Gold Medal Finalists Announced

ATLANTA — Orkin Commercial Services announced 12 U.S. facilities as 2007 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award finalists for their work to uphold vigilant sanitation, regular and accurate documentation, prompt adherence to structural recommendations, and staff participation in IPM training sessions. 

“The Gold Medal Awards are all about partnership,” said Orkin Director of Quality Systems Zia Siddiqi. “These finalists consistently go above and beyond to keep up their end of their IPM programs.”

The 2007 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award finalists are:

• Alcan Packaging, Milwaukee, Wis. — A specialty packaging concern serving the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, beauty and tobacco markets
• Andes Candies, Delavan, Wis. — Manufacturers of a variety of boxed and bagged candy products
• Avgol Nonwoven, Mocksville, N.C. — A producer of lightweight, non-woven materials for use in hygiene items such as disposable baby and adult diapers and a variety of feminine hygiene products
• Barry Callebaut, Saint Albans, Vt. — A manufacturer of high-quality cocoa, chocolate and confectionery products
• Case Farms, Winesburg, Ohio — A poultry plant 
• The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, Calabasas Hills, Calif. — A manufacturer of fine-baked desserts that provides more than 50 varieties of its signature cheesecakes and other baked desserts to The Cheesecake Factory restaurants, as well as a variety of products to the wholesale club segment, retail markets and foodservice distributors
• Cloverland Farms Dairy, Baltimore — Producers of dairy and juice products 
• Corn Products, Bedford Park, Ill. — A manufacturer of dextrose and a supplier of starches, sweeteners and other ingredients
• Farbest Brands, Plain City, Ohio — Custom manufacturer of liquid and dry products and distributor of specialty food ingredients
• Momence Packing, Momence, Ill. — Meat packing and processing plant 
• Morton Salt Company, South Hutchinson, Kan. — A producer of salt for grocery, water softening, ice control, agricultural and industrial uses
• Sara Lee Foodservice, Harahan, La. — A supplier of coffee and tea products to a broad base of foodservice operators throughout North America

Award winners will be announced in September, and award presentations will be conducted at the winning facilities.

Orkin also announced that Ann Arbor, Mich.-based auditing firm NSF Cook & Thurber has joined the 2007 Gold Medal IPM Partner Awards as a co-presenter.

In addition to sponsoring the event with Orkin and the IPM Institute of North America, Cook & Thurber nominated Jim Bail, its assistant director of food processors programs, to serve on the awards jury.

“Comprehensive pest management is an integral part of a sound food safety program,” Bail said in a release. “NSF Cook & Thurber is proud to partner with Orkin and the IPM Institute of North America to recognize those facilities that take their food safety and pest management efforts so seriously.”