Bernard Leonard, group vice president/Food Service, Tyson Foods Inc., Springdale, Arkansas, was installed today as chairman of the National Chicken Council, the trade association for the chicken production and processing industry. Lampkin Butts, president of Sanderson Farms, Laurel, Mississippi, took office as vice chairman, and Bill Lovette, president and chief operating officer of Case Foods, Troutman, North Carolina, became secretary-treasurer.

The new officers were installed during the NCC Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C., and attended by members of the industry from across the country. Officers serve one-year terms.

Source: National Chicken Council

National Turkey Federation announced 2011 conferences

The National Turkey Federation has announced two major conferences for 2011. The association’s annual convention will take place February 9-12 at the Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Ariz. The theme of the convention is “Stampeding Through Obstacles to a New Prosperity.”

“NTF’s 2011 Annual Convention will bring together exceptional speakers, committee meetings, and networking opportunities to provide members with in-depth information necessary to prepare for the year ahead. NTF’s Annual Convention is designed to find ways to constructively stampede through those obstacles so the industry can continue to prosper by marketing turkey products to consumers around the world.,” NTF said in a statement.

The 12th annual NTF Leadership Conference will be held July 17-19 at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference will provide turkey industry leaders the chance to meet with legislators and regulators in the Nation’s Capital to make them aware of how government policies being considered shape the future of the industry. NTF members will also participate in various functional committee meetings and educational workshops to collaborate and strategize on important issues that affect the turkey industry.

Source: NTF

Chipotle to become processed foods horror house at Halloween

Chipotle Mexican Grill has partnered with Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution for a $1 million fundraiser designed to highlight the horrors of eating processed food. This Halloween, Sunday, October 31st, visitors to any Chipotle restaurant between 6 p.m. and closing time dressed as a “horrifying” processed food product will get a burrito made with wholesome, naturally raised ingredients for $2. Proceeds from the “Boorito 2010: The Horrors of Processed Food” program, up to $1 million, will benefit Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.

“We have a long-standing tradition of rewarding our customers who dress up as their favorite Chipotle menu item with a free burrito on Halloween,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. “It’s always been a fun promotion, but we wanted to do more with it this year and use the opportunity to reinforce with our customers our belief in the importance of eating wholesome, unprocessed foods.”

”We have begun a national movement to change the way America eats,” said Oliver, a celebrity chef and creator of the Emmy award-winning program, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. “The campaign is all about making fresh food accessible to everyone in their schools, communities and homes. With help from Chipotle, we can help people make better food choices when they eat out.”

As part of its “Boorito 2010: The Horrors of Processed Food” program, Chipotle will also host an online costume contest, with a prize for the most horrifying processed food costume. To enter, customers can take a photo in their costumes at a Chipotle restaurant on Halloween and post it online at chipotle.com/boorito. One grand prize winner will receive $2,500, with five runners up getting $1,000 each. Twenty honorable mention winners will receive a burrito party for 20 guests at the Chipotle location of their choice.

Source: Chipotle