MEAT+POULTRY - January 2025 - 8

COMMENTARY
MEAT+POULTRY's
editorial team is
commemorating the
publication's 70th
anniversary in 2025.
NEW YEAR,
FAMILIAR CHALLENGES
BY JOEL CREWS, EDITOR
In this, the first issue of the year, which includes the theme
of " 2025 Industry Outlook, " it is obvious there is no shortage
of challenges facing the industry. Likewise,there are plenty of
reasons for optimism in the New Year. For MEAT+POULTRY,
2025 marks the publication's 70th anniversary and it provides
an opportunity to reflect on the rich history of the magazine
and the meat processing industry's news and trends covered
since its founding as Western Meat Industry, in 1955. Having
started my tenure with M+P during the year of its 45th
anniversary, I'm honored to be celebrating my 25th year as
part of the editorial staff in late 2025.
Through the decades this periodical has chronicled how
the industry has overcome some reoccurring challenges,
ranging from labor unrest to food safety crises to animal
disease outbreaks, a global pandemic, regulatory compliance
and more. Not unlike the industry it covers, M+P has grown
with its evolving and increasingly sophisticated readers.
Many industry leaders over the years have told me
that their organization's success is directly correlated to
the commitment and hard work of the people doing the
company's work and the loyalty of the customers they serve.
I echo that sentiment and proudly believe that we too, are
in the people business and the success and longevity of
M+P is thanks to the team, including everyone at Sosland
Publishing Co., and the loyalty and support of the processor
and supplier community we serve.
I was fortunate to join M+P and for years have benefitted
from the partnerships of two of its longest-time editorial
fixtures: Temple Grandin, PhD, professor of animal science
8 MEAT+POULTRY | 01.25 | www.meatpoultry.com
at Colorado State University and Steve Kay, publisher of
Cattle Buyers Weekly. Grandin's From the Corral column
has been an M+P fixture for nearly 50 years while Kay's
been on the masthead for about 40 years. I was fortunate to
have worked under Keith Nunes, editor of sister publication,
Food Business News, who hired me in 2000 and who I still
consider a mentor and one of the best food journalists in
the publishing business. Our current editorial team, which
includes Erica Shaffer, Bob Sims, Ryan McCarthy and
Rachael Oatman, are like family. They share a collaborative
spirit every editor would dream of leading. Without their
expertise and commitment there would be no monthly print
magazine, website, e-newsletters, plant stories, etc.
The meat and poultry industry is heading into the New
Year with a new executive-in-chief at the helm, an inflationweary
economy, a historically low cattle herd, geopolitical
turmoil on multiple fronts and animal disease threats
looming. While this year's hurdles are daunting, the industry
has a track record of surviving and ultimately thriving when
the going gets tough. Not unlike previous decades, M+P will
continue to follow the path of the persevering and persistent
food industry into the next 10 years and beyond. Meanwhile,
we wish you a prosperous 2025 and thank you for the
support and loyalty that fueled our first 70 years. Here's to
many more decades to come.
jcrews@sosland.com
Joel Crews/Sosland Publishing Company
http://www.meatpoultry.com
MEAT+POULTRY - January 2025

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