behindnion the ssymbolymbol U A PUBLICATION FOR CERTIFIED COMPANIES Reaching 4,000 Food Executives & Over 2,500 Companies Worldwide WINTER 2003 Spotlight on OUCompanies Industry Trends 4 It’s Your Spud How to keep your potatoes Kosher Bumble Bee Seafoods– DearR abbi Understanding 8 the Fine Print of A Kosher Tradition Schedule A IN 1899, a group of 7 fishermen in Asto- goes back for ria, Oregon banded together as the decades. Lets Get IColumbia River Packers Association, or Commented Chris Chemical CRPA. Their simple goal was to fish and Lischewski, President and Chief 10 Kosher Issues process sockeye salmon from Alaska’s Operating Officer of Bumble Bee in the Chemical World Bristol Bay. In 1910, the CRPA introduced Seafoods, Inc., “We are proud of our long- a new catch, albacore tuna, which was standing relationship with the OU, as we found in seasonal abundance off the Ore- know that its symbol is a critical measure gon coast. While the CRPA packed of quality for our consumers.“ salmon and albacore tuna under many Maintaining that high tradition of ❝We are proud of different brand names, one brand of par- quality is no easy task given the global ticularly high quality was named after a reach of the company. As tuna swims our long-standing local fishing vessel—the “Bumble Bee.” around the globe, Bumble Bee® Seafoods’ Nearly 50 years later, the company would OU-certified manufacturing facilities are relationship with even change its name to Bumble Bee in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Fiji, Trinidad, Seafoods, Inc in honor of that brand’s California, and Minnesota. The company the OU, as we know size and prestige. also sources products from an additional that its symbol is a Today, Bumble Bee® is an integrated 40+ countries. Continued Lischewski, “At seafood company with approximately virtually any hour of the day, we are pro- critical measure of $750 million in annual revenues and a cessing tuna to high kosher standards wholly owned subsidiary of ConAgra somewhere in the world. The training quality for our Foods, Inc.—one of the world’s largest investment is substantial, but the payoff branded food companies. In addition to is well worth it.” consumers.❞ providing the number one brand of Over the years Bumble Bee® Seafoods canned albacore tuna and salmon in the has constantly led the pace of innovation United States under the Bumble Bee in the category, ensuring that it always label, they also provide the number one provides the best quality products at brand of high-quality sardines under the competitive prices. The famous “Bumble WE WELCOME King Oscar label; the number one brand Bee®” signature trademark, combined YOUR COMMENTS of canned seafood in Canada under the with the OU symbol of kosher certifica- & CONTRIBUTIONS Clover Leaf label; and the number one tion, is an assurance of quality to the fax brand of refrigerated surimi in the United consumer. U 212.613.0775 States under the Louis Kemp label. Each Rabbi Doneal Epstein e–mail of these brands proudly bears the OU serves as the Orthodox Union’s [email protected] symbol of quality, a certification that rabbinic coordinator for Bumble Bee. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 From the Editor CCORDING TO KOSHERFEST statistics, sales of Kosher foods are growing 15% annually, totalling A$5.75 billion in sales in 2001. As the selection of Kosher products increases, they are steadily gaining popularity not only with traditional kosher con- Pictured at the new Orthodox Union booth at KOSHERFEST sumers, but with mainsteam and specialty food con- 2002 on November 6th and 7th at the Meadowlands Conven- tion Center in Secaucus, NJ (left to right) OU Executive Rabbinic sumers as well, because of their high quality and Coordinator Rabbi Moshe Elefant and Rabbi Michael Morris who healthful status. The NASFT recently promoted its coordinated OU’s participation at Kosherfest. members' kosher products at KosherFest 2002 held on November 5-6 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, N.J. The world's fair of the kosher food of Communications and Marketing, formulates a new industry attended by close to 15,000 food representa- idea of linking your website with the OU's. Be sure tives from 45 states and more than 30 countries, your marketing people follow up on this great idea as KosherFest aisles were once well as the other OU "Marketing Tips" focusing on Orthodox again filled with wholesalers, how your company can attain increased benefit from Union food brokers, manufacturers, your OU symbol. retailers, distributors, kosher We are particularly pleased to feature in this issue caterers, supermarket and an in depth look at the many facets of certifying the KASHRUT DIVISION specialty food store buyers, potato industry, while at the same time sharing several RABBI MENACHEM GENACK Rabbinic Administrator who discovered a myriad of OU certified potato companies' most gratifying feed- RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT kosher items, including back to their certification. I am grateful that Rabbis Executive Rabbinic Coordinator Director, New Company Department ingredients, organic and veg- Gordimer and Bistricer agreed to articulate so clearly RABBI YAAKOV LUBAN eterian products, kosher and precisely the kosher issues involved in certifying Executive Rabbinic Coordinator sushi, caviar, wines and spir- the ever growing potato industry. The many fine RABBI ELIYAHU SAFRAN its from all corners of the points and nuances in kosher certification of the Senior Rabbinic Coordinator Director, Review and Update Department globe. chemical industry are well defined by Rabbi Michoel RABBI YERACHMIEL MORRISON Anticipating further and Coleman, a rabbinic coordinator for many OU certi- RABBI ABRAHAM JURAVEL Ingredient Approval Registry increased growth of the fied chemical companies and Rabbi Nemes of New kosher market during the Orleans, a rabbinic field representative visiting many I coming decade, KosherFest OU certified chemical companies. As the Orthodox DR. CHAIM WASSERMAN Chairman, Joint Kashrut Commission is slated to move its success- Union continues to be sought after by companies big RABBI HOWARD KATZENSTEIN ful trade show to New York's and small throughout the world including the Far East Director, Business Management Javits Cener where according and Eastern Europe, we are pleased to talk Turkey ANNA FULDA Coordinator, Letters of Certification, to Menachem Lubinsky pres- about two of the many companies recently OU certi- Labels, Private Labels ident of IMC, organizers of fied in Turkey. I was pleased to have had the opportu- I the 15 year old show, the nity to visit these companies together with our RABBI EMANUEL HOLZER move will "position kosher energetic Representative in Turkey, Rabbi Yossi Tir- Chairman, Rabbinic Kashrut Commission for further growth among nauer. Be assured that even as we grow and expand diverse sectors of the food our scope and horizons, there is always someone here ORTHODOX UNION market." The surge in kosher to react and respond to your needs and concerns. Feel HARVEY BLITZ certification continues to be free to be in touch so we can assist in assuring your President led by the OU, the world's kosher program meets the OU's highest standards, and RABBI DR. TZVI HERSH WEINREB Executive Vice President premier kosher certification that all of your needs are being properly and effec- DAVID OLIVESTONE agency, certifying the high- tively met. Director, Communicatons and Marketing est percentage of kosher cer- Best wishes for a peaceful and successful 2003! tified products. In order to BEHIND THE ensure that our certified UNION SYMBOL companies get an even RABBI ELIYAHU SAFRAN greater advantage in reach- Editor–in–Chief ing a greater market share, PAMELA WEIMAN Graphic Designer Mr. David Olivestone, Rabbi Eliyahu Safran Orthodox Union's Director Editor/Senior Rabbinic Coodinator 2 BEHIND THE UNION SYMBOL WINTER2003 TUNA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 KOSHER FOR PASSOVER TUNA IN KEEPING WITH its tradition of cat- egory innovation and commitment to kosher prod- A group of ASK OU 6 participants at AriZona Beverage's Maplewood Beverage Packers plant in Maplewood, NJ guided ucts, Bumble Bee is by (standing left to right) Rabbi Yosef Grossman, Director ASK OU, Mr. Jeff McMahon of Quality Assurance Maplewood Bev- introducing Bumble Bee erage and Rabbi Dovid Cohen of Orthodox Union Kosher for Passover Solid White Albacore tuna in February 2003. This product is specially prepared under the close supervision of the Orthodox Union TeachingKosher– to meet the highest standards of Jewish dietary law. Because Passover standards prohibit the use of soy-based broths (typically found in most tuna), this new product will actually have more fish placed in the can than ordinary tuna—meaning that this will be the best quality product available OW MANY RABBIS does it take to make a non- on the market! kosher kitchen kosher? Actually, just one, but a tremendous amount of training is required to Commented Christopher Lischewski, President H learn the art of “kosherizing.” That is why the OU and Chief Operating Officer of Bumble Bee recently held its sixth annual ASK OU Kashruth Seafoods, Inc., “As the quality leaders in the tuna Internship Program, the most intensive Kashruth category for many years, we are proud to add the education program that trains rabbinic field represen- Kosher for Passover product to our line-up begin- tatives in the art and science of kashruth. ning next year. This has been a terrific collabora- The seminar is geared for graduate rabbinic semi- tive effort with the OU to bring a superior quality nary students, congregational rabbis, and those product to Jewish and non-Jewish consumers already involved in kosher supervision who are seek- alike. Anyone who appreciates great quality tuna ing to fine tune and intensify their skills. The pro- will appreciate this product.” gram also provides the basics for those interested in Bumble Bee has offered a Kosher for Passover pursuing a professional career in kosher supervision.