Published: March 20, 2008 02:26 pm      

Stonehaus entertains international guests

Stonehaus Winery recently hosted guests from out of state—way out of state.

On part of an United States Department of Agriculture-sponsored tour, men and women from the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Georgia visited Stonehaus Winery. During the time in the United States, the six from Eastern Europe have been looking at agricultural safety.

Retired University of Tennessee professor Curtis Melton has been showing the group around, visiting farms, production plants and other facilities. Aside from the interpreter from the U.S. embassy for Armenia, five of the Armenian/Georgian visitors work in similar fields and hope to utilize the knowledge gained from their trip in their respective countries.

In bringing the group to Stonehaus, Melton said, "I wanted them to see one of the finest winery facilities."

The group arrived in the United States on March 7 and began touring on March 9. First, Metlon said, the group visited federal agencies in Washington, D.C., such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USDA and the Environmental Protection Agency. He also mentioned visiting the National Chicken Council.

From there, the group flew into Nashville on March 12 and over the following days went to various farms and processing plants in the area.

On March 17 and 18, the group went to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture where the role of the state agricultural departments was explained. Melton noted the federal agencies set the laws while the state agencies enforce them.

While in the Nashville area, the group visited two of the largest retail food markets, Kroger and Publix. There, the group was shown how food is retailed and regulated at that level, Melton said.

On March 18, Melton took the Georgians and Armenians to Heritage Farms, one of the largest dairy processing plants for Kroger. They then visited Taylor Farms in Smyrna, where store-bought salads are packaged in bags.

On March 20 and 21, the group was scheduled to learn about the scientific side of food processing and agricultural safety through a series of lectures.

In getting an overview of the food processing methods in America, Melton said they've seen food go from the "farm to the fork" and from the "stable to the table."

From the National Service of Food Safety and Veterinary and Plant Protection of Georgia were Irine Skhirtladze, chief expert; Alexander Odishvili, senior specialist; and Giorgi Mikadze, deputy chief.

From Armenia were Karine Hovsepyan, microbiologist for CJSC "Ashtarak-Kat"; Artur Varzhapetyan, chief of department for National Food Safety and Veterinary Inspection Ministry of Agriculture; and Karine Grigoryan, interpreter from the U.S. Embassy, Yerevan, Armenia.