Wholesale Food and Beverage Organizations Key Terms

Brush up on key terms and facts relating to wholesale food and beverage organizations

The success of wholesale food and beverage organizations depends on the quality and integrity of the products they sell. With food safety becoming the No. 1 issue for consumers, wholesale food and beverage organizations must guarantee that the products they market do not present a serious public health risk. Companies are therefore paying more attention than ever before to food inspection programs, sanitation guidelines and quality assurance methods. If you own a wholesale food and beverage organization or do business with one, it pays to learn some key terms that will help you stay informed on events affecting this industry.

 

Wholesale distribution industry

The wholesale distribution industry represents an important force in the U.S. economy. A large part of the industry is made up of companies that manufacture, process, package and supply food and beverages.
Try: The National Association of Wholesale Distributors reports on the status of the wholesale distribution industry in any given year. Read its State of the Wholesale Distribution Industry to get a sense of the scope of this market, which is lead by grocery and food-service wholesale distributors.

Wholesale Food Protection Program

Relatively new in some states, the Wholesale Food Protection Program is run by a state health department and works to ensure that wholesale foods are clean and safe for consumption.
Try: The Indiana State Department of Health has a review of that state's Wholesale Food Protection Program. You'll find out which commodities are covered under this program and how the Health Department's staff works to fulfill their objectives.

Wholesale markets

Wholesale markets are large-scale markets that function chiefly to transfer food from its place of cultivation and manufacture to the places where it is sold to consumers.
Try: Go to FAO to learn how the food-marketing system depends on wholesale markets. FAO also explains the operation of the food-marketing system and the impact that wholesale markets have on a country's economy.

Quality guidelines

Since food safety has become the No. 1 concern for consumers, companies are strictly following quality guidelines to ensure that the foods they manufacture, process and sell are clean and safe.
Try: Efforts by Sysco to follow quality guidelines are typical of those other wholesale food and beverage organizations are using. Find out the objectives of quality assurance teams and how companies are following strict purchasing policies to ensure product safety.

Fruits and vegetables import requirements

Sometimes referred to as FAVIR, fruits and vegetables import requirements are set by the USDA to ensure that contaminated foods are not sold in the United States.
Try: Learn about the searchable FAVIR database that the USDA maintains and how food and beverage wholesale organizations can use it to identify fruits and vegetables barred from importation into the United States.

Licensing and inspections

Licensing and inspections of wholesale food and beverage companies and markets are done in many states to ensure the facilities are clean and safe.
Try: Typical of the licensing and inspections done in most states are the ones discussed at Massachusetts Health and Human Services. Find out about the basic application process and the standards food wholesalers are held to during an inspection.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---