GFC

Yes, it's time to get thinking about who, best exemplifies leadership along Alaska's supply chain of food.  Global Food Alaska's Leadership Nomination Forms are scheduled to be available October 2010.

You are encouraged to submit nominations on those that deserve recognition for their leadership as

1) Grower/Harvester/Direct Marketer
2) Manufacturer/Processor
3) Alaska Champion (played a significant role in pulling Alaska food, beverage or bio products into the local, national or international marketplace).    

Leaders will be recognized on June 8th, 2011 at Global Food Alaska.   GFA is designed to mobilize, connect and honor Alaska's supply chain of food, beverage and agri-products.

Tom Gemmell, Marine Conservation Alliance

Table of Contents

FEDERAL

1. Fish council set for special meeting on Steller sea lions (8/13)
2. NMFS Alaska letter to NPFMC on Steller sea lion biological opinion (8/13)

Continued By Linking On Article Title (Above)

Tom Gemmell, Marine Conservation Alliance

Fish Calendar 2010

Check out their new calendar website!

If you missed the Energy Fair this week-end, here's a glimpse. 

Celebrities who have a powerful enough following are tagged with only one signature name.  Kaladi, for those in Alaska, Seattle or the many who have visited or lived in Alaska has the same celebrity and loyalty.   While we may know the name Kaladi and its association with our favorite coffees or internet cafe locations, the Alaskan owned and operated company has considerable depth and diversity.     Much of that is somewhat behind the scenes in their wholesale business. 

"It's how we've always done it".... is NOT the mantra of American Fast Freight.   While they have over 25 years of experience in transportation, warehousing and distribution services in Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest  - that does not mean that those services don't have to reflect the new era of green.  

Now one of the most significant company's in our supply chain has made a very large investment to increase efficiencies and seamless supply chain solutions with a bonus for temperature sensitive products.

Kyle Beus updated us yesterday on Matanuska Creamery's line of products for Alaska's southcentral food service and retail channels.   Absolutely 100% of the milk comes from Matanuska Valley dairies making their cheese curds and milk seriously fresh!    We're talking hours from cow to curd and bottled milk product and immediately available for distribution to wholesale customers.

It's not that easy to find a job these days.   Definitely it is not easy to find a qualified employee in food, beverage or agri-products.   That is why GFC-Connect (GFC, LLC.) partnered with Ihobnob.com and Kinsa to help fill the gap on the staffing side of operating a business along the supply chain of food.

Take a look at some of their most current job openings.

Sr. Seafood Category / Product Manager #4529 - Georgia

Corporate Research Chef #4571 - Wisconsin

Production Manager, Dairy  (#4343) - Idaho

Warehouse Team Lead, Winery #4612 - CA

Traveling these days poses infinite problems in terms of baggage and carry-on's.   Not only is it a hassle, it is costly.    R&J Seafood's is providing a new solution for Alaskan visitors, as well as  gift stores seeking to more fully provide what is uniquely Alaskan - wild, Alaskan seafood.    

R&J Seafood's has been working with area gift stores offering customized point-of-sale materials with customer order information for Alaska's most famous seafood products including salmon, halibut and crab.    The customized point-of-sales materials provide the hosting retail location an opportunity to feature these additional products in sync with their own store brand and style. 

Date: June 29, Tuesday 2010 
Time: 10:00 AM PDT | 01:00 PM EDT
Duration: 60 Min
Instructor: Dr. John Ryan
Location: Your office or conference room (no need to travel!)

Which food suppliers represent high risk? Which ones are likely to cause an outbreak associated with E. coli or salmonella? Should your company buy from high risk suppliers? How do you know which suppliers are high risk suppliers? These are the types of concerns wholesalers have about farm suppliers, retailers have about wholesalers and processors have about both. Where do buyers go to determine the food safety level of suppliers?

Kudos to Phyllis Buzinni and her family for celebrating their 25th anniversary in business at Alaska Silk Pies.  July marks their 25 years in business.    According to Phyllis, her mail order dessert business started with a gentleman, visiting Alaska on a Princess Rail Tour, who sampled the silk pie on his Denali visit.    This customer wanted more Alaska Silk.

Sometimes we forget that optimizing the supply chain is really connecting with the right people for the right circumstances.  Greg Hawthorne, Director of Sales and Marketing for ACE Air Cargo is one of those and he  recently reminded us that making that connection is as simple as a phone call.  Got a product coming in or going out?  Just call Greg.   No complexity of pre-screening, just pick up the phone and get a solution.  

What do the U.S. Export Import Bank and our own Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank (CFAB) have in common and what does it mean to you?

CFAB has just become the one and only Alaska delegated authority lender for EXIM Bank.  Alaskan businesses all along the supply chain of food will now have resident experts and access to financing, credit insurance and assistance programs that the rest of the world has been using to garner new business.  

EXIM has been touting its programs in Alaska for nearly 20 years.  However, it is more recently that Paul Watts, Business Development Officer (San Francisco) success has been spearheaded with Alaskan seafood and new technologies financing.    Paul returns again the second week in June to meet with their new designated lender and businesses seeking working capital, credit insurance and to generally learn more about the critical role EXIM can play in reducing financing risks.

Where's the beef?    It's at the Alaska Meat Company, of course.      

Alaska is known for its wild, natural, sustainable seafood, but not so for it's meat.   That is quickly changing through the professional management, harvest and processing at the Alaska Meat Company based in Kodiak, Alaska.     Certified, as USDA and organic, products now available for commercial buyers include snack sticks, sausage, steak and stew.   The product is already available at select retailers in Kodiak and rural Alaska locations,  but seeking wholesale market opportunities in Anchorage and the railbelt.   

The Global Food Alaska Conference and Showcase is now open for registration.

Mark your calendars for June 8th and 9th, 2011 - Kenai Peninsula                           

Imagine putting the decision makers who harvest/grow, manufacture, transport, package and distribute Alaska's food, beverage and agri-products under one roof, for 2 full days showcasing their products and services.    Then invite local, national and international commercial buyers from restaturants, gift, retail grocery, food service and further manufacturing to participate as the drivers of Alaska's food supply chain.   Listen to what and how they want to purchase and create the solutions important to their business.    It is a one of a kind event designed to positively impact the bottom line of Alaska's entire food supply chain by creating market-driven solutions.

It's as easy as 1-2-3 and takes less then 2 minutes.  Register at GFC-Connect.Com.  

1. Click on Buyer (on the menu bar).

2. Reply with a simple yes/no to 3 questions.

3. Register your contact information (1 screen)  

Read on for what happens next......

We've finally done it!     We've finally connected Alaska and Alaskans to each other and the world!   Looking for a new supplier?   How about a local supplier?  You'll find it here.  Looking to source sustainable seafood?  How about a supplier with 20+ years of experience supplying white table cloth restaurant clientele in the US, Europe and Japan?   You'll find it here.   Looking for food, beverage or agri-products such as plants, supplements, cosemtics or even fertilizers?   Sign-up for GFC-Connect.com.  

Suppliers and Supply Chain Partners may sign up at 30% off annual membership prior to May 15th.   More information here.

We invited the US Food Safety Inspection Service to respond to questions about the proposed new food safety rule and its impact on small and medium food producers. 

 
CI: Our readers are generally small and medium business involved in food and beverage manufacturing and getting those products to market.    They are generally busy doing what they do best - producing product for their customers.    Can you tell us briefly, what they should be prepared to expect in terms of new laws and regulations?      (Complete response by selecting article title above.)

Where do independent natural and organic grocers go for business support?  We discovered the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA) at the Natural Food Expo last month and were intrigued by the staff and organization.    The more we learned, the more we liked. 

At the core of any business success is the human resource factor.    How prepared are you and your staff to succeed in the 2010 marketplace?     We know it is a radically different market then 2 years ago and may require a modified talent base.     Our mission at GFC (Global Food Collaborative) is to support sustainable business for our member companies.   Kinsa Group was our selected first preferred partner, as a result of our members seeking out qualified talent in responsive to the changing landscape of the marketplace. 

Meet Laurie Hyllberg, Vice-President, Kinsa and learn more.