Press Release Index
2007
2006
2005
2008 Press Releases
July 30, 2008
USDA Inaction on CRP Unacceptable
Washington D.C. - “USDA missed another opportunity to relieve American families from spiraling food costs,” said ABA President and CEO Robb MacKie. “ABA is extremely disappointed by Secretary Schafer’s decision to not release even a modest amount of land from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Once again, government inertia prevails at the expense of American families.” More...
July 17, 2008
ABA Urges Immediate Government Action to Lower Consumer Food Prices
Washington D.C. – “Congress and the Bush Administration must act now in order to stave off further increases in consumer food prices,” said ABA Chairman Kenneth “Chip” Klosterman, President, Klosterman Baking Company. “Consumers are at their breaking point – ABA strongly urges members of Congress to take action before they return home for the August break to alleviate the increasing food cost burden upon the American consumer.” More...
July 8 , 2008
Recent USDA Actions Not Enough to Alleviate the Food Crisis Washington D.C. - “ABA strongly urges the USDA and the Bush Administration to take immediate action to help alleviate the food and commodity crisis,” said American Bakers Association President and CEO Robb MacKie. “Due to the recent flooding in the Midwest, most commodity prices, including wheat, are experiencing record highs. Opening up CRP land for grazing, while a step in the right direction, simply is not enough to have any beneficial impact on high food prices." More...
June 24, 2008
ABA Urges EPA to Grant Ethanol Mandate Waiver
Washington D.C. - The American Bakers Association (ABA) yesterday submitted comments urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant the ethanol mandate waiver request to reduce this year’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by half. The request was submitted to the Agency by Texas Governor Rick Perry at a time when there are concerns about the corn-based ethanol program as it relates to the nation’s current wheat supply and commodity process. Further, the recent Midwest flooding only exacerbates this situation. “The ABA supports increasing the use and development of alternative fuel technology. However, these policies must be balanced with the needs of traditional agriculture and ensure a reliable safe food supply for our nation,” said Robb MacKie, President & CEO of the ABA. More...
June 20, 2008
ABA Makes Progress in Band of Bakers Part II
Washington, D.C. – The American Bakers Association (ABA) in its ongoing efforts to spur Congress to address the commodity crisis and other priorities of the baking industry, sponsored a congressional fly-in in conjunction with its annual Board of Directors meeting. More than 85 top executives of the baking industry from around the United States traveled to Washington to discuss the increasing price of food, food safety, commodity availability and alternative fuels. More...
June 5, 2008
ABA Applauds Recent CFTC Initiatives to Decrease Market Volatility
Washington D.C. - "ABA applauds the CFTC for having the courage to quickly adjust to market conditions and withdraw its proposals that would have created more volatility in the wheat markets, as well as, limit access to sellers and buyers in those markets," said ABA President & CEO Robb MacKie, referring to the June 3 Commodity Futures Trading Commission's announcement that the Commission will be implementing new policies to address concerns within the futures markets. More...
May 29, 2008
ABA Leads Grain-Chain Coalition in Efforts on Grain Promotion in the 2008 Farm Bill
Washington D.C. – “Congress has taken a big step forward in offering children nutritious grain
products at a vital time in their lives by including grain promotion language in the 2008 Farm
Bill,” said American Bakers Association (ABA) President and CEO Robb MacKie. Language
included in the recently passed 2008 Farm Bill will help teach America’s schoolchildren about
grains and the importance of grain-based foods in a balanced diet. “Promotion of wholesome
grain products to school aged children is extremely important in light of recent statistics on the
lack of a proper diet for today’s youth,” continued Mr. MacKie. More...
May 22, 2008
New Farm Bill Equals More Consumer Costs
Washington D.C. - “ABA is extremely disappointed that Congress did not take this opportunity
to implement real reform of federal farm policy,” said American Bakers Association (ABA)
President and CEO Robb MacKie. “The farm bill ignores the current food crisis, which greatly
impacts all Americans, and instead focuses on guaranteeing government subsidies to farmers at a
time when prospects are as bountiful as ever for producers. Food costs are double and triple
what they were a year ago, and the farm bill is only going to continue to increase these costs.” More...
May 22, 2008
ABA Urges Congress to Adopt Action Plan
Washington D.C. – “High food and commodity prices have been caused in part by many factors,
including increased worldwide demand, a weakened dollar and adverse weather events such as
last year’s drought in Australia,” said ABA President and CEO Robb MacKie, “but the ethanol
program, which continues to incentivize the use of vital cropland for fuel production over food
production, along with other government programs that pay farmers not to farm their land, have
also led to the current food crisis. On behalf of the baking industry and consumers across the
nation, ABA urges Congress to adopt the Action Plan originally released during the March 12
Band of Bakers March on Washington.” More...
May 15, 2008
High Food Prices Threaten Small Businesses and Consumers
Washington D.C. – “Now is the time for Congress to respond to the food crisis and take immediate
actions to curb programs that have contributed to our current situation,” commented ABA President &
CEO Robb MacKie. “While there are many factors as to why food prices are so high, the impact of the
ethanol program on consumers and small businesses cannot be ignored. ABA strongly urges Congress
and the Administration to immediately waive the Renewable Fuel Standard, the ethanol import tariff and
the blender’s credit in order to ease the pressure on our food stocks.” More...
May 8, 2008
ABA to Testify Before House Committee on Small Business
Washington D.C. - On Thursday, May 15, 2008, the American Bakers Association will be
testifying before the House Committee on Small Business regarding the impact of high food
prices on the baking industry. “It is time for Congress to react to the current food crisis and take
immediate actions to curb programs that have led to our current situation,” said ABA President & CEO Robb MacKie. More...
May 1, 2008
High Food Prices Impact American Families Focus on ABA Testimony for Joint Economic Committee Hearing
Washington D.C. – The American Bakers Association participated in the May 1, 2008, Joint Economic Committee hearing on how high food prices are impacting American families. “Food inflation in the first quarter of this year almost matched the rate for all of 2007, which places a tremendous burden upon families,” said ABA President & CEO Robb MacKie. “There are steps Congress and the Administration can take that would ease this burden on American families.” More...
April 25, 2008
ABA Supports the Safe FEAST Act of 2008
Washington, D.C. – The American Bakers Association is committed to ensuring a safe, efficient and accessible food supply, and as such, strongly supports Representatives Costa’s and Putnam’s bipartisan Safe FEAST Act of 2008. “The Safe FEAST Act demonstrates a strong commitment to strengthen our nation’s domestic and imported food supply,” said Lee Sanders, ABA Senior Vice President, Government Relations & Public Affairs. More...
April 24, 2008
ABA Urges the CFTC to Take Action to Decrease Market Volatility
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, ABA Commodity Task Force Chairman David Brown, Vice President of Procurement, Sara Lee Corporation, and Cory Martin, ABA Federal Government Relations Manager, participated in a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) agricultural forum to discuss current commodity market volatility. “It seems extreme volatility is the norm of today’s commodity markets,” said Mr. Brown...
More...
April 21, 2008
ABA Applauds Senate for Passing DOT Corrections Bill
On April 17, 2008, the U.S. Senate voted 88-2 to pass H.R. 1195, the Department of Transportation Technical Corrections Bill. Passage of this bill brings ABA member companies one step closer to a frame work allowing companies to move forward with the unintended legislative consequence from the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Public Law 109-59). “This legislation is a good-faith effort by Congress to provide limited liability protection to companies that did not realize SAFETEA-LU had altered the overtime exemption portion of the Fair Labor Standards Act,” ABA President and CEO Robb MacKie said. More...
April 17, 2008
ABA Invited to Participate in the CFTC Agricultural Forum
Washington D.C. - On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, the American Bakers Association will
participate in an industry roundtable sponsored by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(CTFC) to discuss the current conditions of the agricultural commodity markets. “I am looking
forward to the opportunity to meet with other industries affected by the extreme market
volatility,” said ABA Commodity Task Force Chairman Dave Brown.
More...
March 31, 2008
ABA Announces June 2008 Policy Conference - Band of Bakers to Return to D.C. to Keep Momentum Strong
Washington, D.C. - On June 16-18, 2008, the American Bakers Association will hold a Policy Conference assembling the ABA Board of Directors along with several key committees including the Food Technical Regulatory Affairs Committee, Energy and Environmental Health Committee and Commodity Task Force to discuss industry priorities. More...
March 30, 2008
New ABA Officers Elected at Annual Convention
On March 30, 2008, the ABA Board of Governors unanimously elected its new slate of officers for the next two-year term (March 2008 - March 2010) during the association’s annual convention held in Phoenix, Ariz. “We are enthusiastic and lucky to have such a strong leadership team for our 2008-2010 term,” said ABA President & CEO Robb MacKie. The ABA membership and professional staff look forward to working with our new officers to continue on the successful path of our organization be a strong and united voice for the baking industry,” concluded Mr. MacKie. More...
March 14, 2008
Bakers March: Efforts to Save Our Wheat Continue
“Bakers from across the country came together to send a loud and clear message to Congress and
the Bush Administration that immediate action needs to be taken to alleviate the commodity crisis,” said
Robb MacKie, President & CEO of the American Bakers Association (ABA). “The wheat supply is at
historically low levels, commodity prices are at an all time high, the dollar is down and the consumer is
just starting to feel the impact. ABA and its members have been warning government officials about the
pending crisis for the past year; any further delay could have extremely serious consequences.” More...
March 12, 2008
ABA Band of Bakers March on Washington: Announce Three Point Plan
Bakers and other allied groups joined forces in Washington, D.C., today to draw attention
to record high wheat prices and tight supplies. “It is crucial that the White House, our elected
representatives, and the Department of Agriculture hear first-hand how bakers and others wheat
users, including consumers, are struggling with current market conditions. Wheat markets– and
commodity markets in general – are behaving in ways that we have not seen before. We believe
that extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures,” declared Robb MacKie,
president and CEO of the American Bakers Association (ABA). More...
March 3, 2008
Radio Host and Washington Insider Bill Bennett Keynote Speaker at 2008 American Bakers PAC Dinner
“American Bakers PAC is very pleased to have Bill Bennett address American Bakers PAC members during the 2008 ABA Convention,” said American Bakers PAC Chairman Steve Avera, General Counsel, Flowers Foods. “Dr. Bennett is a dynamic speaker who will share his outlook with dinner attendees.” More...
March 3, 2008
Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA (Ret.) Featured Speaker at 2008 ATBI Breakfast
“ABA is privileged to have Gen. John Abizaid as the featured Allied Trades of the Baking Industry Breakfast speaker at the Convention,” said American Bakers Association (ABA) Chairman Ron Turano. “He will share with us his no-nonsense, candid insights into leadership in a constantly changing, complex and dangerous world. As all bakers know, the need to be mobile, adaptable and prepared in the current business environment is critical to success. Gen. Abizaid will fortify the strategies bakers can utilize to succeed.” More...
March 3, 2008
ESPN’s Charlie Rymer to Headline 2008 Paul Abenante PEC Golf Tournament
at American Bakers Association Convention
The American Bakers Association (ABA) today announced that Charlie Rymer has agreed to serve as its special guest at the 2008 Paul Abenante PEC Golf Tournament on Tuesday, March 31, 2008 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, Ariz. More...
February 12, 2008
Big Sugar's Sticky Mess: U.S. Sugar Lobby Caught with their Hand in the Cookie Jar
Last week USDA Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and U.S. Trade Representative Susan
Schwab issued a press release critical of Big Sugar’s recent attempts to unilaterally re-negotiate
the entire North American Free Trade Agreement. Big Sugar has argued that managed trade was needed as a protection against market
chaos or disruption. “The sugar lobby was not so much interested in protecting the market from
manipulative influences but rather they were interested in preventing the market from
competition. ABA and its members strongly agree with the Administration’s statement and urge
Congress to take further steps to undo protectionist schemes instituted by Big Sugar,” said Robb
MacKie, ABA President & CEO. More...
January 27, 2008
Decrease, Not Increase, Market Volatility
The American Bakers Association, with direction from the Commodity
Task Force (CTF), recently submitted comments to the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (CFTC) on the proposed rule to increase speculative limits on most
commodities traded on the Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City Exchanges.
This move could greatly exaggerate market volatility and possibly squeeze smaller
companies out of the futures market. More...
January 14, 2008
USDA and ABA Executive Committee Meet – Discuss Important Bakery Industry Issues
On January 8, 2008, the ABA Executive Committee, along with ABA Commodity Task Force Chairman Dave Brown, Sara Lee Corporation, met with USDA Acting Secretary Chuck Conner to discuss key priorities to the baking industry including the current commodity market conditions, the need for agricultural research for wheat and ABA support for the grain pilot program. More...
January 2, 2008
ABA Executive Committee Meeting with USDA Secretary Conner
On Tuesday, January 8th, the ABA Executive Committee, including ABA President & CEO Robb MacKie and Senior Vice President Lee Sanders, will meet with USDA Acting Secretary Chuck Conner to discuss key issues impacting the baking industry in 2008. This meeting will focus on key priorities for bakers including current commodity market conditions, the Conservation Reserve Program, the ABA Grain Promotion Initiative, and agriculture research. Also joining the group is ABA Commodity Task Force Chairman Dave Brown, Sara Lee Corporation. More...
2007 Press Releases
December 17, 2007
ABA Expresses Extreme Disappointment Over Senate Farm Bill
October 2, 2007
A Step Backward in CRP - Perfect Storm Brewing
September 7, 2007
ABA Announces Government Relations Staff Additions - Enhanced Focus for Members
July 7, 2007
ABA Will Work for Changes in Senate Version of Farm Bill
June 29, 2007
ABA Joins Flowers Foods in Mourning a Great Leader
June 26, 2007
ABA Applauds U.S. Senate for Defeating Union-Backed Card Check Bill -
“Employee Intimidation Act” Fails Procedural Vote in the Senate
June 6, 2007
ABA Appoints Two New Board Members - Brian Lecomte of Gold Medal Bakery and Ron Savelli, Caravan Ingredients
May 14, 2007
Agricultural Secretary Johanns to meet with ABA Commodity Task Force
April 16, 2007
ABA Hosts Meeting to Discuss Solutions to Combat Tray Loss-
Dairy Industry Agrees to Partner with ABA
March 6, 2007
ABA Submits Comments to FDA and USDA on Important Issues for Bakers -
Food Safety and Labeling Issues Addressed
March 2, 2007
House Passes Union-Backed Card Check Bill - ABA Members Voice Strong Opposition
February 2, 2007
ABA Applauds Secretary Johanns for Addressing Key Farm Bill Issues
January 16, 2007
ABA Announces Revamped Membership Services Focus - ABA Hires New Vice President of Membership Services; ABA Membership & Communications Manager Kelly Kotche Promoted to Director of Membership & Communications
January 10, 2007
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Renowned Historian, Featured Speaker at 2007 ATBI Breakfast
January 10, 2007
Larry Huston, Innovation Expert, to Speak at 2007 American Bakers Association Convention
2006
Press Releases
December 2, 2006
Food Industry News - Industry is Saddened by the Passing of Gonnella Baking's George Marcucci
November 16, 2006
Food Industry News - ABA is passing on from another news source - Reuters
EU Resists Calls for Junk Food Ad Regulation
November 16, 2006
Food Industry News - ABA is passing on from another news source - Dow Jones Newswire
NYC May Give Restaurants More Time on Trans Fat Ban
October 20, 2006
ABA FTRAC Committee Concludes Successful Meeting, Focus On Sustainability
September 12, 2006
American Bakers PAC Contributes Over $118,000 to Key Congressional Races in the U.S.
September 8, 2006
Senator Talent to Address ABA/ATBI Boards During Capitol Dinner
August 24, 2006
Top Advisors to President Will Brief ABA-ATBI Boards During Visit to White House
August 24, 2006
Members of Congress to Attend ABA/ATBI Board Reception
July 28, 2006
ABA Applauds Senate Committee for Hearing on National Uniformity - ABA Counsel Testifies, Making Strong Push for Passage
July 26, 2006
Ag Secretary Johanns to Speak at ABA-ATBI Board Meeting
July 11, 2006
ABA's Anne Giesecke to Serve Industry in New Capacity
June 5, 2006
FTRAC Committee Completes Two Day Meeting and Allergen Workshop in Washington, DC
May 11, 2006
Vote on Small Business Health Plans Blocked by Opponents -
Partisan Politics Stalls Critical Vote
March
9, 2006
ABA Enthusiastic
over House Passage of National Uniformity for Food Act-Major
Victory for Consumers
Februrary
24, 2006
Commodity and Fuel Costs - Food Advertising in the Obesity Age
Key Panel Discussions at 2006 ABA Convention
February
3, 2006
ABA Discusses Sugar Availability, Farm Bill, and Nutrition Education with Secretary
of Agriculture Johanns – Applauds USDA Announcement Increasing Sugar Imports
2005 Press Releases
January
5, 2006
ABA Successful in Pushing FDA to Provide
Relief to Bakers on Trans Fat Labeling - Enforcement
Discretion for Products with .5 Grams of Trans in
Some Circumstances
January
5, 2006
FDA Releases
New Guidance on Unintentional Cross Contact of Allergens - Newly Revised
Question and Answer Document Provides New Guidance for Food Industry
2005 Press Releases
December
16, 2005
Executive Leadership Development Committee (ELDC)
Pushes ABA Agenda on Capitol Hill - Bakers Take
December
5, 2005
ABA Commends
EPA on Issuing Needed Oil Storage Rule
November
10, 2005
ABA Announces
7-11 President & CEO Jim Keyes to Speak at ABA's
Annual Convention General Session
November
1, 2005
PGA Tour Champion Tom Kite to Headline PEC Golf
Tournament at 2006 ABA Convention in Scottsdale
October
19, 2005
ABA Taps
VP MacKie as New President and CEO
October
20, 2005
Sanders Named Senior Vice President of American
Bakers Association
October 20, 2005
House Adopts Key ABA Priority on Legislation Limiting Obesity Liability
October
11, 2005
American Beverage Association President Neely to
Speak at ABA-ATBI Board Meeting
September
23, 2005
FDA Commissioner Quits
September
7, 2005
ABA Gives
to Hunger Relief Effort in Wake of Hurricane Katrina/Provides
Information on Where and How to Donate Food Products
September
6, 2005
ABA Meets with USDA Official to Offer Solutions
to Sugar Crisis
Under Secretary J.B. Penn says, “Baking Industry Has Generated Most
Communication: So, How Can We Help
and What Do You Need?”
July 28, 2005
CAFTA Passes House – Victory for Bakers
ABA Provides
Leadership to Industry Lobbying Effort on Capitol Hill
July
29, 2005
ABA Achieves Major Legislative Goals as Congress
Breaks for Summer
July
20, 2005
2005 Congressional Hot Dog Luncheon a Huge Success; ABA
joins other trade groups in support of Hill event
July
5, 2005
ABA Encourages
BEMA to Further Utilize ABA Government
Relations Resources
July
1, 2005
Maryland Governor Ehrlich to Host Human Resources
Committee at State House
June
28
American Bakers Association Statement on Energy
Policy Act Senate Vote
June 18, 2005
OSHA Administrator Snare to Address ABA Safety
Committee
May
21, 2005
ABA Calls on Congress to Reject Government Fuel Surcharges
April
19, 2005
ABA Sees
New Pyramid as Preservation of Grain-Based Foods and
Key to Daily Diet - Revised
Pyramid Still Emphasized the Importance of Bread and
Grains in a Healthy Diet
- Repudiates Fad Diets with Sound Science
February
18, 2005
ABA Fleet & Distribution
Committee to Meet with Wal*Mart and DOT Officials
February
9, 2005
“Rising Star” Rep. Adam Putnam to Speak at ABA Board
Meeting
February
2, 2005
DHS Secretary Tom Ridge Accepts Invitation to Speak
at 2005 ABA Annual Convention
January
18, 2005
Republican Convention Keynote Speaker, Senator
Zell Miller, to Address American Bakers PAC Dinner;
Event to be Held at Prestigious Isleworth Country
Club
January
12, 2005
ABA Sees
Positive Elements in New 2005 Dietary Guidelines for
Baked Goods - Guidelines
Repudiate Fad Diet |
