Garfield will be responsible for the management of the SQF Institute, including strategic planning, business development and financial management. He will also oversee technical development for the SQF certification program.
“Bob’s broad experience in the food industry makes him well-suited to lead the Safe Quality Food Institute,” said FMI President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie G. Sarasin. “He has designed and implemented food safety and environmental, legislative and regulatory initiatives on behalf of the frozen food industry, and has broad expertise in food processing operation systems and scientific applications. I am very happy to have Bob join us.”
SQFI, a division of the Food Marketing Institute, is a leading, global food safety and quality certification program and management system, designed to meet the needs of buyers and suppliers worldwide. The program provides independent certification that a supplier’s food safety and quality management system complies with international and domestic food safety regulations. This enables suppliers to assure their customers that food has been produced, processed, prepared and handled according to the highest possible standards, at all levels of the supply chain.
Garfield joins SQFI from the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) where he was senior vice president of public policy and international affairs for the past nine years. He also served as interim president of AFFI from 2008-2009. Previously, he was vice president of regulatory and technical affairs at AFFI where he was responsible for planning and implementing industry policy in conjunction with the activities of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. His experience also includes work in the dairy and wine industries.
Garfield earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science in Agriculture from California State University. He is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
He serves on the board of directors at the Partnership for Food Safety Education. Garfield is chairman of the Food Industry Environmental Council and chairman of the Food Industry Current Good Manufacturing Practices Coalition.
Photo available upon request.
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