CONTENTS 28 A hunger relief program in the Northeast has a long history of feeding those in need. Cover: Gregg Uecker, MEAT+POULTRY Operations Executive of the Year has risen to the highest levels in his career with even greater things on the horizon. Cover photo: Tyson Foods 08 COMMENTARY Industry all star 10 BUSINESS NOTES 14 WASHINGTON Shoring up supply chains 16 COVER STORY Operations Executive of the Year: Gregg Uecker 24 PLANT PROFILE Small-plant success 28 COMPANY PROFILE It's in the can 34 INGREDIENTS A rooting interest in menus 24 4 MEAT+POULTRY | 07.22 | www.meatpoultry.com 42 CEO SERIES Verde Farms' Dana Ehrlich 48 SMALL BUSINESS Missouri mainstay 52 INDUSTRY ISSUES Views from the summit 62 TRADE SHOW RECAP Foodservice focused 66 CONFERENCE REPORT Taking the pulse of protein 70 L ABOR 72 GIVING BACK 74 CALENDAR 76 NAMES IN THE NEWS 78 SHOWCASE 80 CLASSIFIEDS 81 ADVERTISERS 82 THE INSIDER Photo courtesy of Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churcheshttp://www.meatpoultry.com