By Mandy Gross, FAPC Communications Services Manager

(Stillwater, Okla. – Nov. 18, 2014) Food industry leaders from across Oklahoma took time from their busy schedules to meet during a recent advisory meeting of Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center.

FAPC’s Industry Advisory Committee members met Oct. 30, 2014, at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City to discuss food and agricultural issues.

“The Industry Advisory Committee offers counsel, makes decisions and takes leadership action to ensure the FAPC makes sound short- and long-term plans to accomplish its mission and objectives,” said Roy Escoubas, FAPC director.

Nancy Addington, committee chair and transportation manager of Associated Wholesale Grocers in Oklahoma City, presided over the meeting.

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

During the meeting, FAPC Industry Advisory Committee members met with Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Reese and Sens. Ron Justice, Eddie Fields and Susan Paddack.

“The Industry Advisory Committee wanted to enjoy a working session at our state Capitol and give legislators and other state leaders an opportunity to discuss work by FAPC that supports growth of the food industry in our state,” Escoubas said.

Other guests during the meeting were Tom Coon, vice president, dean and director of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Hiedi Griswold, senior director of development of the OSU Foundation; Maj. Rusty Rhoades of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol; and retired Capt. Jim McBride of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security.

Some of the topics of discussion included the newly launched Food Safety Campaign to hire a food safety professor and create a proposed undergraduate food safety option academic curriculum, the importance of providing assistance to food companies developing value-added products and safety information related to work-place violence.

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

The advisory board consists of a diverse group of individuals representing the food and agricultural sectors.

In addition to Addington, other members of the committee include 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.; Paul Schatte, Head Country Food Co., Ponca City, Okla.; John Williams, Chef’s Requested Foods of Oklahoma City; and ex-officio Tom Coon, OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

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.