Food Protection Trends - January/February 2023 - 47

TABLE 3. Number and proportion of responses among survey participants (N = 79) for
questions, analyzed as categorical variables, from each of the two parts of the
needs assessment survey (cont.)
Question
no.
Response
Variable
Text
Grower
Packing house
Processor
18g
What role best describes this facility/operation?
Grower and field packer
Grower and processor
Other
No response
19h
Please select which part of your grower and processor operation
will you describe in the remaining questions
Grower operation
Processor facility
No response
aParticipants were required to answer the question to continue the needs assessment survey.
bTwo participants from the beef and pork industry were grouped in the " other " category for statistical analysis.
c
Participants who provided responses for the " other " industry sector (number of responses): food processing (2); frozen fruits
(2); chocolate (1); cereal (1); copackaging of shelf-stable products (1); consumer packaged goods with fresh produce (1); food
manufacturing (1); food service (1); frozen produce (1); manufacturing shelf-stable foods (1); prepared food (1); restaurants (1);
seafood (1); spirits (1); sugar (1); vegetable processing (1). Another four participants were grouped into the " other " category for
statistical analysis: one who is an academic researcher affiliated with the food industry and three who reported affiliation with all
four sectors (i.e., fresh produce, dairy, poultry, and beef and pork).
d
Participants who provided responses for the " other " main role within their organization (number of responses): quality assurance
manager (3); sales service (1); affineur (1); human resources director (1); owner (1); office manager (1); CEO (1); emeritus
professor (1); grower (1).
e
Participants who provided responses grouped under the " other " industry sector for the described facility or operation of the
participant's choice (number of responses): cleaning and sanitation (1); restaurants (1); chocolate (1); prepared food (1);
food manufacturing (1); shelf-stable products (2); frozen produce (1); consumer packaged goods, sauces (2); cereal (1); food
processing (2); beverage, spirits (1); vegetable processing (1); frozen fruits (2); seafood (1); sugar (1). One participant who
answered " other " specified working in all industry sectors.
f
Original levels of <10, 10 to 49, 50 to 99, 100 to 249, 250 to 499, 500 to 999, 1,000 to 2,000, and >2,000 were grouped in the levels
small (1 to 49 employees), medium (50 to 249 employees), and large (>250 employees) based on criteria established by the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
gThis question was shown to only 17 participants who selected the option " fresh produce " for Q15.
hThis question was shown to only three participants who selected the option " grower and processor " for Q18.
The most common roles of the 79 participants in their
organizations were corporate food safety and quality manager
(29 participants, 37%) followed by facility managers (21
participants, 27%) and c-suite executive (13 participants,
16%) (Q2) (Table 3). Most participants (67 of 79, 85%)
indicated that COVID-19 has significantly impacted their
industry sector, most commonly through major changes in
operational staffing control and protection protocols (54
participants, 68%), remote work of management or corporate
employees (52 participants, 66%), and reduced operations or
production (38 participants, 48%) (Q4) (Table 3).
In terms of the average number of employees in 2019, most
participants (33 of 79, 42%) described a medium-size facility
or operation (50 to 249 employees) (Q20) (Table 3). The
largest reduction in the general production labor force in a
single week that the participants' facility or operations could
January/February Food Protection Trends
47
No.
2
2
4
5
3
1
3
%
12
12
24
29
18
6
100
Food Protection Trends - January/February 2023

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