Food News, August 2010

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Coming Events

2010 Best Practice Mission to Ontario
Sept 21-23- Toronto, ON
There is still room to participate in the Agri-Food Best Practices Mission to Ontario from September 21-23, 2010. If your corporate management team is seeking ways to increase your productivity and global competitiveness, this mission is a great opportunity to tour various agri-food processors and other manufacturers who have successfully implemented lean thinking principals in their businesses. "Go and See” is the best way to gain an appreciation of what a lean thinking enterprise can look like.

To receive the most current information on this tour, and to learn about a potential grant opportunity from Food Beverage Canada to subsidize a portion of your costs contact either Jim at 780-679-5176 or Avery at 780-645-6329.

Business Solutions Den
November 9- Calgary, AB
Once again Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, with financial support from Growing Forward, is offering the Business Solutions Den (BSD) to Alberta based companies. The companies selected for this program will receive private and confidential coaching from a carefully selected panel of business specialists. This panel will include individuals with legal, accounting, marketing, financial and operational experience. Following the BSD session, each company will develop an action plan with assistance from the consultant along with follow-up meetings to discuss how best to proceed with potential changes. For more information contact either Jim at 780-679-5176 or Kathy at 403-755-6116.

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FREE One-on-One Food Safety Coaching Session
September 29-Airdrie, AB
The Food Safety and Animal Health Division of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, in partnership with the Alberta Food Processors Association, will be facilitating an AHA! Clinic. It will be an informal session where you can receive one-on-one coaching with a Food Safety Specialist towards developing and/or improving your food safety programs. In addition, optional networking time will be available for attendees to mix and mingle, share ideas and meet some of your industry colleagues. Each coaching session will be a maximum of 1.5 hrs and limited spots are available. Please RSVP your attendance by September 24th. For more information contact either Claude at 403-813-0126 or Monika at 403-804-7370. For more information about AHA! go to www.agriculture.alberta.ca/aha

Value Chain Workshops
August, 2010-March, 2011
The Canadian Value Chain Network through the extension of a collective outcome project has made the following Value Chain Workshops available:
Module 3 - Market Intelligence, gathering and planning for new product introductions
Module 4- Partnering and Collaboration, how to approach retail
Module 5- Understanding category management
Module 6 - Product development: Are you market ready?
For more information contact Margurite at 780-968-3513 or for full workshop descriptions go to:
http://www.canadianvaluechainnetwork.ca/workshops.htm

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Canadian Food Expection Agency

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) has updated the food labelling and advertising web pages to better meet the needs of its users. The pilot website can be found at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/labetie.shtml

After viewing the pilot website, individuals are encouraged to complete the online questionnaire to evaluate its organization and design. The survey will be available until September 3, 2010 at the following address:
http://inspection.sondages-surveys.ca/s/lab-eti/?&l=en

Alberta Food Processors Association

HACCP I: Prerequisite Programs
November 29 &30- Calgary, AB
A HACCP Prerequisite Program is the foundation for a comprehensive Food Quality System and provides the building blocks for HACCP plan development.

HACCP II: Developing your HACCP Plan
December 1-3- Calgary, AB
The development of the HACCP plan requires a comprehensive review of the product line in order to complete a hazard analysis, determine critical control points, set critical and operating limits and establish procedures for monitoring and deviation with accurate validation and verification processes and record keeping.

HACCP VII: Reassessment of your HACCP System
September 28- Calgary, AB
Is it time to review and reassess your HACCP system? Do you know where to start and how to proceed? Reassessment of your HACCP System should be an annual task.

For more information on these workshops contact Sita at 403-201-3657 Ext.23

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