U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was honored by a Buckhannon business Thursday for his support of the food service industry.
Manchin stopped by A.F. Wendling's Food Service in Buckhannon and received the International Foodservice Distributors Association 2012 Thomas Jefferson Award.
Chris Wendling, A.F. Wendling's president, noted Manchin is no stranger to the food service industry, as his family had this type of business in Farmington.
Article Photos
The Inter-Mountain photo by John Clise
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., left, accepts the International Foodservice Distributors Association 2012 Thomas Jefferson Award from Wendling’s Food Service President Chris Wendling Thursday afternoon in Buckhannon
Wendling said the senator believes in small business, and supports small business.
"He has taken what he started as governor and taken it to Washington," Wendling said.
"Thank you, I appreciate this very much," Manchin said of the award. "This is very special for me."
Manchin said Jefferson believed in freedom and the entrepreneurial spirit, things he also believes in for America. He also said the priority needs to be working together in Washington for the betterment of the country and the state of West Virginia. He said that must be the government's first and foremost goal - to create a better nation.
"We are going to give the keys to this country to the next generation in better shape than our parents gave it to us," Manchin said. "That's the way in America."
Manchin said he will display the award in his office in Washington, D.C.
He also noted Wendling's, which has been in business for 99 years, is the only food service business in the state to belong to The International Foodservice Distributors Association.
The IFDA is a trade association serving the food service distribution industry. Its members include manufacturers, distributors, and buying groups that service the food service industry.
Its largest membership base is from North America, but the association represents the industry internationally as well. IFDA traces its history to 1906, when the National Wholesale Grocers' Association was founded to promote food safety and represent the industry to government. In 1969, IFDA was created as a division of NAWGA to represent the specific needs of food service distribution. IFDA began independent operation on Jan. 1, 2003.
Manchin's stop in Buckhannon was part of a visit to the region. He was scheduled to appear at the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce's dinner Thursday evening.
