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

This week, NJFC held a meeting of the Food Council's Biosecurity Working Group to discuss a variety of serious biosecurity challenges facing the industry.

The meeting featured a presentation by Roche Laboratories on Tamiflu dispensing preparation and programs offered to business by Roche as the industry prepares to protect store associates and consumers in the event of an Avian Influenza outbreak.

Also on hand were FBI Division of Anti-terrorism representatives who discussed communication between the food industry and the FBI regarding terrorist threats and product tampering incidents.

Paid Family Leave Back on the Agenda

NJFC has learned that Senate Bill 2249, also know as Paid Family Leave, may be back on the agenda before the Legislature breaks in July for the summer and the upcoming November elections.   All 120 seats of the Legislature are up for election in November and NJFC will make it clear that such a broad sweeping change in employment conditions should not be rammed through the legislative process without a great deal of thoughtful and open dialogue between the business community and elected officials.  

NJFC has already met with the bill sponsors in both the Assembly and the Senate and expressed the industry's deep concern with the potential negative impact Paid Family Leave could have on business.   Proposals such as Paid Family Leave further reinforce New Jersey's poor reputation as being one of the most unfriendly states in the country to do business.   NJFC will closely monitor the situation and will keep members apprised of any new developments.

NJFC Participates in Department of Agriculture's ≥Day at the Docks≤

This week, supermarket members got a taste of New Jersey's locally caught seafood when the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the State's seafood industry, held a ≥Day at the Dock≤ at the historic Viking Village on Long Beach Island.
 
The morning program focused on sustainable seafood harvests, aquaculture, quality assurance, health benefits of increased seafood consumption and merchandising New Jersey seafood via the already established Jersey Fresh branding program.
 
Later in the day, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus spoke to food retailers in attendance about consumers' growing interest in ≥buying local≤ and how locally caught and harvested seafood is the freshest and highest quality seafood they can provide to their customers.

NJFC and its members look forward to working with the Department of Agriculture to help market and promote high quality Jersey Seafood to consumers.
 

Last Chance to Register 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.