The food industry is continuously growing which is why they are also in constant need of workers. When recession hit the economic world, the food industry survived from the perils of bankruptcy and closure. It’s because people need food in order to live and the demand for it continues to rise especially now that there are all sorts of new ingredients, high-tech equipment, and innovative food processing methods.
It’s good to know that there are many food production jobs to choose from especially if you happen to have a degree in culinary arts or business administration. You also improve your chances of getting hired if you hold years of relevant work experience and have undergone training. Among these jobs, the most popular are:1. Food Production Service Jobs
If cooking is your passion, then this job is for you. You can work as an executive chef, line cook or short-order cook in a restaurant, hotel, diner, coffeehouse, or fast food chain. The job requires cooking, preparing the day’s menu, and working with the kitchen staff.A fast-paced and challenging work environment awaits anyone who gets into these jobs. If you want to be an executive chef, you have to hold a 2-year or 4-year degree in culinary arts. However, for those aspiring to be a line cook or short-order cook, a high school diploma is enough. Chefs can earn as much as $66,000 a year while line cooks and short-order cooks earn an average of $24,000 annually.2. Food Production Management Jobs
Food production managers have varied responsibilities depending on where they work and the nature of their job. For starters, you can work in a restaurant as a manager wherein you monitor other employees and perform other duties such as ordering supplies, keeping inventories, hiring and training workers, and many more.Aside from restaurants, you can also manage food production in institutions like schools and hospitals. You help plan the menus and see to it that they meet the diets of consumers. You also see to it that cleanliness and orderliness are well-maintained. In addition, you supervise employers under you, handle complaints, and provide fast solutions to problems.3. Factory Food Processing Jobs
Working in a food factory can be stressful but fun at the same time. Many factories hire food processors to help weigh raw foods, and process, package, and document their products effectively. The job isn’t strict about educational background but you have to be able to follow directions strictly and pay attention to details.Under this job category, you may also apply as quality assurance manager as long as you hold a science-related degree. As manager, you’ll monitor other workers and ensure that food-processing standards are met.If you think you can survive in these jobs, there’s no reason not to apply. They dynamic world of food production awaits you.

In the early 20th century, in response to increasing public education about the conditions of meat packing plants and the actual ingredients of certain products, the U.S. federal government enacted the Pure Food and Drug Act. This Act required that federal agents inspect meat products, that certain drugs be labeled correctly, and that dangerous or poisonous foods and medications were not manufactured or sold. Eventually, this Act helped form the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which currently regulates the safety and effectiveness of our food and medicine.Food and drug companies are still subjected to federal inspections and must abide by certain laws set in place for the safety of consumers. Unfortunately, not all companies follow these laws, and as a result, dangerous food and drug products still hit the shelves. When you buy your food products off the shelf, you do not always know exactly where the food came from and exactly what it contains.Food RecallsTo further protect consumers, the U.S. FDA forces companies to recall unsafe or contaminated products that can cause illness or harm. Common reasons for food recalls include:Mislabeled or undeclared allergens
Possible bacterial contamination
Dangerous chemicals in food dyes, fillers, and preservatives
Contaminants in animal drugs and hormones
Foreign materials like metal or wood
Improper or mishandled packagingConsumers should stay updated about current food recalls to avoid buying dangerous products and prevent illness. Additionally, by learning about the process of food production, manufacture, and distribution in the U.S., consumers can help protect themselves from dangerous products.

Sweet Dream Begins”I both gave birth to my second child Alvin and the candy making business twenty seven years ago.”
Successfully rearing both the Patigayon children and managing her home-based business was quite a “sweet delight” for an entrepreneur awardee, Mrs. Fe I. Patigayon of Jade Food Products of Brgy. Sumilihon, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte, Caraga Region, Philippines.”Manang Fe” Patigayon (as she is fondly called), manager and a mother of five; Joselito, 29; Alvin, 27; Julie Ann, 19; Joe Fe, 17 and Jade, 10 years old humbly shared how her “binangkal making” career in Manila during the early 80’s gave birth to her multi-million worth of candy manufacturing business today-two decades of experience that brought delight not only to her but the children who loves the delicacies of Jade Food Products.’Binangkal’ Maker”Linya na nako ang pagluto ug sweets, binkga, bud-bod ug uban pa. Ako’y nakasunod sa iyang skill” (It has been our family’s’ passion to cook rice cakes and delicacies. I was the one who followed the footsteps of my mom who was very skilled in cooking native delicacies).Manang Fe, in her early 50s recollected how she got associated with the “sweets” industry. “Binangkal” maker (local muffin-like delicacy coated with sesame seeds which is a popular delicacy in the Visayas and Mindanao regions) ko niadto sa Manila. Nagsugod ko ug helper sa pagluto, peddling ug mag ‘back ride” pa sa motor sa akong amo niadto. Nainteresado ko nga nindot man diay na nga negosyo” (I was a ‘binangkal’ (a dip-fried round bread coated with sesame seeds) maker in Manila. I started as a helper and peddled the bread back-riding on a motorbike with my employer everyday. Then I became interested with the business and thought that the business was good).Love Is SweeterA year after Fe’s career as a ‘binangkal’ maker and delivery assistant, she went back to the province and met Joe Patigayon, a candy factory worker in Talamban, Cebu City. After series of ‘sweet’ courtship and finally ended in marriage, the couple decided to migrate and settled in Brgy. Tagabaca, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte in the Northern Mindanao, where their five children grew up. Since Brgy. Tagabaca relied more on agriculture, Manang Fe ventured into farming to support the family’s needs. However, since the needs began to grow and her desire to be an entrepreneur grew intensely as well, she then thought of going back to creating sweets and delicacies as an alternative livelihood to augment the family’s income.Thousand Peso Capital”Kami lang duha sa husband ko sa pagsugod sa negosyo. One thousand pesos lang amo puhunan niadtong 1982 ug wala pa’y buwan ako anak na si Alvin” (My husband and I started with just a thousand peso capital last 1982 when my son Alvin was barely a month-old). It was in Langihan (Salvador Calo Public Market), Butuan City where she first sold her goods in wholesale price to different retail stores. After years of supplying and doing business in Langihan and with a sizable number of “sukis” (valued customers) Jade Food Products became a by-word in the local market.As the business grew, Manang Fe decided to generously hand-over her Langihan “sukis” to one of her valued clients who eventually became a distributor of Jade Food Products herself. When asked why she needed to turn over her valued customers to other entrepreneurs, she just smiled and said, “Gipabor nako sa iya ka’y naluoy man ko. Hinuon na-a pa man ko’y nabilin. Ang resulta, nahimo nu-on nako sila nga mga distributors.” (I gave my valued customer the opportunity to have the distributorship business. In return, it gave me even more distributors).Meager Capital”Pangitaan nako ug paagi nga makaya ra nila (customers) ug palit ako baligya. Pang-masa ug tag piso-piso ra.” From the “piso-piso” (a peso worth of candy) of Jade Food Products, Manang Fe was able to send her children to school until her eldest son Joselito graduated from college and is now helping the business as the company’s Assistant General Manger and in charge of the operations. Joselito not only manages the company’s operations but also runs the motor pool and equipment maintenance of their service-delivery vehicles. Jade Foods “presyong masa” (mass-based price) really paved the way to support the family’s needs for education and support to the Patigayon children. Truly, Manang Fe not only raised a home-based business but the enterprise produced fruits of prolific children as well.Maternal-Approach Business Model”Gibalayan gyud nako…” (I provided housing assistance to them) (as Manang Fe was referring to one of her loyal employees). “Makatabang ko, mabuhi ko, mabuhi pud sila” (I can help, I live and they will live as well). Dili nako gustong sulohon ang tanan” (I don’t want to grab everything), she humbly answered.As a mother, Manang Fe can’t help but think beyond how she can care for her employees especially those who have been working with them for some time and helped her walked the road to a successful enterprise.With a handful number of full-time and part-time workers (re-packers), Manang Fe does not only pay their salaries but also provided non-wage benefits such as providing them with free board and lodging assistance as perks. In addition, some of the regular employees were given housing assistance which they are only required to pay the cost in terms of a “data-data” (installment basis).Just like a mother cares for her children, Manang Fe takes care of her valued employees. Her motherhood management style resulted to loyalty from her employees and eventually improved their quality of life.Love Your NeighborTrue to what the Bible says, “Love you neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:32), Manang Fe exemplified a life of a loving and generous neighbor by providing them with free transportation services at times when they needed assistance especially during emergency situations.At present Manang Fe has expanded her business from farming, manufacturing & managing their public utility jeepney. Whenever there is a need for emergency transportation assistance, Manang Fe is always there to lend a helping hand to her neighbors in times of needs – free of charge.”Nabuhi mi ani (home-based business) ug nakatabang pud ni ug dako sa uban labi sa mga nanay nako nga silingan”. (We lived through a home-based business and it helped us a lot even our neighbors).At present, Manang Fe is not only involved with community service to her neighbors by providing free rides but she also gives them opportunities for livelihood especially to the unemployed mothers. Jade Food Products employees comprise both wage-earning employees and or “pakyaw” (piece-rate) workers.From a capital of One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000) in 1982, the company’s gross sales are now estimated to reach a quarter of a million every month! From its phenomenal growth, truly the Biblical principle of loving our neighbors produced fruits of blessings to the Patigayon family.Entrepreneur of the Year”Advance mi sa pabayad ug amo mga contributions (like Philhealth. Para ra man pud sa akong kapamilya ug mga empleyado ko and pagbayad ug ensaktong balayranan. Maka-harvest man gud mi ug benefits, doble-doble pa.”(We always pay are workers’ social security premiums in advance, in fact we do exceed providing other benefits to them).When asked how’s her involvement with government agencies such as DTI and the LGU and her views as an entrepreneur towards the agencies’ support to Jade Food Products, Manang Fe proudly replied that they’re actively participating and advance in paying their obligations and contributions both to the local and other government line agencies.As a home-based enterprise situated in the midst of a rural barangay, seldom do we find an entrepreneur as pro-active in outlook like Manang Fe about her attitude towards supporting the government especially through payments of obligations and contributions at the same time understanding how it can help employees and the enterprise in return.No wonder, Manang Fe’s effort was eventually recognized as the “Gawad Entrepreneur” awardee from the “Tulong Sa Tao Project” spearheaded by our country’s former President, Fidel V. Ramos last 1997 in partnership with DTI Agusan del Norte.From then on, the recognition she received inspired her more to be of support to the government’s programs especially on entrepreneurial development projects organized by the local Department of Trade and Industry and other related government agencies.Jade Food Products indeed not only delighted its customers but became an inspiration to other home-based entrepreneurs in the community.Sweet Dreams Never StopAt the age of 54, Manang Fe, an award-winning entrepreneur, fulfilled mother of five productive children, supportive wife and a woman who endured the obstacles of life still dreams of developing and expanding the business of Jake Food Products at the same tine continue her farming activities despite of the blissfulness she’s now experiencing.She’s not only concerned with just the profit side of the business but now gearing toward sharing her blessings more to the family and community.She envisioned being an inspiration to the budding home-based women entrepreneurs in Butuan City. Her livelihood advocacy is for the home-based women entrepreneurs and unemployed mothers to help their family’s’ income by being more productive and not rely on dole-outs or debts. Manang Fe lovingly shared, “Mag-tuon pud sila (especially the housewives) ug negosyo, dili kay mag-sige ug utang, mubarog sila sa unsa’y makatabang sa ilang kaugalingon ug pamilya.” (Housewives need to learn to be entrepreneurs and not keep on borrowing money or be indebted).As a successful woman entrepreneur, Manang Fe still dreams of more quality time with her family. “Gusto sa akong mga anak nga awto na ang akong dribun.” (I’d like to drive a car still). Manang Fe shared how her children wanted her to drive a car instead of the usual delivery truck that she used to drive. Then smiled as she shared and ended the interview session with a slight humor, “Bisan sa una pa, manager na, driver pa gyud ko” (Even before, I’ve been a manager and driver). She ended our interview with sweet laughter.

If you are one of the many people who cook, make preserves and pickles or maybe even bake then you may have considered the possibility of turning your talents into a money making endeavor by selling your food products. It may be the case that your friends have urged you to sell the homemade preserves you make, or maybe you could just use a little extra income. However, developing your own food product is not as easy as it sounds. You may have a fan base among friends and family, but is your cooking really good enough to compete with others on the shelves of your local store?Finding a Unique Selling PointOne of the key things to consider before attempting to sell your product is that there is a massive amount of competition out there. It is important to honestly evaluate your product and decide what, if anything, makes it better than the others already out there? This may not necessarily be based on taste. Your product could have one of many unique selling products. Perhaps you use only organic ingredients and recycled packaging? Is there an unusual flavor combination that no one else has used? Does your product have an interesting story behind it? The important thing to remember is that you cannot rely on the taste alone. It is naive to think that jut because you think it tastes better then everyone else will feel the same.Selling Your StoryOne of the best ways for a small, artisan food producer to get their products on the market is by placing them in independent gourmet stores rather than aiming for national grocery chains. These smaller stores cannot compete with large stores on pricing, and instead will look for more interesting and unique products. Those with a story attached are particularly popular, so if you have a heartwarming story about using your grandmother’s recipes or stumbling upon your flavor combination by accident then use it to your advantage as a sales tool. Another popular angle is the ‘local kid done good’ story so if you are a local manufacturer using local products then this can be a great advantage to you. Another alternative is to sell your product mail order or at farmer’s markets.Asking For HelpThe majority of us would not have the first idea about how to get a food business off the ground which is why asking for help is really important. If you are looking for a starting point, then it is useful to visit the food sciences department at a local university as they often like to get involved in community projects. This is a great way to get independent feedback on your product and the local market. If you are ready to take your product nationwide, then engaging the services of a broker to deal with stockists can also be useful.Of course there are also a range of legal requirements to consider. The food must be tested for safety and hygiene standards and you may need to get some commercial kitchen space, but these initial considerations are a good place to start if you are seriously considering selling your own food products.

Change is inevitable. It is impossible to progress without making necessary changes. What seems to be good and sufficient for today, may not be adequate for tomorrow. All aspects of our lives, starting from food to clothes, leisure to entertainment, jobs to careers need to be changed at some point of time for making advancements. Designers, providers and manufacturers of every product inevitably fail to meet the expectations of their customers after a certain point of time. Even when the products are absolutely up to the mark, manufacturers need to make changes to cater successfully to the changes in the tastes, preferences and requirements of customers.Smart manufacturers recognize the significance of making changes and introducing new products in the market. They constantly strive to understand the changing tastes and needs of their customers in order to update their products efficiently. When it comes to our food habits, they keep on changing with the passage of time. The increasing popularity of ready made food products and a variety of junk food has marked a noticeable change in peoples’ food habits in recent times. Increasing work pressure and scarcity of time has led to a decrease in peoples’ tendency to prepare nutritious food and a tendency to opt more and more for ready made and junk foods. These changes in peoples’ lifestyles call for new food products that can successfully cater to their needs and preferences of customers.When you are introducing a new food product in the market, it is necessary to keep in mind certain important aspects in order to make it a success. Let us discuss some of the significant factors:

Innumerable products are introduced in the market every year. The key to success is to make sure that the food product you manufacture must be something new and innovative, which would successfully cater to the requirements of the customers. It must fill an empty space in the market in order to become a success.

Make a thorough research to obtain necessary information regarding the local laws related to retail food jobs. The product you introduce in the market must be eligible to pass regulatory standards.

It is extremely important to make a thorough research of the market. You must obtain detailed information regarding every aspect related to a successful marketing of your product starting from the packaging to the store where you would sell your product to your target customers. You must know your target customers and their tastes and preferences in order to market your products more efficiently.

Make a list of all the necessary aspects including the services, proprietary tools and techniques and materials required to manufacture the new food product and market it to target customers. Considering these important aspects help in knowing the costs involved in the entire process, and also the various ways you can cut down on the costs while still maintaining the standard of the product.
Besides keeping in mind the above mentioned factors, it is also extremely important to take good care of sanitation and the local laws. It is also overly important to plan meticulously and carefully to carry out the entire manufacturing and marketing process efficiently and successfully.

Out in California many consumers are concerned with what they are putting in their bodies. They are concerned with the food supply, and there is ample reason to be concerned. For instance, many of the products we have coming from China are less than adequate, especially fish. Further, many of the Fortune 500 companies and food processors buy active ingredients coming from China and elsewhere. How do we know all those ingredients are safe, remember, we are putting them into our bodies?It isn’t like we’re talking about lead-based paint in toys, drywall with chemicals in it, or pet food. We are talking about even greater potentially serious health risks if the FDA does not inspect all of this stuff coming over as food products from all these other nations. It turns out they only inspect one to 2% of what comes over here from China. Of what they inspect as much as 60% is rejected, and realize I am not necessarily picking on China, it’s one of many countries American consumers buy food products or ingredients from.You see, in the day and age of universal health care in the United States, we just can’t afford to take those risks, we can’t afford to, not even to mention the challenges with integrity of our food supply, and the ethical nature of this conversation.Now then, there was an interesting article in the Business First Albuquerque on May 28, 2013 titled; “Mexico threatens trade measures,” by Gary Gerew. Okay so, let’s talk about this shall we?It seems to me that Mexico is short-sided on this as people in the US will not boycott Mexican beef. We need the labels to prevent Chinese products from entering our shelves as China has no quality controls. Mexico will make more money later if they allow this. Further Mexican importers attempting to label imported Chinese food products and reprocessing them, must think twice otherwise the boycotts will be huge.US citizens want quality and safety in their food, Mexico can produce that, and there is a huge market here, they should thus make money and do it right and not worry about the labels – heck 65% of the people in Los Angeles are Hispanic. The states of Texas and AZ are at 55% now – there is a huge market, don’t worry about it I say. Look at the opportunity and just the sheer numbers and demographics.Did you know that Mexico has a port which was funded and built by the Chinese to bring in products? If you are a smart Mexican businessman you buy ingredients from China mix it with your own food products, and then send them to United States under a special NAFTA treaty which gives you preference. Again, let me ask who’s inspecting all of this stuff, and how do we know that Chinese food ingredients are not getting into our food inadvertently.It is okay if there are Chinese ingredients, as long as they are inspected, and I do believe the consumer has the right to know. Why is it that small business people must list every single chemical they use in their business (OSHA Laws) and labor unions demand the right to know due to health risks, but we don’t have the same labeling criteria for the very food we feed our children, our family members, and the food we eat ourselves?I want you to think about that. If it costs a little bit more to have safe and healthy ingredients, then that is the cost we’re going to have to pay, because we cannot afford additional healthcare costs down the road when you get sick, cancer, or come down with some other disease.

Oil and petroleum products play a major part in every aspect of food production from synthetic fertiliser and pesticide production through processing and packaging right to final delivery in the shops.The industry is one of the biggest users of fossil fuels and therefore is often at the mercy of fluctuations in oil and petrol prices as well as being both energy inefficient and unsustainable as reserves of oil in the world are gradually being depleted.It is calculated that it takes more than 400 gallons of oil to feed one person for a year in the USA. Approximately a third of this goes to the manufacture of fertilisers, while another fifth is used in farm machinery. Add in the costs of the machinery that processes and packages the food and the transportation costs to the point of sale and these together explain that figure of 400 gallons per person per year.In terms of energy conversion this food production system means that it takes three calories of energy for every single calorie of edible food produced on average. The difference when this calculation is applied to grain-fed beef is an astonishing 35 calories of energy for every one calorie of beef. Both these figures exclude the additional cost of energy input involved in food processing and transportation.Those who advocate sustainable and organic farming point out that it is the industrial system of food production that accounts for what is argued to be such an inefficient use of energy.The chief culprit, they say, is the amount of energy that goes into producing artificial fertilisers and pesticides, derived from such things as nitrogen or natural gas. It is calculated that as much as 40% of the energy that goes into the food production system goes into this part of the process.It is also argued that the need for these products is precisely because of the structure of the food production system, both meat and vegetables, which have become increasingly produced in concentrated and specific areas of many countries.Over time, such concentrated activity has depleted the nutrition of the soil, damaged ecosystems and polluted water supplies. There have also been increasing concerns about the long-term effects on human health of the residues of such chemicals in food.Systems such as integrated pest management, organic farming and the use of more natural, low-chemical agricultural products are part of moving to more sustainable farming methods.Using natural sources for biopesticides, yield enhancers and biofungicides can protect the land and crops and increase crop yields while leaving little or no residue in the food produced and this is the focus of the research and products being developed by biopesticides developers.Such low-chem agricultural products are gradually replacing the older generation of artificial fertilisers and pesticides which are being withdrawn or phased out by many governments around the world. However, the process of getting this new, healthier generation of products tested, registered and licensed is both costly and lengthy. The process has also not so far been harmonised across the world and the need to do so is becoming increasingly urgent.Other measures to reduce the energy inefficiency in food production include buying locally and organically produced food as well as reducing the amount of packaging used. While plainly consumers can take action about what they buy for themselves, they can also pressure the bigger food store chains to source more locally as well as to cut back on packaging.Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers

Let’s face it. Organic food is the biggest trend to hit the food scene in a long time. And it is shaping up to change the way that we eat and the way we acquire our food forever. Not only does it mean more nutritious food, but it also means nature can sustain our need for food better. It’s clearly the better and saner option. You may or may not know everything about organic food, but it sure stimulates your curiosity. There are a lot of reasons why organic food can change the landscape of food production worldwide. And admittedly, those reasons are for the better.There are a lot of reasons why food can change the way we eat. When you take a close look at organic food, it’s actually better than your conventional food in just about every conceivable measurement. First, we should take a look at the biggest point of contention: food quality. In terms of quality, organic food is undisputedly is the product of higher quality. Its texture, color, and other qualities you take a look at when choosing food is significantly better than their non-organic counterparts. Perhaps most importantly, taste and nutritional value of food are significantly boosted when they are farmed the organic way.There are also reasons why food is considered a product of a more sustainable form of farming. This is mainly because the natural system of growth and reproduction for both plants and animals are not compromised in any way. It’s been said time and again that artificial farming aids such as fertilizers, feeds, pesticides, and antibiotics are harming both plants and animals utilized as sources of food. But beyond its adverse effect to living organisms, it cannot be understated what its effects are in the ecosystem. Not only are their residues deposited within the tissues of plants and animals, but these same residues poison natural resources necessary to maintain life such as water, soil, and air. In organic farming, use of these artificial products is not necessary anymore, and that means great news for ecosystems.Perhaps you already know why food is considered the better and saner choice. But the next question is, where can you actually get them? At first glance, organic food sounds obscure, meaning you can concede that you’ll have a tough time acquiring them. But that’s not always the case. In fact, getting organic food is becoming easier because more farmers are seeing the advantages of farming food the organic way. You can buy organic produce on both markets and groceries. In fact, there’s often a separate section for food. Add to that the emerging number of specialized organic food dealers, and your options are plentiful all of a sudden.Those are just some of the reasons why food is causing a huge commotion both in the news and in the market. Its significance and potential value cannot be denied or even understated. It’s only a matter of time before the methods take over our farms and the produce takes over our stalls and dining tables. And the world will be a better place because of it.