(May 12, 2009) – Joanne Ferrara, senior director, Research, Quality & Innovation at Gilroy Foods & Flavors™, has been elected president of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA). The election marks two historical milestones—Ferrara is FEMA’s first president for the association’s second century and, importantly, the first female president. She will serve a one-year term as president.
An active member of FEMA for more than 20 years, Ferrara was elected to the position at the conclusion of FEMA’s 100th annual convention. She first joined the Board of Governors in 2000 and has been involved with a number of committees, including the science and flavor labeling committees. “I am very proud and honored to have been chosen by my peers to lead this great association,” Ferrara said. “FEMA must continue to work collectively as an industry to ensure our products maintain their reputation for quality and safety. This is the bedrock commitment our association makes to its members, and it is one I am committed to carrying out as president.”
Ferrara will focus on providing services to members and leveraging new technologies to sustain the consistent exchange of ideas in today’s fast-paced flavor business world. She hopes to use new ways of working together, such as online message boards and dedicated webinars, to further align FEMA’s work with its members’ business goals.
Ferrara works out of the Cranbury, N.J., Gilroy Foods & Flavors facility. She directs the development of custom seasoning blends and savory flavor systems for key foodservice and food manufacturing customers.
About Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA)
According to the FEMA Web site, the organization aims to “further the business interests of its members through a sound scientific program designed to promote the safe use of flavors. Through effective representation of its members, FEMA fosters a global environment in which the flavor industry can create, innovate and compete.” For more information, please visit www.femaflavor.org.
About Gilroy Foods & Flavors
Gilroy Foods & Flavors offers a broad range of value-added specialty vegetables, flavor systems and seasoning blends to help leading food manufacturers and foodservice operators create the most innovative new products and menu offerings. For more information, please visit www.gilroyfoodsandflavors.com.
About ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Gilroy Foods & Flavors is a portfolio of food ingredient brands of ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG). ConAgra Foods is one of North America’s largest packaged food companies, serving grocery retailers, restaurants and other foodservice establishments, and also supplying a portfolio of ingredients to food manufacturers. Popular ConAgra Foods brands include: Angela Mia, Banquet, Chef Boyardee, ConAgra Mills, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt’s, Lamb Weston, Marie Callender’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, and many others. For more information, please visit www.conagrafoods.com.
