Block was honored for a lifetime of industry leadership, including his stewardship of a nationally recognized family farm in Illinois and service as the state’s director of agriculture and later the nation’s U.S. secretary of agriculture.
In presenting the award, FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds commented that “Jack has helped shape numerous laws and regulations. Recent examples include the defeat of the ergonomics rule, killing a bureaucratic nightmare that would have cost our industry billions.” Hammonds went on to note that Block “has been an effective advocate in the campaigns to kill the death tax and to repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling” and that “he deserves a measure of credit for the two-year delay that Congress approved for mandatory labeling of meat and produce.”
Block was also recognized for his successful leadership in the planning and implementation of the Annual Business Conference. Since its founding in 1992, the conference has become a highly regarded strategic planning forum for trading partners in the food industry, featuring more than 50 meetings among top executives. Hammonds stated, “This forum has grown into one of our industry’s most valuable meetings. It is strategic and forward-looking.”
Hammonds summed up the reasons for presenting Block with the award. “There are few leaders in our industry with such an extensive record of service and accomplishment. And he has shared his leadership, vision, good humor and grace with every sector of our business — all the way from the family farm to FMI.”
Block’s industry leadership has been extensive. He currently co-chairs the Agribusiness Alliance of the Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs in Washington, and he is a senior fellow with the National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy, to name just a few of numerous positions.
While serving as U.S. secretary of agriculture from 1981-1986, he convinced President Ronald Reagan to repeal the grain embargo against the Soviet Union, opening significant trade opportunities for American farmers. He was a strong proponent of the Food for Peace program, which became a primary source of food for the starving African continent.
The Hoover award was established in 1961 to recognize personal and professional excellence in the industry.
Photos are available. Please send request to media@fmi.org.
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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