Last updated on October 14th, 2016 at 08:30 am
The Connecticut Food Association (CFA) will honor Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), with its Outstanding Industry Leader Award during the group’s 2016 Person of the Year Banquet on Oct. 20 at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
“Leslie is a tireless champion for the nation’s food retailers and wholesalers, and we’re thrilled to recognize her efforts in advocating on behalf of the food retail industry,” said CFA President Wayne Pesce. “Leslie fully understands the power the states hold in influencing policy and the broader food community agenda, and her leadership and knowledge has brought a new energy to our industry.”
Pesce noted the significance of the award, saying, “Leslie is largely being recognized for her leadership role in the legislative victory that established federal preemption regarding the disclosure of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).”
In 2013, Connecticut’s governor signed the first state law in the nation mandating the labeling of foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, so this year’s legislative victory at a federal level offered Connecticut businesses more flexibility and helped to preserve interstate commerce, according to Pesce.
Sarasin said, “I’m incredibly humbled to receive this recognition from the Connecticut Food Association, and to have my efforts acknowledged in a state so dear to the heart of my family is especially meaningful. Some of our most politically active members hail from ‘the Constitution State,’ and their advocacy efforts amplify the voice of food retail so effectively, it is heard well beyond Connecticut’s borders.”
Sarasin’s career in the food industry spans more than 30 years. In October 2008, she joined FMI during a critical time in the food industry. Her wealth of experience serving the food industry has secured a strong future for FMI and its members. Sarasin remains a staunch supporter of the consumer while advocating on behalf of the businesses FMI represents.
The CFA program begins at 6 p.m. with a reception followed by dinner and the awards ceremony.
