Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/17/10

Offering consumers a wide variety of turkey products should be part of the industry's profitability strategy, according to Yubert Envia, newly elected chairman of the National Turkey Federation.

Envia is vice president of turkey and prepared foods for Livingtson, Calif.-based Foster Farms. He was elected NTF chairman at a board of directors meeting last weekend.

"I guess I could say that I am somewhat optimistic about our future profitability," Envia said during his acceptance speech, "but I don't think we should be relying on production as an indicator and instead should be looking more at capturing a larger share of the consumer's interest by offering them the widest possible variety of turkey products in the marketplace."

He also spoke of the numerous regulatory and legislative issues that will continue to confront the turkey industry, including environmental regulations, antibiotic use in animal agriculture and changes to the food safety inspection system. He encouraged NTF members to play an important part in the public affairs process.

The NTF board also elected Richard Huisinga, president and COO, Willmar Poultry Company, as vice chairman; and Steve Willardsen, president, Cargill Value Added Meats, as secretary-treasurer. Walter "Gator" Pelletier, corporate secretary, Butterball, LLC, assumes the position of immediate past-chairman.

Reelected to the executive committee were John Burkel, Northern Pride, Inc.; Gary Cooper, Cooper Farms; Jihad Douglas, Aviagen Turkeys; Paul Hill, West Liberty Foods; Ted Seger, Farbest Foods, Inc.; and Carl Wittenburg, Protein Alliance, Inc.

Elected to the executive committee were John Reicks, Sara Lee Food and Beverage, and Ron Prestage, Prestage Farms and appointed to the executive committee were Jim Leighton, Perdue Farms, Inc., and Petri Papinaho, Jennie-O Turkey Store.
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