April 2023
TFPA Newsletter
Contact Us:
​P.O. Box 341 
​College Station, TX 77841
979-218-4943
cindy@tfpa.org
al@tfpa.org

Notes From Our President
Howdy,
 
Springtime means warmer weather, beautiful wildflowers, and of course the TFPA Annual Meeting. A time when we all can gather to catch up, meet new people, and learn. I’m looking forward to being at the beautiful Tremont Hotel in Galveston.  This year we have a great list of topics: Packaging trends, Functional Food Ingredients, Legislative/Regulatory Updates. And back by popular demand: Table Top Exhibits. Sign up, they’re going fast! Remember to register for the conference by May 1. Hope to see you there. All the best, Ashley Seelig, President TFPA.
 
All the best,
Ashley Seelig, President.
 

TFPA Updates
Upcoming Events

Scholarships
 
Legislative
No updates at this time
 
Finance
  • 2022 Scholarships total - $65,000
  • 2022 Combat Marine Outdoors total - $10,000
  • Link for payments below (membership dues, new member payments, scholarship donations, and Combat Marine Outdoors donations)
 
Membership Information
  • Please encourage and recruit new members. There is now a snapshot video of who we are as an organization on the homepage of our website.
  • If you have a current job or internship opening you would like featured on the website. Please submit them here.

 
Other Updates
  • The Internship Committee 
ATTN:  Food Manufactures – Are you needing summer interns for special projects this summer? Audit support, QA Responsibilities, Product Development assistance.   
ATTN: Students – Are you seeking an internship this summer?  Potential employer vetting, exercise Food Science & Technology Skills, gain experience, earn a paycheck all the while building your resume.  TFPA is here to assist in connecting companies with qualified interns seeking internships.  If so please contact: 
Stacy Lewis
NM Green Chile Co.
C: 505-503-0996
E: stacy@greenchileco.com
Lex Hander
United Salt Corporation – Territory Manager
C: 972.839.1413
E:lhander@unitedsalt.com

  • The website has been completed re-vamped and updated. Please be sure to go and explore the new additions and updates. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to info@tfpa.org.

  • Associative Members
    • Attached is a flyer to help promote TFPA to potential processor members. Please share with processors as you see fit.
    • We have also added a recruiting video to the website. Click here to watch.
    • If you think you know of associates who would be interested in joining The TFPA

 
Industry Updates
A&M FSTC Processing Line 
March 29, 2023
Texas A&M Food Science & Technology Department
High – Acid Hot – Fill Processing Line in jeopardy
 
In mid- February of 2023, TFPA board members were alerted to an urgent request by the TX A&M FSTC to support them in salvaging a pilot program involving a small scale processing line for hot fill acidified foods. This line was designed by CRB engineering, with the intention of teaching high impact learning activities to students, and service to industry stakeholders. The line was installed in 2020, but due to the impact of the Covid pandemic, had largely gone unused and was in need of repairs to become operational. Essentially, a line that was installed at a cost of well over $1.2 million dollars was in jeopardy of being lost over repair costs in the $10,000 to $15,000 range.  
 
In an effort to mitigate these costs and get the line up and running quickly, Best Maid Products was able to dispatch a team of 3 employees to diagnose the issues and arrange for repairs.  Stephen Goetz, Taylor Pickering, and Lance Heinen, were able to spend a day and a half diagnosing the line and arranging for some minor repairs, all at little or no cost to Texas A&M.  Many thanks to this team for their quick action and support!  While this was a big win for the department, much work is still needed on behalf of the food processing industry and to provide the best possible, urgently needed hands-on processing education for TAMU students.
 
Members of the TFPA are well aware of the need for talent in the areas of food science, engineering, operations, marketing, sales, & distribution.  Texas A&M is a key recruiting ground for new talent entering our industry, and we would all prefer to hire students who have some experience working in a manufacturing environment.  Texas A&M FSTC is one of the only top-tier food science programs in the country without pilot-scale processing capabilities.   We have achieved step 1 in getting this line up and running, but we still have much work to do to save this program.  We need TFPA membership assistance in the following areas:
 
 
 

  • Letters of support for this project from Manufacturers, Retailers, & Suppliers
  • Advisory Board support or participation in listening panels specifically related to this line
  • Donations / support from Manufacturers & Suppliers of the following materials / services:
    • 16 oz straight sided jars (83-400 finish) (6pk or 12pk re-ship cases with dividers)
    • 84-400 Gold Metal CT lids
    • Storage of finished goods near College Station
    • Sales & Distribution support (2 – 5 years out)
Thanks in advance to our wonderful community of TFPA members!  I know we will all rally around this project, as it will add much needed training to students that will become the future leaders of our industry.  
 
Contact Us
979-218-4943
cindy@tfpa.org 
al@tfpa.org 
info@tfpa.org
 
LinkedIn