2007 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners Announced

ATLANTA — Eight companies showing extraordinary commitment to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) partnerships were named 2007 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award winners by Orkin, the IPM Institute of North America and NSF Cook & Thurber.

A pest management approach that stresses multiple methods of control, IPM emphasizes minimizing pesticide use. The Gold Medal IPM Partner Awards specifically honor companies that have shown the greatest dedication to making IPM work at their sites through vigilant sanitation, prompt adherence to structural pest management recommendations, diligent record-keeping and staff participation in IPM training sessions.

An awards jury of IPM experts selected the winning facilities from an elite group of 64 nominees throughout the United States and Canada. All of the nominees employ Orkin’s Gold Medal Protection, a comprehensive IPM service that emphasizes quality assurance and documentation.

“Forming a partnership is the first step to implementing an IPM program,” said Orkin Director of Quality Systems Zia Siddiqi. “This year’s award winners are proof that the results of partnership — more effective IPM programs and better audit scores — are well worth it.”
 
The 2007 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award winners are:

United States:

• Barry Callebaut (Saint Albans, Vt.) — The world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa, chocolate and confectionery products.
• Case Farms, Inc. (Winesburg, Ohio) — A leading poultry processing plant.
• Farbest Brands (Plain City, Ohio) — Custom manufacturer of liquid and dry products and distributor of specialty food ingredients.
• Morton Salt Company (South Hutchinson, Kan.) — America’s leading producer of salt for grocery, water softening, ice control, agricultural and industrial uses.

Canada:

• Jones Packaging Inc. (London, Ontario) — A world-class provider of premier packaging solutions and innovations for more than 115 years.
• Maidstone Bakeries (Brantford, Ontario) — A world-class, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for bakery goods.
• Neilson Dairy (Ottawa, Ontario) — A world-class manufacturer of fresh milk and aseptic beverages.
• Parmalat Dairy & Bakery Inc. (Laverlochere, Quebec) — A producer of butter and milk powders.

Now in its fourth year in the United States and third year in Canada, the Gold Medal IPM Partner Awards began as an effort by Orkin and the IPM Institute of North America to encourage the use of IPM and other environmentally friendly practices.

“By considering non-chemical methods of control first, IPM helps promote healthy environments,” said Dr. Thomas Green, president of the IPM Institute of North America. “We’re excited to see so many facilities using IPM to such great success.”

This year, NSF Cook & Thurber joined the awards as a co-presenter, bringing to the program its food-safety auditing expertise.

“Protection of the food supply is critical,” said Jim Bail, assistant director of food processor programs, NSF Cook & Thurber. “These facilities have gone a step above to create IPM partnerships that help ensure their products are produced in a safe, quality manner.”