We are very fortunate to have as keynote speaker Dr. James Galloway, Assistant U.S. Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Galloway's primary concern is with the obesity epidemic and its costs to individuals and society, and with developing effective methods to influence the dietary choices which contribute to this growing crisis. In this effort he brings the highest degree of credibility to the need for promoting healthy foods, particularly fresh foods, of which sprouts can play a uniquely important role. In addition, Dr. Galloway gives a fascinating, disturbing, and informative presentation. This event should not be missed!

We have a number of unique tours and events lined up in Chicago this year: A tour of Pearson Foods' Packaging Facility in Grand Rapids, MI, two tours at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, (NCFST) which has been, and continues to be, a very important resource for sprout-related research, both in food safety and nutritional studies, and a tour of the world-class Chicago Produce Market. On the more social side, we have secured a limited number of VIP seats at the White Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels baseball game, and a Presidential Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan.

With more than a dozen international speakers and topics which range from food safety and technology to marketing, sales and profits in the global sprout industry, there is truly something for everyone at this year's conference. The ISGA Convention is the place to be, to learn and to have your voice heard. Not to mention, to have a great time in a great city, with a group of great associates!

Below is the convention schedule.

Pre-Convention Special Event
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Time	Event
7 AM - 7 PM	Tour of Pearson Foods in Grand Rapids, Michigan (Bean sprouts, green sprouts, fresh cut produce and packaging facility) Trip is 4 hours each way, lunch and tour at facility generously hosted by Pearson Foods and David Pearson. Bus tickets are $65 per person. Please sign up early as attendance is limited.

 
Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Time	Event
9 AM - Noon	Site visits, (Choose one): Science & Technology Building with Alvin Lee or Nutrition Center with Britt Burton-Freeman
Noon - 5:00 PM	Board of Directors Meeting
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Registration and Opening Reception

 
Thursday, May 20, 2010 - Nutrition, Science & Technology

Time	Event
9 AM	Welcome - Bob Sanderson, President, ISGA
9:10 AM	Keynote Address: Sprouts and the Obesity Epidemic, James Galloway, U.S. Asst. Surgeon General An unusual and graphic demonstration of the rapidly growing crisis and some of its causes in the food industry
9:40 AM	Sprouts Safe for School Lunches, TBA
10:00 AM	Break
10:30 AM - Noon	Protecting our Industry: Sprout Specific Audit Checklist Report from Task Force Sub Committee - Round Table Discussion: Barbara Sanderson, Chair What's on the checklist and how are we going to use it? Green Sprouts vs. Bean Sprouts Where do GAPs end and GMPs begin? Harmonization of Audit Checklist with Retail Requirements
Noon - 1:00 PM	Lunch and Trade Show
1:00 PM	More Developments in Competitive Exclusion, Keith Warriner, Univ. of Guelph, Ontario
1:20 PM	Sprout Safety Solutions from Japan, Dr. Md Latiful Bari, Food Hygiene Unit, National Food Research Institute, Japan
1:40 PM	New Research into Seed Disinfection, and a New Solution, Mansour Samadpour, IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group. The testing of some old solutions and a new solution to seed sanitization
2:00 PM	Seed Disinfection at the Level of the Supplier, Stephen Benjamin, Caudill Sprouting, LLC
2:20 PM	Seed Disinfection Challenges, The Expert Review Panel
2:45 PM	Break
3:00 PM	Analytical methods for Pesticide Residues in Bean Products , Professor Canping PAN, China Agricultural University College of Science
3:20 PM	Risk Management - Factoring In Different Interventions and Estimating Total Benefit, TBA
3:40 PM	The Scope of Sprouted Seed -- Should Microgreens, Wheatgrass, snow pea shoots and others be part of the scope?, Ms Amanda Hill, Principal Food Safety Advisor, Food Safety Australia/New Zealand, (FSANZ);
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Registration and Opening Reception
5:00 PM	Pre-game picnic, (Game time 7:10): Chicago White Sox vs. LA Angels, Patio reception in outfield seating area, beer and buffet from 5:30-7:00 p.m. during batting practice. During 1st inning we move to extraordinary VIP seats behind home plate at field level normally reserved for spouses of players! Click here and then select box 129 from the stadium picture to see the fantastic view of the game you will have! ($99 inclusive, limited tickets available). Sign up for this event on our registration form.

 
Friday, May 21, 2010 - Marketing, Sales, Profits

Time	Event
6:00 AM	Produce Market Site Visit, Tim Fleming Sr, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Development, Strube Celery & Vegetable Co., is going to show us around the market. He is an ex-president of the United Fresh and was the driving force behind moving the old Water Street market to this new Damon Ave location where it is "most modern markets in the world". This should be a great tour.
9:00 AM	"Outside the Box Marketing": Programs that drive customers into stores to buy sprouts, Ricardo Escamilla, Alternativa Alimentaria SA de CV
9:20 AM	Latest Developments in the Sprout Industry in China, KANG Yufan, Professor, China Agricultural University College of Agriculture and Biology
9:45 AM	Sprout Marketing in Japan, Murakami Kiyotaka, Murakami Noen Co., LTD, Chiba, Japan
10:15 AM	Break
10:30 AM	Sprout Marketing in New Zealand, TBA
10:50 AM	ISGA Marketing Program Supported by Regional Growers, Barbara Sanderson, Jonathan Sprouts, Inc., Founding member of the ISGA
11:10 AM	How to Price for Profitability, Dick Spezzano, Spezzano Consulting Service, working for businesses and associations in production Ag. and retail, specializing in perishable; Past VP Produce & Floral, Von's Supermarket (- 1997); Chair, PMA, 1997; Produce Marketer of the year (1993)
11:30 AM	Modified Atmosphere Packaging, TBA
Noon - 1:00 PM	"Gourmet Cooking with Sprouts": Sprout Fest Luncheon Mrs.Sumiyo Kawakami, Owner of Antonkarl Co., Ltd & Food coordinator for Daisey Group, Japan, in cooperation with Angel Torres, Head Chef, Embassy Suites Hotel Click here to see Mrs.Sumiyo Kawakami prepare a meal which incorporates bean sprouts and broccoli sprouts.
1:00 PM	Unifying the Global Sprout Industry, Bob Sanderson, President, Jonathan Sprouts, Inc. President, ISGA
1:20 PM	Annual Meeting & General Session
6:00 PM	President's Dinner Cruise aboard the Spirit of Chicago

 

If you would like us to let you know when more detailed information about the convention becomes available on this Web site, send e-mail to icomserve@aol.com with "ISGA Convention Updates" as the subject of your e-mail.