(Stillwater, Okla. – June 12, 2014) Food safety was the topic of discussion during a recent advisory board meeting of Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center.

FAPC’s Industry Advisory Committee members from across Oklahoma met June 5, 2014, at FAPC to discuss how the advisory board could help make OSU and FAPC the leader in food safety.

“With the leadership of the advisory board, there are developing programs that could have a positive effect on Oklahoma, especially in the area of food safety,” said Paul Schatte, vice president of Head Country Food Inc. in Ponca City, Okla., who presided over the meeting.

The Industry Advisory Committee recognized the need to educate students in food safety and provided just more than $1 million and is leading an effort to generate $3.4 million to create a food safety program at OSU.

“We are so grateful that FAPC’s Industry Advisory Committee is embracing this opportunity to lead this fundraising effort,” says Chuck Willoughby, FAPC manager of business and marketing relations. “One hundred percent of the advisory board has committed to support this financial campaign.”

As a result of the initial gift, a proposed food safety option is underway for approval and a faculty position in OSU’s department of animal science will be hired to support the new food safety option.

During the meeting, the committee met with several individuals to discuss the food safety campaign, including Sen. Ron Justice, OSU President Burns Hargis, and members of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, department of animal science and OSU Foundation.

With a growing demand for safe quality food products, the need for food industry companies to engage in food safety programs is more important than ever.

With the support of the advisory board, FAPC implemented a Global Food Safety Initiative program to help meet the food safety and security needs of Oklahoma’s food industry. FAPC’s GFSI program focuses on direct food industry assistance in the areas of training, auditing, education and in-plant technical assistance for food safety and quality programs.

Schatte said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting and enjoys working with food industry professionals on the advisory board.

“The committee meetings give us an opportunity to discuss important issues and challenges facing FAPC and the food industry,” Schatte said. “The meetings are vital in order to keep us informed, so we are able to provide the necessary leadership.”

The Oklahoma Legislature established the Industry Advisory Committee to serve as an advisory board for FAPC.

“The Industry Advisory Committee offers counsel, makes decisions and takes leadership action to ensure FAPC makes sound short- and long-term plans to accomplish its mission and objectives,” said Roy Escoubas, FAPC director. “I am extremely appreciative of the advisory board’s dedication and commitment to the food safety campaign.”

Members of the committee are Oklahoma agricultural leaders, appointed by the highest positions of the Oklahoma state government and the vice president and dean of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Members of the advisory board who are leading the food safety campaign effort are Schatte; Nancy Addington, Associated Wholesale Grocers of Oklahoma City; Luis Bogran, Curwood, a Bemis Co. of Pauls Valley, Okla.; Ed Clements, Clements Foods Co. of Oklahoma City; Gary Crane, Ralph’s Packing Co. of Perkins, Okla.; Scott Dvorak, Dvorak Farms of Perry, Okla.; John Griffin, Griffin Foods of Muskogee, Okla.; David Howard, Unitherm Food Systems of Bristow, Okla.; Virgil Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms of Miami, Okla.; Rodger Kerr, Southwest Technology Center of Altus, Okla.; Tommy Kramer, Durant Industrial Authority of Durant, Okla.; John Patrick Lopez, Lopez Foods of Oklahoma City; David McLaughlin, AdvancePierre Foods of Oklahoma City; Allen Mills, Reasor’s Inc. of Tahlequah, Okla.; and John Williams, Chef’s Requested Foods of Oklahoma City.

The committee meets twice a year to conduct business relating to FAPC, usually in June and November. The June meeting is held at FAPC, while the November meeting is held off-site at the discretion of the committee.

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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs that prepares students for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all. As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 245,000 students to serve Oklahoma, the nation and the world.