Lane County Food and Beverage Updates

Contents:

1. Eugene Featured By Wine Enthusiast Magazine
2. Regional Training Funds Available
3. Certified Cider Professional Training in Eugene
4. Organicology Tickets On Sale
5. Kraft Heinz Co Launches $100mm Venture Fund
6. Oregon Wineries Step Up to Support Fellow Growers
7. Learn about WUSATA Programs
8. Upcoming International Sales Opportunities
9. Sell to Oregon K-12 Schools 
10. Ice Cream Short Course
11. Early Bird Tickets Available for Oregon Wine Symposium
12. City of Eugene Seeking More Mobile Food Vendors
13. Job Opportunities
14. Use eBuild for Your Next Expansion Project
15. Share Your Story
16. EWEB Business Growth and Retention Program   

Eugene Featured By Wine Enthusiast Magazine

"Long known for counterculture politics, the outdoors and a robust craft beer scene, Eugene may not seem like a destination for wine lovers. But this is a city of contrasts, one which proves that not all wine regions look alike.

Surrounded by pine forest and cattle farms, Nike-clad University of Oregonstudents drink macchiatos at coffee houses, next-generation hippies sell cannabidiol (CBD)-infused products on the main drag and wine lovers hop on bikes to ride to nearby wineries. Located at the southern tip of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is positioned perfectly for a wine-focused vacation."

Read the full story from Wine Enthusiast here.

Regional Training Funds Available

More info and Request For Proposals here.  This request for proposals will close on November 15, 2018.

Certified Cider Professional Training in Eugene

Tue 10/23 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm at Wildcraft Cider Works

The United States Association of Cider Makers introduces the Certified Cider Professional program. This first ever cider accreditation program is designed for distributors, servers and others who are interested in becoming bonafide experts on all things cider.  This course is only being offered in 4 cities across the country and Eugene is one of them.  

Hard cider’s popularity has dramatically increased in the last several years, and now there is a way for food and alcohol industry professionals to prove their cider knowledge—the Certified Cider Professional program (CCP). USACM has released CCP as online exam that allows test takers to become CCP level one certified. Exam questions fall into six categories: (1) Apples, the orchard & history (2) Cider making (3) Flavor & evaluation (4) Cider styles (5) Keeping & serving (6) Food & cider.

More info here.  To register email Ellen@ciderassociation.org.

Organicology Tickets On Sale

Thur 2/14 through Sat 2/16 at Hilton Downtown Portland

With intensive training sessions, workshops, world class keynote speakers, amazing entertainment and networking, Organicology is a conference of its own class.  Unlike most sustainable agriculture events, Organicology seeks to bring all of the stakeholder groups to the table to not only develop skills in their own areas of activity but to gain exposure to the challenges and accomplishments of those in other areas of the trade and movement.

More info and registration here.

Kraft Heinz Co Launches $100mm Venture Fund 

Kraft Heinz Co is joining the ranks of Big Food peers with a venture capital fund focused on concepts that are shaking up the food industry, such as supply chain technology and e-commerce.

The packaged-food giant has committed $100 million to start a new firm called Evolv Ventures, which will invest in food technology companies. To lead the Chicago-based fund, Kraft hired Bill Pescatello, a founding member of Peacock Equity, an investment group put together by NBCUniversal and GE Capital.

“There’s a ton of disruption in the food industry driven by technology and new models,” Pescatello said in an interview. Evolv will focus on startups working on supply chains, logistics, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer projects, he said.

Oregon Wineries Step Up to Support Fellow Growers

In the midst of a state investigation and wine harvest season, a California winery suddenly canceled contracts last week for more than 2,000 tons of Southern Oregon grapes — a $4 million dollar collective loss for more than 15 growers.  But as word spread this week, Salem-area wineries stepped in to help, buying some of the grapes in an attempt to reduce their fellow growers' losses.

Read the full story here.  

Learn about WUSATA Programs

The Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) and the Oregon Department of Agriculture will be presenting “WUSATA Informational Seminar” in Eugene/Springfield, October 30th. WUSATA receives funding from the USDA to support and assist businesses seeking to develop or enhance their presence in international markets. Whether you’re a veteran exporter or a new company wondering if exporting can play a part in the growth of your company now or in the future, this event can help you tap into the resources and assistance WUSATA provides. If you have a food, beverage, or agriculturally-based product that contains at least 50% U.S. grown content by weight, you can take advantage of WUSATA’s programs.

More information on the event here. 

Upcoming International Sales Opportunities

• 21-25 – SIAL trade show (Paris, France)

• 5-7 – Korea outbound trade mission (in conjunction with USDA & Food Export)
• 8-9 – Taiwan outbound trade mission 

• TBA -  Europe craft cider inbound to OR, WA

Sell to Oregon K-12 Schools

Wed 11/14 from 8am - 1pm at The Food Innovation Center in Portland

The Oregon Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Food Innovation Center & Oregon Health Authority are creating a series of seminars and tailored technical assistance to help prepare local food manufacturers to enter K-12 schools and the broader food service market. This series will provide manufacturers with insight into key factors such as price point, labelling requirements, product distribution and documentation relating to the school food service market.

During the introductory seminar, attendees will learn the scope of the school food service market and best practices for selling to school food purchasers.  Additional seminars in this series will include opportunities such as assessment of product readiness for the food service market, resources to support product development or reformulation, and identification of marketing opportunities.

More information and registration here. 

Ice Cream Short Course

OSU's Food Innovation Center is offering a two-day opportunity to learn from industry experts about ice cream technology.

Day One features Dr. Bruce Tharp who has been involved with ice cream science and technology in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia area. He teaches at some of the world's most respected ice cream courses, and is involved in developments at the cutting edge of ice cream technology, including the first completely sugar-free frozen dessert, and the concept of "hybrid" frozen desserts. .

Day Two is filled with presentations by a variety of experienced industry professionals including Karen Caillouet of Balchem/Sensory Effects, ; Dr. Carlos Fajardo-Centeno of Palsgaard, ; Cary Frye of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), ; Polly Barrett of National Flavors, ; Tyler Malek of Salt & Straw, and Sarah Masoni of the Food Innovation Center.

Course fee is $289 per person including lunch both days.

More info and registration here.  

Early Bird Tickets Available for Oregon Wine Symposium

The Oregon Wine Symposium seeks to educate the wine industry on timely topics in viticulture, enology and wine business. The show also hosts the Northwest’s largest wine industry trade show, with more than 180 exhibitors.  Now in its eighth year, the Symposium is heralded as one of the best values for wine education with more than 25 sessions over two days, including a number of comprehensive Oregon producer wine trial tastings. As in years past, the two-day show will be divided into four distinct “tracks” to best target participants’ fields of interest: Viticulture, Enology, Executive Business and DTC Business. As well as full access to seminars, lectures and panel discussions, the all-access pass also offers networking and meeting opportunities with vendors, a festive happy hour called the Oregon Wine Soirée featuring Oregon wine pours, appetizers and desserts, and wines from across the state.

More information about the event here.  Registration here.  

City of Eugene Seeking More Mobile Food Vendors

Job Opportunities

• Specialty Foods Manager

• Director of Equity, People and Culture (Human Resources)
• Warehouse Assistant

• Sales Manager | Eugene

• Office Manager | Eugene

• Production Manager | Cottage Grove
• Sanitation and Distribution Support | Cottage Grove

• Production Tech | Eugene
• Packaging Tech | Eugene
• Warehouse Tech | Eugene
• Sanitation Specialist | Eugene

• Maintenance Technician / Millwright | Eugene

• Inside Sales  |  Eugene (Email for more info)

• Senior Accountant | Eugene
• Logistics Manager | Eugene
• SQL Programmer and EDI Specialist | Eugene
• Production Supervisor | Eugene
• Entry Level Production | Eugene

• Production Helper | Springfield
• Shipping Checker | Springfield

• Training Coordinator | Eugene
• Pasteurizer | Eugene
• Production Lead | Eugene
• Lubrication Technician | Eugene
• Warehouse Technician | Eugene
• Maintenance Tech | Eugene
• Sanitation Tech | Eugene
• Production Worker | Eugene
• Production Machine Operator | Eugene

• Machine Operator

• Warehouse Assistant | Eugene
• Tier 1 IT Tech | Eugene

• Distribution Center Supervisor | Eugene
• Electrician | Eugene
• Warehouse Lead | Eugene
• Environmental Health and Safety Manager | Eugene
• Facility QA / Sanitation Supervisor | Eugene
• QA Lab Technician | Eugene 
• Oven Operator | Eugene 
• Packaging Machine Operator | Eugene 
• Packaging Line Lead | Eugene
• CDL Driver | Eugene
• Material Handler | Eugene
• Maintenance Electrician | Eugene
• QA Tech | Eugene
• Shipping Associate | Eugene
• Janitor | Eugene
• Food Safety Team Member | Eugene

• QA Lab Technician | Springfield  
• Production Worker | Springfield 
• Sanitation Worker | Springfield
• Custodian | Springfield

• Sales Representative | Eugene
• Warehouse Specialist | Eugene
• Sustainability Manager | Eugene
• Class A CDL Driver | Eugene

• Area Loss Prevention Specialist | Eugene
• Scratch Baker | Eugene
• Maintenance Clerk | Eugene
• Bulk Foods Clerk | Eugene
• Culinary Team Member | Eugene
• Barista | Eugene
• Cashier | Eugene
• Cake Decorator | Eugene
• Central Kitchen Production Worker | Eugene
• Management Training Opportunities | Eugene
• PLUS MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE   

• Cashier/Produce Clerk

Use eBuild for Your Next Expansion Project

eBuild is a web-based solution that allows applicants to initiate and complete the plan review process from application to permit issuance online.  As the applicant you will be able to submit drawings, pay fees, and select contractors online. You will be notified of any status changes to your project in real-time.  When your plans have been approved and your fees have been paid, you will be able to download and print the approved stamped plans.

The City of Eugene's Building and Permit Services Department is is always interested in receiving feedback.  A workgroup comprised of city employees, construction professionals, the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, and F&B manufactures has formed to help inform the continued evolution of Building and Permit Services Department programs and processes.  Stay tuned for more updates from this group.  

For more information, contact Mark Whitmill at mark.d.whitmill@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-5128. 

Share Your Story

EWEB Business Growth and Retention Program

• Special EWEB electric pricing
• Facility loans from EWEB
• Energy efficiency rebates and loans

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