FINAL. The meeting was called to order at 4:37 PM by A.J. Erskine, Chair. Eight board members were present which represented a quorum.

Transcription

1 FINAL Minutes of the Virginia Marine Products Board Meeting Virginia Institute of Marine Science Watermen s Hall, Director s Conference Room Gloucester Pt., VA The meeting was called to order at 4:37 PM by A.J. Erskine, Chair. Eight board members were present which represented a quorum. Introductions of those present. A motion was made by Pete Nixon to approve the minutes from the September 17, 2013 meeting. The motion was seconded by Meade Amory. All eight members present voted in favor to approve the minutes from the September 17, 2013 as mailed. Present: A.J. Erskine, Dan Kauffman, David Gray, Kelly Lewis Minor, Pete Nixon, Bill Purcell, Cameron Chalmers and Meade Amory. Also attending, Mike Hutt, Joe Cardwell and Linda Teuton, Melissa Ball Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Kim Huskey Executive Director of the Virginia Seafood Council, Joe Cimino Virginia Marine Resources Commission and Charlie Teuton, Linda s husband. Absent: Kevin Wade, Heather Lusk and Clarke Morton.

2 Page 2 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Asian Seafood Exposition, Hong Kong, September 3-5, 2013 Mike Hutt was a co-activity manager for the event that is sponsored by SUSTA. This was a great show. We returned with 64 trade leads. Five companies participated at this show. H.M.Terry and J.C. Walker Brothers from Virginia exhibited this year. They felt very strongly that they would receive new business and shipments from this show for fresh and frozen shellfish going into Asia. We had a lot of interest in scallops, conch, some ray leads and croaker and naturally everyone that comes in wants blue crab. One-on-one pre-arranged meetings were set up for the companies. We displayed conch, blue crab, sea scallops, clams, oysters and a variety of finfish. VDACS representative, David Wong and Emma Oh helped with this show Strafford Hall TOGA (Tidewater Oyster Growers Association), September 21-22, 2013 Wine and Oyster Event. Seven oyster growers were present. Joe Cardwell distributed educational materials. Virginia Seafood Council Shag at the Hampton Food Bank, September 26, Joe Cardwell, Mike Hutt and Linda Teuton attended to help at this event. Kim Huskey, Executive Director for the Virginia Seafood Council thanked the board for their participation. Wegman s Promotion Dan Kauffman from the Virginia Seafood Lab stated that this was a good promotion to promote farm grown shrimp. The buyers were given samples with Mike Hutt helping Dan. They had 400 lbs. of shrimp to sell and sold out. Virginia Seafood Council Norfolk Harbor Party, October 10, Kim Huskey said that this event was real gully washer. The event almost got shut down, but ended up still serving 853 people. Barcelona Seafood Exposition, October 22-24, 2013 At the request of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Director of Marketing, Charles Green, Mike Hutt was asked to exhibit at this exposition to promote Virginia seafood. Scallops, squid and finfish were displayed. All expenses were paid for by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Charles Green helped Mike with preparing scallop medallions, scallops, and ray for sampling at the show. We brought 49 trade leads back that were shared with the seafood industry. This was a really great show and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be doing the show again next year. VDACS will be paying for all expenses to exhibit at this show.

3 Page 3 America s Food & Beverage Show, Miami, FL October, 2013 The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reserved a 30 booth space at this show and they provided the Board with 10 feet of space, at no cost to the board. We shucked aquaculture oysters and sampled red crab cocktail claws. We also displayed a full line of Virginia seafood products. Joe and Mike both attended this show. This is the second year for this show. We returned with 44 trade leads, of that, 23 trade leads were interested in oysters, The leads were distributed to the industry. 4 th Annual Virginia ½ Shell Oyster Tasting, TOGA Oyster Tasting, Gloucester, VA, November 9, Joe Cardwell, and Deborah Pratt demonstrated how to shuck an oyster. The board has participated with the event for the last three years Attendees are able to sample six oysters from the different stands set up by the local oyster growers. This is a very educational event. Tickets are sold to this event and the event has grown over the years. There were 200 attendees at the tasting. If anyone is interested in participating next year, contact TOGA. Busan Seafood Exposition, Busan, Korea, November, Mike Hutt did not participate at this show, but helped SUSTA recruit companies to exhibit. Florida and Maryland representatives manned the booth at the show. Four companies exhibited. Attendance was off this year. Value-Added Seafood Conference November 8, 2013 Dan Kauffman said that the Virginia Tech Seafood Value-Added Workshop was held on November 8 th at the Culinary Institute of Virginia. There were speakers from Clearwater Seafood, Wanchese Fish Company, Sunburst Trout, U.S. Naval Food Supply, Registrar Corp. and others. The workshop was cosponsored by Virginia and North Carolina Sea Grant, the University of Maryland and Delaware and the Virginia Marine Products Board. Forty people attended. Potomac River Fisheries, November 14, 2013 Mike Hutt had spoke with Ellen Crosby about a spat on shell pilot program. Fifteen watermen from Maryland and Virginia participated. They planted 2,000 bushels of spat on shell oysters. Aquaculture Oyster Conference, November 15-16, Joe Cardwell and Mike Hutt attended this conference and had an exhibit. The focus of this conference was on the timeliest issues for both the shellfish aquaculture and the finfish/prawn culture industries. Presentations were made by members of the academic community, industry, technology specialist and government officials. Expenses were paid from the Aquaculture Oyster Grant Funds. SUSTA Fall Conference, Austin, Texas December 3-6, 2013 Mike Hutt attended the Fall SUSTA Conference for staff training to train and received updates on the MAP Program. The meeting was held in Austin, TX. No general funds were used. Expenses will be paid for by the Southern United State Trade Association.

4 Page 4 Miller Productions of Virginia Sponsorship for CD Breathing Life into the Chesapeake Bay Oysters, Boats & Men. At the last meeting A.J. Erskine made a motion that staff should discuss the level of sponsorship and what it would mean to the board. Heather Lusk seconded the motion. The board gave Miller Productions $2, toward the creation of the video. Dave Miller gave the board a discount for the amount that they invoiced. This video has aired two or three times and will also be aired in Mike Hutt said that he s received positive feedback and it was a very educational piece. SUSTA s Canadian Buyers Mission, International Boston Seafood Show, March, 2014 Buyer s from Canada will attend the show and then have one-onone meetings with Virginia seafood processors. The SUSTA consultants will recruit pre-qualified buyers and come to the show with them. NEW BUSINESS Virginia Tourism Oyster Tasting Saude Creek Winery, November 7, 2013 Mike Hutt. This event had five media present from all over the United States. The oyster sampling was from seven different regions. It was good press coverage. Rose & Crown Restaurant, Oyster Tasting, New Kent, December 12, 2013 Mike Hutt and Joe Cardwell attended and shucked oysters for the event. About people attended at $25.00 a plate. Very educational event. VDACS Consultants from Canada Seafood Industry Tour, December 18-20, 2013 Mike Hutt was asked by VDACS to give two buyers from Argyle in Canada a seafood tour. Agribusiness Reception, January 9, 2014 This is an educational event. Last year it was very well attended. Chef Meeting, University of Richmond, January 13, 2014 Seven oyster regions will be represented for an oyster tasting. Virginia Seafood Council Legislative Reception, January 22, 2014 Virginia Science Museum, January 23, 2014 This program will be sponsored by the Virginia Sea Grant. Mike and Joe will attend this program. General Assembly Program is being planned for next year February 17-21, The space that we used for this year s event was not available. This event was well received by the legislators and they re looking forward to the event for next year. International Boston Seafood Show, Boston, MA March 16-18, 2014 The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has paid for the exhibit space for a 20 foot booth. We ve received more support from the Department of Agriculture than we have ever had in the past. This is a big savings for the board. The actual name of the show is now called the North American Seafood Exposition. Mike and Joe will be attending and displaying Virginia finfish and shellfish to promote Virginia seafood. Virginia Food & Beverage Show, Richmond, VA March 26, 2014 The board will have a full display of finfish and shellfish as well as sampling.

5 Page 5 SUSTA Spring Conference, New Orleans March 26-28, 2014 Mike Hutt will attend this conference. European Seafood Exposition, Brussels, Belgium May 6-8, 2013 Mike Hutt will be the Activity Manager for SUSTA for this event. We ll have more space available at the show. If anyone is interested in displaying at this show, please contact Mike Hutt. Linda s Retirement January 1, Mike Hutt and the board thanked Linda for all her support of the board for the last 23 years and wished Linda and Charlie much luck on their move to Tennessee. The new employee that will take Linda s place is Cheron Bright and she ll start work on December 30, INTERESTED PARTY REPORTS Virginia Marine Institute of Marine Science No one present Virginia Marine Resources Commission Joe Cimino said there was no new news to report. Virginia Seafood Council Kim Huskey said that the Seafood Council had been pretty busy with festivals and the Congressional Seafood Tour. Public Comments REPORTS No public comments. Finance The amount of carryover to fiscal years is $169, Mike Hutt reported that as of the end of October, 2013 the board had a cash balance of $91, COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Mike Hutt reported that VDACS has really supplied a tremendous amount of support for the board. Chesapeake Ray Update There is more interest from companies in ray at this time. There is a company in China that would like to receive samples. Mike Hutt reported that the board still has some ray grant funds available to send samples and to promote the ray.

6 Page 6 Aquaculture Oysters Update Joe Cardwell, Mike Hutt Joe Cardwell reported that we now have 53 growers in the directory. Congressional Staff Tour Mike Hutt stated that it would cost $3,500 for the bus for the congressional staffers. The bus would pick them up in Washington and return them after the tour of Virginia processors. The board would furnish one night in a hotel, as well as food expenses. It would be a hands on tour of processors and distributors. We would show them clams, oysters, crab, finfish, ray and scallops. A.J. Erskine mentioned that it is a challenge for the congressional staffers to get approval to attend such an event. Meade Amory made a motion to do the congressional staff tour and Pete Nixon seconded the motion. All eight board members who were present voted in favor to sponsor a congressional staff tour. Mike Hutt mentioned that if any board member wants to complete a Travel Expense Reimbursement form for their travel expenses for coming to the board meeting, please call Linda Teuton. She ll complete the form for you and submit it to Accounting. Dan Kauffman made a motion to adjourn the board meeting and Pete Nixon seconded the motion. All eight members present voted in favor to adjourn the meeting at 5:45 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Mike Hutt Executive Director A.J. Erskine Chairman