFPA, Focus on Energy and Miron Construction for a forum designed to increase awareness of projects that could be implemented to reduce energy consumption within food manufacturing plants. Watch for further information in this newsletter and at the MWFPA
website.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR: MWFPA EVENTS YOU
WON'T
WANT TO MISS
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September 19, 2019: Food Energy Forum. Miron Construction, 1471 McMahon Drive, Neenah, WI. Join MWFPA, Focus on Energy and Miron Construction for a froum designed to increase awareness of projects that could be implemented to reduce energy consumption within food manufacturing plants. Watch for further information in this newsletter and at the MWFPA
website.
October 10, 2019: MWFPA Sporting Clay Challenge, Millford Hills Gun Club, Johnson Creek, WI.
December 3 - 5, 2019:
MWFPA 115th Annual Convention and 92nd Processing Crops Conference. Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
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OTHER EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS
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Join the
American Institute of Professional Geologists and
learn the history, chemistry, sampling techniques and current treatment options of PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) as well as developing regulatory proposals throughout the country. Over 4,700 PFAS exist in the world today. Many PFAS transform into highly persistent perfluorinated chemicals in the environment. Short-chain PFAS tend to be more water soluble and move more easily through soil to contaminate ground-water, surface water or drinking water. Click here for an
agenda
and a
registration form
.
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