Cooper Farms: - Urner Barry Publications, Inc.

Chick-fil-A, Darden Restaurants, Golden
Corral Corporation, among others.
National Fisheries Institute
Annual Convention
September 22-24
The National Fisheries Institute 2010
annual meeting in Chicago was wellattended
with over 200 people present,
which according to outgoing president
Ken Conrad, ‘was the best attendance in
years.’ There were also some important
new members present, and companies that
had decided to return to NFI after allowing
their memberships to lapse.
No overriding theme emerged from the
meeting, but there was a strong sense that
there were a lot of major issues on the
industry’s plate.
Outside the sessions, much talk was of
the run-up in seafood prices—which is
impacting everyone in the supply chain.
Few had a good explanation as to why these
prices have come up so much, except that
for many items there were low inventory
positions at the same time. All worried
about the negative effect these higher prices
may have in the months ahead.
A number of ongoing NFI policy initiatives
seem to be bearing fruit. For example, the
Food Safety Bill, currently in the Senate, is
strongly supported by NFI and other food
industry groups, and the association would
like to see it passed this year.
The Better Seafood Bureau is gaining
traction. There is more attention to
seafood fraud and short weight, as
evidenced by a coordinated investigation
earlier this year by 22 states. This spring,
more members have been notifying the
BSB of offers of short weight, allowing the
BSB to contact those companies making
these illegal offers.
A new focus emerged during the meeting
in regard to adulteration—which is the
high incidence of excessive water added.
There has been a move towards so called
‘chemical free’ formulations—which means
that a company does not have to label for
phosphates. However, there are widespread
problems with excessive moisture and over
soaking, especially in twice frozen Pollock.
The same issue is being addressed with
Pangasius, in cooperation with Vietnamese
producers and government.
Another program that has seen great
success is the Future Leaders Program. This
year, 28 people participated, representing
companies from across the industry. The
program brings people to Washington
DC, to learn the political and regulatory
landscape facing the seafood industry, and
Continued on page 57
Urner Barry’s Janice Brown takes time out with Ray
Porter in front of Wrigley Field.
NFI annual convention attendees
enjoyed a rooftop event overlooking
Wrigley Field.
VOL. 6, NO. 1 / WINTER 2011 / URNER BARRY’S REPORTER • 55