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Challenges highlighted in moving food from the field to the table

 

Companies, like farmers, face a wide variety of challenges in getting food from the fields to tables. The Ohio Farm Bureau hosted a Supply Chain Dynamics Seminar Friday featuring Ohio based food companies.

Richard Hall, executive vice president supply chain and sustainability with Bob Evans Farms, Inc. says one of their big issues is maintaining low warehouse supply in case of changes in regulations.

“One of the biggest challenges we have is to be able to minimize our on hand inventory at our plants as well as at our restaurants in the event of a consumer regulatory change. While not allowing our plants, restaurants or retails customers to experience any stock outs.” says Hall.

Kristin Cushler with Ballreich Bros., a potato chip manufacturer, says they have set standards for all the potato’s they purchase, so producers they contract with need to be able to meet those standards.

“We have long term relationships with our suppliers, and they are aware of our specs for our potatoes before we even go down that path. So they will only send us those potatoes that fall into the exact restrictions that we need in order to make our potato chips the best quality we can.” says Cushler.

The seminar was held at The Ohio Farm & Food Institute in Bowling Green.