The educational, technical, and management assistance needs of Idaho food processors and distributors

To enhance program planning, the Departments of Agricultural and Extension Education, and Food Science and Toxicology at the University of Idaho conducted a telephone survey to determine the educational, technical, and management assistance needs of Idaho food processors and distributors. According to the database supplier, approximately 208 diverse food processors and 382 food distributors operated in Idaho in early 1995. The overall survey response rate was 52.1%.; About 94% of Idaho food processors and distributors had 500 or fewer employees. The largest single commodity-based classification was meat processors, constituting just over 30% of Idaho's food processors. Fifty-one percent of responding food processors were in business for 20 years or less. The overall level of technology in Idaho's food and distributing industry was relatively low. Companies using computers employed them more for business management than for product processing.; Compliance with government regulations was identified to be the greatest area of difficulty to obtain information/assistance. Current sources of information and assistance most frequently identified were personal reading and research, suppliers, and journals/magazines. Organizations/agencies most frequently used to obtain assistance were Idaho Department of Agriculture, colleges or universities other than the University of Idaho, and local Chamber of Commerce. Printed materials and seminars delivered locally via distance education technology or in person were methods most often identified for accessing new food processing technology information provided through the University of Idaho. A less than expected degree of need for assistance in research and development was found.; Based on these findings, it is recommended that a free newsletter be issued to food companies periodically by the Department of Food Science and Toxicology, highlighting topic areas of concern, particularly compliance with federal regulations, and profiling faculty programs. Development and maintenance of a current database of food processors is recommended to provide mailing lists for newsletters. A University of Idaho based training program is recommended which focuses on suppliers which, in turn, will provide technical assistance to food processors.