AgPLUS News April 2017

Ag-plus-final_update_sep2015_sm THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY AGPLUS FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING CONSORTIUM BY OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT FRESNO STATE
APRIL 2017 VOL. 2 ISSUE 2 WWW.CVAGPLUS.ORG

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CALED honors Kelly with ‘Golden Bear’

kelly-trish 2 Trish Kelly, Valley Vision managing director and AgPLUS executive committee member, received top honors from California Association of Local Economic Development with its Golden Bear Lifetime Achievement award.

The presentation was made at CALED’s 37th Annual Conference on March 23, 2017, in San Diego.

We congratulate Trish on this well-deserved honor!

 


Workforce Summit, Food Processing Expo

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Panel discussion at Feb 7 Workforce Summit

Central Valley AgPLUS in partnership with California League of Food Processors and Zenith Insurance kicked off the 2017 Food Processing Expo with the Food Processing Workforce Summit on February 7. The Summit addressed issues surrounding recruiting, training and retaining a strong workforce for food processors; and how human resources managers can keep up with various regulation requirements. More than 70 attended, representing food and beverage manufacturers and public organizations. Trish Kelly represented AgPLUS , moderating the morning session and providing an overview of AgPLUS and its IMCP designation. Summit panel discussions were represented by industry, education and government, and featured keynotes Tim Rainey, executive director of California Workforce Development Board, and Matthew Roberts, dean of Field Operations for Workforce and Economic Development Division, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Results of a survey by California League of Food Processors were released at the event. The survey covered workforce issues for Central Valley food processors and how these can potentially affect initiatives dedicated to solving the skills gap in the industry. Fourteen companies indicated the positions they have the greatest need to fill include maintenance mechanics (93%), electricians (70%), boilers/process heater operators (55%), automation and controls/mechatronic specialists (44%) and machine operators (33%). Many of the positions listed also were named as ones anticipated as having a significant number of vacancies to fill within the next five years due to retirements and departures. DOWNLOAD SURVEY RESULTS

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AgPLUS was one of 260 exhibitors at 2017 Food Processing Expo in Sacramento

The Food Processing Expo on February 8 and 9 hosted 260 exhibitors including AgPLUS. Thousands from around the world attended the Expo making it the largest food processing trade show in California. Featured exhibits included machinery, equipment, and supplies along with informative sessions and industry-networking opportunities.


AgPLUS business workshops continue throughout Central Valley

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Congressman John Garamendi speaks at Marysville workshop

AgPLUS rural business workshops connect food and beverage manufacturers to business development resources and financing opportunities; and feature presentations from various partners of the AgPLUS network. Workshops began in November 2016 and got off to an early start in 2017.

Valley Vision kicked off their 2017 regional workshops on January 27 in Marysville. This second workshop was for food processors in Yuba, Sutter and surrounding counties. U.S. Congressman John Garamendi joined the meeting and provided remarks for attendees. The next workshop, which took place on March 31 in Placerville, was for food businesses in El Dorado, Placer and surrounding counties.

North Valley leads at Chico State Center for Economic Development got their regional workshops under way on March 20 at the Glen County Farm Bureau in Orland.

OCED is set to co-host a workshop with Fresno State SBDC, Plan Prosperidad of Univision, CAMEO, Fresno CDFI, among others, on April 22 at Reedley High School in Reedley, Calif. Financial planning, expanding to other markets, and export/import strategies are just some of the discussion points.


AMP SoCal brings together IMCP communities

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AgPLUS and other members of the IMCP community attend the AMP SoCal Bi-Annual Meeting

AgPLUS was on hand for fellow IMCP community Amp SoCal and its 2017 Bi-Annual Meeting in Los Angeles on March 9, where we participated with other IMCP communities and EDA officials in discussions about the future of IMCP under the new Presidential Administration.

This meeting engaged small- to medium-sized manufacturers and their supply chain in discussions about the work they do in aerospace, and the goals and impact on workforce they have accomplished since receiving IMCP designation.


CalAsian Chamber hosts 2017 international trade show

International work group member CalAsian Chamber of Commerce is hosting its second trade show of the year,Seoul Food and Hotel 2017, in Seoul, South Korea, from May 14-21. The first was in Shanghai, China, from March 26 through April 2.

CalAsian Chamber of Commerce has been committed to helping food and beverage growers/producers expand and export their products to the Asian market for the past five years. This has been achieved by organizing international trade missions, providing export training support, marketing research and business matching. CalAsian Chamber administers the China Direct and Korea Direct export programs under a cooperative agreement with the International Trade Administration Market Development Cooperator Program under the U.S. Department of Commerce.


2017 Manufacturing Summit

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The 2017 San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Summit is just around the corner. On Thursday, April 20, more than 800 will be at the Fresno Convention & Visitors Bureau along with 90 vendors, 24 workshops, and keynotes by John Hofmeister, former Shell Oil Company President, and Katherine A. DeRosea , Dream It. Do It. Virginia, and Headed2, LLC.

For more Summit information, visit the official event page: http://sjvma.org/event/thriving-in-the-valley-2017-manufacturing-summit/.


Stay up-to-date

We have a lot of exciting new projects in the pipeline so be on the lookout for news on future developments, and stay up-to-date on info and upcoming events. Visit www.cvagplus.org.

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THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT FRESNO STATE IS A CO-LEADER OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY AGPLUS FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING CONSORTIUM (AGPLUS) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, PROVIDING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AGPLUS.

CONTACT US | PHONE 559-278-0721 | WWW.CVAGPLUS.ORG