LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
A Strong Foundation,
100 Years of Success!
As we approach the new year, we look forward to commemorating our originators’ vision to formalize the third largest
manufacturing industry in the Northwest. What began in a
period fraught by global turmoil, evolved into the opportunity for a tight-knit association of food processors in the
remote wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. The association
was established as a collaboration of food processors to feed
our troops abroad and to contribute to the security of our
nation. New markets to the east and south were developed,
followed by growth and opportunities for our members in
the years to come.
Following WWI, Americans were weary and suspicious of
European powers. The United States’ economic reliance
turned inward and the isolationism gave rise to a boom for the
members of the association. Trade barriers were constructed
to support industrialization and growth in urban centers.
This ensuing period of prosperity, and significant movement
from agrarian jobs to manufacturing jobs, was supported
by the growth of food processing technology and markets
with little appetite and time for cooking from scratch. The
Roaring Twenties were a time of dramatic social change and
market growth. It was also a time which presented wonderful
opportunities for the Northwest food processing industry and
its professional association.
This coming of age period for the association served to
frame its aspiring future. It was during this formative time
that relationships and industry coordination became
formalized by law and driven by functionality. This
association was organized and ready to help our industry
grow and prosper.
The legacy of the Northwest Food Processors Association
was born from necessity. It took on the values of the pioneers
who had to embrace the idea that the survival of one was connected to many. The association established norms and ethics
while preserving the security of its rural communities and the
hopes for a prosperous future.
That legacy continues, although the myriad of overarching
issues requiring the association’s attention are daunting.
Over the years, NWFPA has developed a simple and inclusive
process to determine the direction of the association and
the areas in which to focus resources to secure forward
movement of the industry and the communities it serves.
Celebrating 100 Years
The processes in place have ensured these values will survive
into the future and continue to provide for a community we
have enjoyed for the past 100 years.
Happy Birthday NWFPA!
David Zepponi
President, NWFPA
2013 NWFPA Leadership Survey
For the last decade, NWFPA has reached out to the
food processing and supplier community to determine which issues are most critical to the health and
prosperity of the industry. The Leadership Survey has
grown over the years and we now reach out to more
than 7,600 individuals, with a solid reply rate of 7.8%
or 600 individual respondents.
Information collected from the Leadership Survey,
including trend data on strategic priorities, is used to
drive discussion at the committee and board levels
to establish association priorities and resource plans.
This collection process, combined with meaningful
conversation among leadership, helps association
leaders mark priorities and better steward resources. It
also serves to leverage the cooperative insight of the
committees and boards, and encourages open discussion
and a minority voice in the decision-making process.
The members have spoken, and determined the
following as association priorities for 2014:
1. Food Policy
2. Energy Issues & Policy
3. Workforce Education & Training
4. Government Relations
5. Environmental Issues & Policy
6. Sustainability Resources & Policy
NWFPA NW REPORTS – WINTER 2013 3