Two sections of AFI, the National Honey Packers and Dealers Association and the North American Olive Oil Association held meetings earlier this month.
The NHPDA held its meeting in Austin, Texas, in conjunction with the American Beekeeping Federation convention. Two of the most important issues were a reaffirmation of the group’s commitment to support a petition to create a more-effective research and promotion order for honey than the one currently in place. The NHPDA was a driving force in the creation and drafting of the petition. The group also reaffirmed its support of a petition to create a standard of identity for honey. Minutes of the meeting have been sent to all NHPDA members.
The NAOOA held its meeting in San Francisco, just before the Fancy Food Show. The group moved closer to creation of a program that will allow NAOOA members to put the organization’s seal on their products and literature. Members participating in the program will sign a licensing agreement which will include random product testing. The group also made improvements to its quality control program and discussed new public relations strategies. Minutes of the meeting will be sent to all NAOOA members shortly.
AFI is in the process of receiving from exporter associations input regarding updates to the AFI standard for cashews. The AFI Cashew Standard, developed with input from importers, exporters and others in the trade, is the standard used by buyers around the world. It was last updated in 1999. The AFI staff will compile the revisions suggested by the exporters and send them, along with a request for suggestions from importers and others in the trade, to all members within the next two weeks.
Representatives from SINDICAJU, CEPC, VINACAS and the African Cashew Alliance have been invited to participate in a meeting to agree on a final version of the updated standard to be held immediately prior to the 2007 AFI Convention in Longboat Key, Fla.
Increasing Exposure for AFI and its Members
The AFI Board of Directors would like to continue to expand AFI’s presence around the world. If you participate in or know of a conference or trade event you think AFI should participate in, please forward information on the event to the AFI office. AFI’s participation could be in the form of a booth, a presentation, attending a trade show, etc.
Additionally, if you have ideas on how AFI could help you get more of events such as the Fancy Food Show, ANUGA or SIAL, please share that information as well.
Among the information all members have received or will receive shortly related to AFI are:
- 2007 dues invoice. Members are reminded dues must be paid promptly.
- Information on reports available from AFI; subscription renewal forms for existing subscribers.
- Information on the 2007 AFI Convention
- Information on the 2007 AFI Annual. Please return your listing form by March 1, even if there are no changes.
AFI will have a booth at the SIAL show in Montreal, Canada, March 28-30, 2007. AFI will also host a reception from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 29 in Room 511C of the Palais des Congres de Montreal. There is no cost to attend the reception but pre-registration is requested. Members are invited to bring guests but are asked to pre-register them as well.
To help members interact with one another at SIAL Montreal, AFI will distribute a program at the reception in which members will be able to tell others about themselves and how to reach them at the show.
For $50, members can have their business card in the program as well as a description of up to 15 words about the company and/or how to contact them in Montreal. If the member has a booth or will be helping to staff a booth at the show, that information can be listed as well.
Business cards may be mailed to the AFI office or scanned in and sent via e-mail to info@afius.org, along with a completed form. All business cards will be allotted a space of 3.5 inches wide by 2 inches deep. We will put any additional text provided along side or underneath the card. All materials must be received by Friday, March 23.
Sponsorships are available for as little as $100. All reception sponsors receive the ad above as part of their sponsorship. Sponsors are listed on the AFI Website, will receive ribbons at the reception and will be listed in the program handed out at the reception. Sponsors contributing $150 or more may ship promotional materials to the AFI office (or bring them themselves) to be displayed at the reception. All sponsorship material shipped to AFI must be received by March 23.
For information on SIAL Montreal, visit http://www.sialmontreal.com/usa.ch2
The AFI Convention returns to one of everyone’s favorite places, Longboat Key Fla. The convention will take place April 26-29 at the Longboat Key Club and Resort. A featured topic this year will be a look at the impact China is having and will have on the food import industry. Look for complete program details shortly.
In the meantime, those knowing they’ll be attending the convention are encouraged to make their travel plans. The discounted room rate is $245 ($265 for a beach-view club suite). Call 1-800-237-8821 and be sure to ask for AFI’s convention rate.
Airfare: A travel discount has been negotiated with Continental Airlines. Continental offers discounts off published fares of 2 percent to 15 percent or zone fares. Call your travel professional or Continental Meeting Works at 800-468-7022 for reservations. When booking your reservation, please refer to Z-Code ZU7S and Agreement Code AGCX64. Or save an additional 3 percent by booking your own reservation at
http://www.continental.com/specials/group/meetingworks/reservations.asp by entering both the Z-code and Agreement Code without a space (ZU7SAGCX64) in the Offer Code Box. Booking online avoids the $10 service fee collected per ticket through MeetingWorks reservations or any Continental Airlines ticketing facility.
February 13, 2007 – AFI Board of Directors Meeting, Elizabeth, N.J.
March 29, 2007 – AFI Reception at SIAL Montreal
April 26-29, 2007 – 2007 AFI Convention – Longboat Key Club, Longboat Key, Fla.
July 11, 2007 – North American Olive Oil Association Annual Meeting, New York
