[avatar user=”donaldhutton” size=”160″ align=”left”]Donald Hutton
Associate Member Conference Chair of the International Packaged Ice Association[/avatar]
Fall convention season has come and gone. As we reflect on the various regionals and the IPIA’s 99th Annual Convention in San Antonio it is without a doubt that everyone, suppliers included, are anxious to learn more about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and its’ enforcement and impact.
Many presentations and round table discussions focused on how FSMA will affect the ice industry going forward. While there are many questions and potential concerns with FSMA, the IPIA is working diligently at updating the PIQCS program to ensure that all members will be compliant with the new FSMA regulations.
Suppliers are also mobilizing on this front to understand how FSMA will affect them. A committee has been formed that will pick apart the regulations that apply to suppliers and in the coming installments of the Ice World Journal those findings will be presented.
Another area of interest for suppliers are the Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) training workshops the IPIA is conducting in Dallas, TX (Jan 17-19) and Atlanta, GA (Jan 31-Feb 2). These training workshops are being taught by the IPIA’s Food Safety Consultant and PCQI certified trainer, Chris Dunn. These workshops are being offered at half the cost of similar workshops and will be focused on the Ice Industry. It will be a good way for suppliers to understand what their customers’ future needs will be with regards to preventative controls in their plants.
Stepping away from the FSMA conversation, I would like to thank all the suppliers who attended, and supported, the various regionals and the IPIA convention this past season. Your support of the ice industry is greatly appreciated and one of the reasons it is so successful. I failed to mention during the suppliers meeting in San Antonio, a BIG thank you goes out to Karen and Jane, and their respective teams for all the hard work they do. It’s not always easy to deal with all the suppliers demands but both of you have it spot on!
Here is the final count from the 99th Annual Convention in San Antonio;
- 77 booth spaces sold
- 34 total exhibitors
- 16 sponsors (4 Gold, 9 Silver, 3 Bronze)
- 342 attendees
Here’s to hoping everyone had a great holiday season and all the best for 2017!