The awards have been presented biannually since 1992 to members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have demonstrated support for issues important to the two industries. The 2004 program is being expanded to include recognition of members of the U.S. Senate.
The Thomas Jefferson Award for Distinguished Service will also be presented. This award will be given to one House member and one Senator, each of whom has uniquely distinguished himself or herself though their vigorous support for the economic principles on which the award is based. Past recipients of the Award for Distinguished Service include Reps. Roy Blunt, Anne Northup, Henry Bonilla, John Boehner and Tom DeLay.
The program was inspired by the philosophies and writings of Thomas Jefferson, who in his first inaugural address noted, “A wise and frugal government…which shall leave men otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”
The custom-designed award features a sculpted replica of Thomas Jefferson framed by the four “pillars of prosperity” — agriculture, commerce, navigation and manufacturing — all enterprises that Jefferson felt were crucial to the success of the American economy.
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
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