Press Releases

January 25, 2010

NJFPA Annual Meeting the Largest Ever

Buena, NJ - The New Jersey Food Processors Association's Annual Conference on January 21 brought together 130 attendees, 22 exhibitors, and food industry leaders in the state’s largest-ever meeting of food processors. The meeting, with the conference theme “State and Federal Partners to Strengthen New Jersey’s Food Industry,” provided networking and educational opportunities for New Jersey companies representing all facets of the food processing industry.

 “This year’s annual meeting drew more attendees than we’ve ever had in the organization's history,” said Lou Cooperhouse, the newly-elected president of the NJFPA and director of the Rutgers Food Innovation Center. “More and more food processors are realizing that the New Jersey Food Processors Association is looking out for the best interests of the industry, and vendors are realizing that this meeting is the best place to make contact with food processing businesses in New Jersey.  In addition, our conference this year focused on the tremendous resources that exist within New Jersey, and the very critical topic of food safety in our businesses.”

During its annual meeting, the NJFPA membership nominated and approved six members to its Board of Directors.  These six members include President Lou Cooperhouse, director of the Rutgers Food Innovation Center; 1st Vice President Sam Pipitone, founder of F&S Produce and Pipco Transportation and co-founder of Organic Land Developers; 2nd Vice President Samuel L. Ragusa, chief operating officer of Violet Packaging LLC; and Treasurer and Secretary Pearl Giordano, president & CEO of Limpert Brothers Inc.  In addition, Brett Buatti, Vice President at Campbell Soup Company, and Steven Kiszely, CEO of Delaware Valley Packaging Group, were elected to the Board.  The NJFPA board also consists of three additional members, which include Carmine Catalana, Sr., of Cumberland Dairy; Peter Pappas, of Clement Pappas & Company; and Cliff Johnson, of Surfside Products.

“I am looking forward to serving the association as president, and to working with my distinguished colleagues on the board,” said Cooperhouse. “In 2010, we will be offering increased value to our members, and we will be significantly expanding our association membership.  This will include quarterly networking dinners with speakers; roundtable meetings on issues like human resources, food technology, and food safety;  golf outings; and members-only content on our website.” 

The keynote speaker at the meeting was New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, whose presentation was “Processing New Jersey’s Farm Gate: The Secretary’s View.” Other speakers included Richard Ritota, program manager of the Food and Drug Safety Program at the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, who spoke about food safety issues and priorities; and Vijay Juneja, Ph.D., lead scientist, predictive microbiology at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, who talked about emerging technologies for controlling food-borne pathogens. Luncheon speakers included Brian Schilling, extension specialist with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and David Brogan, vice president of environmental policy at the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, who gave updates from their respective organizations.

Exhibitors included:  BD Engineering, Bunzl, City Supply Company, Cumberland County Economic Development, Delaware Valley Packaging Group, Eurofins|S&S Labs, Foote & Jenks Corporation, Gloucester County College, Hess Corporation, Holophane Lighting, Infection Control Technologies, Interstate Sales of New Jersey, Land Resource Recycling Management Inc., MPS Associates, Organic Diversion, Scientific Marketing Services, Securitas Securities Services, Stanker & Galetto, The Pump Shop, USDA Rural Development, Water Dynamics and Widerman & Company Insurance.

The New Jersey Food Processors Association is an organization of manufacturers and suppliers of food and agricultural products joined together to expand the industry through shared information. Visit their web site at http://www.njfoodprocessors.org/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Michele Hujber
732-439-5625
mlhujber@hotmail.com