September/October 2022 - 4

THE PROCESS
KRISTEN KAZARIAN
Changing Course
In today's world, the hustle and bustle of everyday
life gets in the way of introspection. During the fall
season especially - right before the holidays -
introspection is a good thing. And we expect 2023
to be a welcome mat for innovation.
Just two years ago we were dealing with a new
Kristen Kazarian
Managing Editor
pandemic that changed the course of the food and
beverage industry. As we know, it has been a rollercoaster
with the never-ending supply chain issues,
consumer trends going crazy in different ways and
of course, increased labor challenges.
As recently as the '90s and maybe into the early 2000s, high schoolers
were told - by both their parents and school counselors - to go to
college. The thought was, go to college to get a decent, good-paying
job. Hightail it to today, and there are jobs galore in the trades, be it
plumbing, electrical and engineering and at produce suppliers and
equipment manufacturers.
The jobs that " people don't want, " the monotonous and repetitive
work, can be handled by robots or cobots, sure. But what about the
remaining jobs? We have a generation that is retired or ready to retire
with Millennials and Gen Z not wanting to work in the trades.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that overall employment of
food processing equipment workers is projected to grow 5% from 2020
to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited
growth, about 32,600 openings for food processing equipment workers
are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those
openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who
transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
So what can you do? If your company hasn't invested in automated
equipment, now is the time. The simple, yet daunting repetitive tasks
such as picking and placing and direct food handling, as well as
automated guided vehicles in the warehouse in place of forklifts, can
take a load off the employment need. There will always be a need (at
least in our future) for humans to work in the plants. Semi- and fully
automated equipment just makes it easier to get the " help " faster,
easier and with very minimal error if any.
Another tip: training, training, training. Make sure new employees
are trained for their specific job. Make them a part of the process and
own that process. Want more tips? Read " The New Labor " feature in
these pages.
A great time to look at automated equipment (and every other type
of processing and packaging equipment) is at PACK EXPO, Oct. 23-26.
If you are attending, email me and let me know which booth so I can
check out your products.
Office 616-887-9008
Editorial
Managing Editor Kristen Kazarian, 616-520-2144
kkazarian@greatamericanpublish.com
Editorial Director Zeke Jennings, 616-520-2159
zjennings@greatamericanpublish.com
Advertising Sales
Associate Publisher Andrea Schafer, 616-520-2139
prosales@produceprocessing.net
Production
Client Success Kim Meyers, 616-520-2137
Representative kmeyers@greatamericanpublish.com
Senior Graphic Greg Ryan, 616-520-2145
Designer proproduction@produceprocessing.net
Associate Amanda Mackey, 616.520.2157
Creative Director amackey@greatamericanpublish.com
Creative Director Allison McKenzie, 616.520.2142
amckenzie@greatamericanpublish.com
Circulation
Circulation Becky Stovall, 616-520-2138
circulation@produceprocessing.net
Corporate
CEO & Publisher Matt McCallum, 616-520-2133
publisher@produceprocessing.net
COO & CMO Kimberly Baker, 616-520-2135
kbaker@greatamericanpublish.com
CFO Deb Carnes, 616-520-2169
dcarnes@greatamericanpublish.com
Editorial Advisory Board
Adrienne Seiling, American Frozen Food Institute
Rudi Groppe, Heinzen Manufacturing International
Lou Cooperhouse, Rutgers Food Innovation Center
Sherrie Rosenblatt, Can Manufacturers Institute
Leonard Batti, Taylor Farms, Salinas, California
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POSTMASTER:
Email me at:
kkazarian@greatamericanpublish.com
44 SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2 0 2 2
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September/October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September/October 2022
