Food News, May 2017

Export Events

Taste of Canada 2017
June 5-6, 2017 - Boston, USA
Taste of Canada is an agri-food buyer-seller forum where Canadian suppliers can showcase their food products in a tabletop setting while meeting one-on-one with pre-screened American importers, buyers and distributors from the retail and foodservice industries. For more detailed information, please contact Shelly Nguyen at 780-422-7103.

Health Ingredients Mission to Japan and Korea
September 28-October 6, 2017
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is in the proposal stages for a health ingredients focused mission to Korea and Japan, anchored around the HI Japan tradeshow. Suppliers of healthy, functional, natural or organic food ingredients. If you are interested in the mission, please contact Katie Meredith to receive full details once available.



Workshops

Business Model Canvas
May 24, 2017- Edmonton, Alberta
Join Business Link, in association with Agriculture and Forestry, for a Business Model Canvas Workshop to learn how to utilize the lean startup template for developing new or documenting existing business models. We'll show you how to use the Business Model Canvas to describe, design, challenge and pivot your business model. Facilitated by David Bayda, Senior Business Advisor, Business Link. Location is Business Link, #500, 10150-100 Street, Edmonton; Cost: Free. Limited seating available. If you are interested, register here

Preventing Upper Extremity Injuries at Work
June 12, 2017 - Edmonton, Alberta
For more details, please contact Ed DeGroot  at the Alberta Food Processors Association to reserve your spot.

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Grant Programs

Productivity Improvement and Retention Grant
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s Workforce Development Initiative is accepting applications to its Productivity Improvement and Retention Grants for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Funding up to $25,000 is available to assist Alberta agri-businesses to reduce worker turnover and assess or adopt technologies and processes which will increase worker productivity. Visit our website or contact Gerard Bos at 780-980-4222 for more information.

Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative
This program is open to applications and will help fund internships for post-secondary graduates and high school students working in the agriculture industry. Funding is available through the following two streams:
Green Farms Stream: Farm operators could receive up to a maximum of $10,000 per youth intern to implement projects that are environmentally beneficial.
Green Internships Stream: Employers in the agricultural sector but not directly on farm could receive up to a maximum of $16,000 to undertake environmental activities, services or research that will benefit the agriculture sector.


Regulatory Changes

Health Canada is seeking input on the following regulatory proposals:
New Proposed Requirements for Self-Care Products - in person consultation and webinars have begun with the first round of consultations. Round two of consultations to discuss marketing, labelling, compliance and cost recovery are scheduled for June. If your company is a manufacturer of self-care products including vitamins, pain relievers, sunscreen or makeup, you need to be aware of a new approach to labelling that is being proposed by Health Canada. Please consult the following link for upcoming webinars or in-person consultations that will be held.

New Proposed guidance on Ready-to-Eat Smoked Fish -  consultation is open until June 2, 2017
If your company uses or processes ready-to-eat smoked fish then you should be aware of this new consultation. A document has been created to assist food safety regulators and food manufacturers in reducing the potential risks associated with utilization of ready-to-eat smoked fish; to obtain a copy of this document, please go here. Any smoked fish manufacturers will need to develop processing parameters in order to ensure that their product is safe for consumption.


AFPA



The New Face of Agri-Processing: Growth and Innovation in the New Green Economy - Conference and Mini Trade Show - May 30-31, 2017 – Calgary, AB
A one-of-a-kind conference in Alberta. More than fifteen sustainability and productivity experts with extensive food processing experience will help you save money through cost reduction, improved margins, elimination of waste and risk management. The conference is a mix of inspiring speakers, breakout sessions with practical strategies that can be implemented immediately and numerous case studies highlighting the sustainable successes of Alberta food processors. It is open to anyone who works farm to fork and supporting industries.

Please visit the conference webpage for conference schedule, speakers, mini-tradeshow and sponsorship opportunities. REGISTER NOW or become a sponsor or tradeshow participant.

Food Safety and Quality Training
•FSPCA Preventative Controls for Human Food – May 29-31 (2.5 days) – Calgary
•Train the Food Safety Trainer – June 1-2  - Calgary (only offering this year)
•Implementing SQF Systems -  June 5-6 -  Edmonton
•Verification and Validation of your Food Safety System (previously HACCP IV)  - June 7 -  Edmonton
•Principles of Internal Auditing (previously HACCP V) -  June 8 -  Edmonton
•Procedure Writing and Document Control for HACCP (previously HACCP VI) - June 9 - Edmonton
•BRC 3^rd Party Auditor -  June 12 -16 -  Calgary (5 days)
•Risk Assessment of Food Safety - June 13 -  Calgary
•Understanding the Requirements of FSSC22000 - June 14-15 -  Calgary
•Internal Auditor FSC22000 - June 16  - Calgary
•SQF Practitioners Bundle - June 19 - 23 – Calgary;
•two days of Examinable HACCP training,
•two days of SQF Implementing;
•one day of SQF Internal Auditor
These days can be taken individually as well.
For more information on any of the above training, please contact Melody at 403-201-3657 (ext. 21)

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