MEATXPO ’07: A SMASHING SUCCESS

OAKLAND, CA – National Meat Association held its MEATXPO ’07 in Las Vegas, February 18-21, 2007 to a crowd of 900 attendees and 100 exhibitors. The important seminars were all packed to capacity, standing-room-only events. John Miller, CEO of National Beef Packing Co., made an impression at the NMA Annual Meeting with his excellent forward-looking keynote speech.

U.S. Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond spoke about the new risk-based inspection initiative. GIPSA Administrator Jim Link unveiled results of a new marketing study. Several other prominent government figures were in also attendance to present key material to attendees.

NMA’s Board of Directors elected the following officers for the year beginning July 1: Immediate Past Chairman Ted Miller, Board Chairman Tom Campanile, President Jim Maxey, Vice President Dave Wimmer, Secretary Bob Jensen, Treasurer Bill Bridgford, CEO/Exec Director Barry Carpenter, and Member-at-Large Marty Evanson.

This year the E. Floyd Forbes award was presented to Eldon Roth of BPI Inc. for his distinguished contribution to the meat industry. Supplier of the Year was Alan Davison, FPEC. Professional of the Year went to John Van Dyke (formerly chief of USDA’s Market News).

In the food competitions the Annual Gourmet Sausagefest “Hold the Mustard” award went to Evergood Sausage for its Pineapple Sausage and the University Student Cookoff winner: California State University-Fresno for its Junmai Skirt Steak. (A complete list of participants is available on request.)

Special Recognition Awards were also presented to Warren Wilcox, for his long service as NMA Treasurer and as chair of the NMA PAC, and to Mike Botto, for his long service as chair of the NMA Associate Advisory Committee.

More information is available at www.meatxpo.org.

National Meat Association is a non-profit trade association. Since 1946, NMA has represented meat packers and processors, equipment manufacturers and food suppliers who provide services to the meat industry. The association has members throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Australia and Mexico.