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COMARCO Products processes many cuts and recipes using eggplant. As an example, the photo of round peeled eggplant cutlet that is pictured can be used in eggplant parmigiana, eggplant sandwiches with cheese and sauce added, and as an entrée side dish. Eggplant is a versatile vegetable that can be used in many ways and recipes.
Comarco Products Inc. manufactures and sells signature eggplant products to restaurateurs and the food industry. The company has been in business since 1978 and is based in Camden, New Jersey.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Eric Hoversen, General Manager, Comarco Products regarding the companies’ experience and engagement with the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University and the team members. Here is what he had to say:
What need or issue made you reach out to Donna Schaffner and the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University for food safety training?
“Comarco Products has been working with the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University for over ten years. We initially started out by having Julie Elmer review our HACCP plans, but have been working with Donna Schaffner for the last 7–8 years. Donna is a recognized expert in Food Safety and HACCP plan development, as well as HACCP training at the Food Safety Summit. She conducts our Annual Review of our HACCP plans, as well as Food Defense and GMP training. Comarco Products benefits from Donna’s extensive experience, as well as her knowledge of current and relevant trends in the food industry.”
What services and value did we provide?
“Annual GMP, Food Defense and HACCP refresher training. Most of our HACCP team has also taken the Preventative Controls and Foreign Supplier Verification programs. Donna has been an outstanding resource for Comarco Products, Inc. for years. Monthly QA Roundtables have led us to find our current pest control company (Hoffman’s Extermination), our testing lab (EMSL) and our Crisis Management support company (Insurance Restoration services). Rutgers is also very competitively priced for the expert services provided. Each HACCP team member is required to take a test and upon a successful result, receives a certificate of completion. Many of our employees hang their certificates with pride in their offices.”
How and where were you able to apply the training? Was it beneficial?
“Comarco Products, Inc. has training provided by Donna Schaffner and FIC both at our facility in Camden, both in English and Spanish, as well as hosting us at the FIC. Annual training at our facility is extremely beneficial and efficient for our HACCP team. Monthly QA Roundtables associated with the NJ Food Processors Association are very beneficial because of the diversity of Food Safety topics. Preventative Controls for Human Food and Foreign Supplier programs were conducted at the FIC.”
Would you recommend our food safety training classes? Why?
“Comarco Products, Inc. highly recommends FIC for food safety training because of the expertise provided at a reasonable cost. Networking with other food processors in the training classes is also a huge benefit. When customers/auditors see that FIC is involved with our annual training and review of our HACCP plans, they realize that Comarco Products is committed to food safety because we have partnered with industry experts.“