April 2001 - People, Places, & ...

AFOA Founding Member Passes
Dr. Harry D. Fornari, one of the founding members of the American Fats and Oils Association, passed away in late February after a two year illness with cancer. He was 81 years old.

Born in Rome, Italy, Fornari immigrated to the United States in 1939. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he embarked on a business career that included involvement in the foundation of the AFOA, then known as the Eastern Fats and Oils Association. Fornari served as the association’s president in 1969 and 1970 and later as the executive director from 1987 to 2000. He completed his Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Bologna, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Columbia University, and received a Ph.D. in history from the City University of New York. Fornari also authored several books.

Fornari is survived by his wife, Maria Louisa, and two sons and their families.

Dairy Group Elects President
Domenic Carinalli was elected as the new president of Western United Dairymen (WUD) at the board of director’s reorganization meeting in March. Carinalli succeeds Ray Souza, who stepped down after a three-year term. Other WUD members elected to the executive committee are: Tom Mendes, first vice president; Tom Barcellos, second vice president; Egidio Almeida, secretary; Rick Alvernaz, treasurer; and Joe Mendoza and Ray Souza.

EU Associations Merge
European renderers are becoming more organized with the merger of two organizations – the European Union Renderers Association (EURA) and UNEGA (the European Fat Melters Association) – into the European Fat Processors and Renderers Association (EFPRA). The merger went into effect January 1, 2001. Dr. Alberto Grosso, the past president of EURA, was appointed EFPRA’s first president.

According to Dirk Dobbelaere, the new secretary general of EFPRA, the merger had been under discussion for nearly 10 years. Besides being a financial decision to merge, the membership of the two organizations overlapped. A 15-member EFPRA board, which represents each of the organizations 15 member countries, was formed.

Foster Names VP Tech Services
Foster Farms, Livingston, CA, has appointed Dr. Gary Ades as vice president of the company’s Technical Services. Ades will head up food safety, research and development, and quality assurance programs throughout Foster Farms.

With an extensive 30-year background in food science, Ades has worked with companies worldwide offering his expertise in food safety and quality, strategic planning, as well as manufacturing issues. Ades is an active member of the Institute of Food Technologists, American Marketing Association, National Restaurant Association, and numerous other professional organizations. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Food Technology and a Ph.D. in Food Science.

Monfort Passes Away
Kenneth W. Monfort, former chief executive officer (CEO) of Monfort of Colorado, Inc., a major independent beef company, died at a Florida hospital in February after a long illness. He was 72 years old.

Monfort succeeded his father in 1970 as CEO of Monfort and turned the business into a Fortune 500 company. Part of that success included a merger with ConAgra in 1988. He continued as president of the company during the transition but retired soon after.

Pearl to Serve on Biodiesel Program
The National Biodiesel Board is in the process of developing an Accreditation Program (NBBAP), which will be designed as a cooperative and voluntary program for the accreditation of producers and marketers of biodiesel. Dr. Gary Pearl, president, Fats and Proteins Research Foundation, has been nominated to serve on the NBBAP representing the producers of biodiesel raw materials as one of the 10-member commission.

The NBBAP objective is to provide additional assurance of the quality of biodiesel produced and distributed. The Accreditation Commission will be made up of commissioners representing all segments of the industry.

Rendering Facility Suffers Fire
In late December, a massive fire that began in the $8.7 million rendering room of ConAgra Beef’s packing plant in Garden City, KS, caused extensive damage. Reports are that the fire spread quickly, damaging the rendering facility, slaughter area, and administration offices. No injuries were reported due to the fire breaking out on Christmas Day shortly before midnight.

Company spokesman Brett Fox stated that the plant has been completely shut down and a decision as to rebuilding alternatives would be made the first part of April. He added that initial reports attribute the cause of the fire to spontaneous combustion.

Tallow Rule Changed
At its last meeting, the Committee on Export and Domestic Animal Tallow and Grease Trading Rules approved a change in Section VII, Rule 32, of the American Fats and Oils Association’s trading rules for Animal Tallow and Grease (Export Contract) that was subsequently endorsed by the association’s board of directors. The change is as follows:

“Rule 32. When the seller is responsible for obtaining Bills of Lading, he shall deliver to the buyer such Bills of Lading issued in accordance with terms or conditions set forth in the “tanker voyage charter party” or, at the seller’s option, in the “berth term oil booking agreement,” and either type of Bills of Lading shall be accepted by the buyer. An exact copy of such charter party or booking agreement shall be attached to the Bill of Lading, if so requested by the buyer.”

The only change to the rule is the additional qualifying information that is indicated above in bold print. The change was effective January 1, 2001.

WCR’s Diamond Passes Away
Jack Diamond, senior chairman of the board of West Coast Reduction (WCR) Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, passed away March 25. He would have been 92 years of age April 9th.

Diamond and his son, Gordon, established WCR in 1964 and developed the company into the largest exporter of tallow in western Canada with markets worldwide. In 1975, at the invitation of the governments of China and Cuba, Diamond and Gordon participated in meetings with both countries to promote and strengthen trade relations between those countries and Canada.

Diamond had a strong relationship with employees of WCR. He was a hands-on employer and thoroughly enjoyed the contacts he made with what he called “his people.”

Cattle Industry Leaders Elected
Lynn Cornwell, a beef producer from Glasgow, MT, was installed as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) at the organization’s meeting in February. Cornwell served as NCBA president-elect in 2000 and has held numerous national and state leadership positions.

Elected as NCBA president-elect was Wythe Willey, a cattleman and farmer from Cedar Rapids, IA. Willey served as vice president of NCBA last year. Eric Davis, a cow/calf producer and feeder from Bruneau, ID, was elected vice president.