In This Issue

Energy Surcharges and Long-Term Agreements

GCCA Participates in Agritrade-Guatemala

There’s Nothing like COLD FACTS

AIB Assesses Peanut Recall

Cold Storage Industry News

Food Industry News

Government News

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In his keynote address last week at the 2009 IARW-WFLO-IRTA Annual Convention and Expo, Dr. Robert Genetski stated that energy prices could rise by as much as 40% over the next two years. Accordingly, any member who is negotiating a long-term agreement with any customer (any agreement longer than 30 days) should consider inserting an energy surcharge provision in that agreement. I will be preparing such a provision shortly, and will circulate it in a later edition of Cold Connection. In the event that any member needs assistance with an energy surcharge provision before then, please contact me by phone +1 800 511 7710 or email at jhorvath@hlpc-law.com.

Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala was the venue for one of the most important events for the fruit and vegetable export industry, Agritrade “Growing Business Together” Expo & Conference 2009. The Guatemalan Association of Exporters knows the importance of keeping controlled temperatures in every process and requested that GCCA collaborate with them in this event by providing a keynote speaker to address cold chain topics. Dr. Elhadi Yahia, a member of our Scientific Advisory Council, had an outstanding audience for his presentation, “Post-Harvest Handling of Fresh Produce - The Importance of the Cold Chain.” Attendees also had the opportunity to hear the mission, goals and benefits of GCCA from our Latin-American Representative. Agexport was extremely pleased with our participation and talks have already begun about future projects to develop the cold chain in Guatemala. 

Just last week the new COLD FACTS magazine made its debut at the 2009 IARW-WFLO-IRTA Annual Convention & Expo. Since hitting mail boxes around the world, this new publication has been receiving nothing but rave reviews. If you didn’t advertise in the first edition, make sure that you don’t miss out on the opportunity to have your company featured in the following May/June issue.

Monday, 6 April was the deadline to reserve ad space in the May/June edition of COLD FACTS. If you missed the deadline and are interested in advertising, don’t fret! We still have a few spaces left. To reserve your advertising space, please contact James Rogers at +1 703 373 4300 or jrogers@gcca.org. The deadline for artwork is next Monday, 13 April 2009.

Third-party audit programs play a critical role in securing a safe food supply by helping companies implement and continually evaluate good manufacturing practices, risk management and quality system programs in their facilities.

This belief, which until recently was widely accepted, has been challenged as never before in the wake of the tragedy surrounding Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), in which salmonella-tainted products have been linked to nine deaths and hundreds of cases of salmonella illness, prompting the largest food products recall in U.S. history. All of us involved in bringing food safely to consumers are troubled and saddened by this tragic situation.

Starting in early February, much of the coverage of this matter in media across the country has included inaccurate and incomplete information. In the midst of all of this, AIB International has assembled a collection of information sources to help customers understand the true facts of a situation which so far has provided no winners and much human suffering.  Read more.

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) plans to put in place cold chain infrastructure to prevent huge post harvest losses.  See full story from The Daily Times.

Everest Cold Storage opened its new temperature-controlled facility in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.  See full release.

Richmond Cold Storage Company (RCS) has selected Primus Builders as their 2008 Quality Critical Supplier of the Year. See full release.

Mercury Air Cargo spent $1.1 million to build the 12,700-square-foot refrigerated facility at LAX airport in California, USA.  See full story from The Los Angeles Times.

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