New Jersey Food Council
30 West Lafayette St., Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609/392-8899
Fax: 609/396-6571
Email: njfc@njfoodcouncil.com

Mercer County Plans Recycling Sweeps!

NJFC has been informed that recycling sweeps are scheduled to take place in Mercer County over the next few months. While the exact locations have not been disclosed, the sweeps will be targeting businesses. NJFC suggests members review company recycling programs to ensure compliance with the law in every town where you do business.

Dairy Reporting Shelved for Processors!

The State Department of Agricultureπs onerous Data Reporting demand for company dairy prices for processors has been indefinitely delayed.

This news comes as a second major victory for NJFC and the membership on this Emergency Dairy Order. As of last week, NJFC was successful in killing the retailer reporting requirement; however processors were still subject to the demand for private, proprietary company information. At this time, this announcement relieves processors of the proposed regulation that was to be enacted April 1, 2007.

Again, NJFC credits our success to the collective mobilization of the membership, which presented the industryπs case before State lawmakers.

NJFC Discusses Paid Family Leave with Senator Sweeney

Late this week, NJFC Director of Government Affairs Vince Bekier and Walt Rubel of Acme met with Senator Sweeney in his district to discuss the Senatorπs Paid Family Leave bill, which would extend Temporary Disability Insurance to provide Paid Family Leave benefits for workers to care for sick family members or newborn children.

S-2249 was approved by the Senate Labor Committee in February and has been second referenced to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. At this point, the Assembly counter part, A-3812 sponsored by Assemblyman Albano, has not seen any movement. NJFC has also recently met with Assemblyman Albano to register the industryπs concerns.

NJFC will continue to advocate that Family Leave benefits should be negotiated between employer and employee, not imposed on business through State mandates. Currently, many NJFC members already have voluntary programs in place to assist their valuable employees when family members are sick. If this State mandate were to be enacted into law, it is likely that existing voluntary programs would be discontinued.

State Senator Bryant Indicted

After nearly two years of federal investigations, a federal grand jury has issued a 20-count corruption indictment against State Senator Wayne Bryant for his role at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). Included in the accusations against Bryant are charges for bribery, fraud and corruption for receiving ≥no-show≤ jobs in exchange for political influence to funnel millions of dollars to UMDNJ through his powerful position as Chairman of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee.

Senator Bryant also held two additional positions with Rutgers University and the Gloucester County Board of Social Services, which were responsible for substantially increasing his pension over a four year period.

Senator Bryant was one of the Stateπs most powerful Senators. However, as a result of the investigation by the U.S. Attorneyπs Office, he resigned his position as Chairman of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee and has decided not to seek re-election in November.

Register Now for the NJFC Trade Relations Conference
May 17 & 18, 2007, Tropicana, Atlantic City

Honoring
Jim Ostling, George Weston Bakeries

Featured Guest Speaker
Bruce Weitz, Kings Supermarkets

Photos Galore

Don't forget to check out our library page to view photographs from our events including our recent Loss Prevention Conference & Exhibition.