News Release Distributed 03/04/13

BATON ROUGE, La. – Nationally known New Orleans restaurateur John Besh will be a featured speaker at the 2013 Louisiana Food Processors Conference on March 13-14 in Baton Rouge.

On Thursday, March 14, Besh will be speaking on using local ingredients in food products, including why using locally grown products is good for business.

“We have all heard about the local ingredient phenomenon,” said John Finley of the LSU AgCenter Department of Food Science. “Now attendees at the conference can learn more about how to incorporate locally produced ingredients into their operations.”

Besh, a native New Orleanian, is dedicated to the culinary riches of southern Louisiana. At each of his nine acclaimed restaurants as well as in his entrepreneurial pursuits, his cookbooks, and his public activities, he celebrates the bounty and traditions of the region.

Other presentations at the conference will focus on foods and obesity and diabetes and on marketing through social media.

A major purpose of this conference is to provide information on new regulations in the areas of food safety and security, marketing challenges, global trade, required processing training, emerging pathogens and record keeping, Finley said.

The conference is intended for anyone with an interest and stake in the future of the Louisiana food processing industry, including people involved in food processing, food processing support industries and state and federal regulatory agencies as well as entrepreneurs who may be considering a business in food processing.

Conference registration begins at noon on March 13, and the meeting will end at 3:30 p.m. on March 14. It is a partnership among Louisiana Economic Development, the LSU AgCenter, the Louisiana food processing industry and allied supporters.

Registration is $135. The conference registration fee includes refreshments at all breaks, a reception on Wednesday, March 13, and a continental breakfast and lunch on Thursday, March 14.

Participants may register online by going to www.lsuagcenter.com and putting “food processors conference” in the search box, then clicking on the conference link. More information on the conference and offline registration is available by contacting Ashley Gutierrez at 225-578-5207 or by email.