Biosun Giving Back to the Community!

What a day at #metropolitanministries !

Biosun FFI/Biosun Biochemicals, Inc  has been a long time supporter of Metropolitan Ministries in Biosun's hometown of Tampa. Metropolitan Ministries,  a highly rewarded Tampa Bay charity, feeds and shelters families and fights homelessness.  Today a few key members of the  Biosun family was treated to a heartwarming tour of the Tampa facilities with Don Anderson,  Associate Director of Advancement.


What an amazing and enlightening experience to see the efforts of this mostly volunteer and not-for-profit organization put so many families back on their feet.  Met Ministries plans to feed 850 challenged people/day throughout the holidays.  If you would like to learn more about this amazing organization, visit www.metromin.org

#metromin, #biosun,  #biosunffi,  #coloresusa,  #homeless, #hopishere

{From L to R)  Cary Gould, Business Mgr.; Margie Rice, Customer Service; Mark Messersmith, CEO; Paulina Widger, Marketing Mgr.; and Met Ministries staff members pose for shot in Welcome Center.

Eric Reyna(3rd from left), Biosun,  IT Mgr joins the Met Ministries tour

Moffitt Cancer Center receives check from Mark and Linda Messersmith

Mark Messersmith (2nd from right) and wife Linda (2nd from left), present a $3000.00 check to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Research Center in Tampa, Florida on November 17, 2011. These funds were raised at a fundraiser gala sponsored by Biosun Flavors & Food Ingredients and held at The Tampa Club in downtown Tampa on October 22nd.

Linda is a 17-month breast cancer survivor and patient of this world-renowned facility. Standing with the Messersmith's are Linda's oncology surgeon, Dr. Richard Kiluk (3rd from left) and his nurse, Jayne Cartwright (far left) both work in the Moffitt Breast Cancer Specialty Unit. Also present (far right) is Courtney Loebel, Moffitt's Charitable Contributions Coordinator.

Mark stated, "It is a honor and pleasure to contribute to this impressive facility which has a goal to cure the spread of 1st or 2nd degree breast cancer by 2018. Moffitt says their current advancements even give them great hope that if patients participate in future diagnostic screening tests at a few key points in their life, this disease will be cured entirely by 2030, due to Moffitt's and other leading cancer center's cutting edge genome research. I am forever grateful for the professionals at this center for saving Linda's life!"

Biosun hosts party to support cancer research

In support of cancer research by the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Biosun hosted a party on Oct. 22, 2011 at The Tampa Club. Friends, family and colleagues attended and three thousand dollars ($3,000) was raised.

Biosun manager and his pet therapy dog Benji

Biosun assumes the responsibility of becoming actively engaged in helping the local community and others nationwide. Our employees are very involved in creative volunteering efforts throughout the Tampa Bay area, which Biosun encourages by allowing them to help choose the charitable organizations we eventually support. One example is a Biosun manager, Cary Gould, who with is wife Jill and their pet therapy dog Benji volunteer at local hospitals.

View a video of  Benji, pet therapy dog of Cary and Jill Gould.



Visit Benji on Facebook.

Food Science Student awarded Scholarship from Biosun

[From March 2009]

To recognize outstanding food technology students who have excelled in their field of study, Biosun has established the Biosun Scholarship Award.

In 2009, Juan Manuel Cevallos, was chosen by Biosun as the winning recipient of this $500.00 Scholarship Award. The Scholarship Award Ceremony was held at the University of Florida, in Gainesville, Florida on March 26, 2009.

Biosun proudly salutes Mr. Cevallos and his recent academic and professional achievements.

[upper photo] Biosun CEO, Mark Messersmith with Dr. Anne Kendall announcing the Biosun Scholarship at the University of Florida, March 26, 2009.
[lower photo] Mark Messersmith presenting the Biosun Scholarship Award to Juan Cevallos.

Biography

Juan Manuel Cevallos is a Ph.D. Food Science student and intern for Jose I. Reyes De Corcuera, Ph.D., stationed at the Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, Florida. Mr. Cevallos has a Bachelor's degree in Food Engineering from Ecuador, where he was chosen by his university as the most outstanding student in his major and recognized as being in the top 0.5% percent of all students in his academic field.

He originally came to the University of Florida on a Fulbright scholarship, obtaining both a Masters degree in Food Science and a Master of Agribusiness. Juan also has professional experience in quality assurance and in implementing and managing research and development programs.

For his Ph.D. project, Juan is studying the metabolic profile of Citrus Huanglongbing - a disease also know as "greening" and now considered to be the largest threat to Florida citrus - in the hope of discovering a method for rapid, in-field detection of the disease.


[2012 update]
Cevallos, after receiving his PhD, continues at work at the CREC.
Read more...

In May 2010 Dr. Cevallos presented a paper at the University of Florida, Emerging Pathogens Institute.

Biosun Presented Award to Dr. Robert J. Braddock at ICBC 2008

[From the year 2008]

Mark Messersmith, Biosun presented the "Lifetime Achievement Award," to Dr. Robert J. Braddock, at the 48th annual International Citrus & Beverage Conference, September 2008. Biosun also established a Scholarship for a deserving food science student. The award to Dr. Braddock was in recognition of his dedicated and outstanding accomplishments and lasting contributions in the citrus industry such as many successes in education and quality improvements for Citrus Processing Technology and for distinguished support to countless establishments and individuals.


Read more about Dr. Robert Braddock and the University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, Florida.
Read more about ICBC...

Messersmith receives Olson Award for Service

[From the year 2008]



The Robert H. Olson Award was presented to Mark Messersmith, Biosun FFI, in recognition of years of loyal service to the Florida Section, Institute of Food Technologists, September 2008 "from a grateful membership in the name of one great guy to another".

From the University of Florida Food Science & Human Nutrition (FS&HN) News & Views Newsletter of Spring 2011:

Because of his exemplary service to the citrus processing
industry and to IFT’s Citrus Products Division, Robert H. "Bob" Olson won the 1998-1999 national IFT Distinguished Service Award.
Now the IFT, Florida Section gives out the “Olson Award” each year in his name to recognize someone from industry who has provided outstanding service to the Florida Section.

More about the IFT, Florida Section...

Biosun supports Big Cat Rescue in Tampa

Biosun FFI proudly supports the efforts of the world's largest big cat sanctuary, Big Cat Rescue, in Tampa, Florida.

Mark Messersmith, CEO Biosun FFI, Jeff Girard, Production Manager enjoy a fun night with family and friends at the 2007 Big Cat Rescue 'Fur Ball' Fundraiser.

Read more about Big Cat Rescue...