Food Safety and Family Meals Go Together

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

Our Purpose and Commitment

OMEGA is a West Virginia-based organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the business interests of the state’s petroleum marketing, retail grocery, and convenience store industries.

As a network of over 225 locally owned businesses, OMEGA actively promotes cooperation, advocates for favorable legislation, and provides education and resources to its members. With over 50,000 employees, OMEGA members significantly contribute to the state’s economy, generating more than 10% of all state taxes and supporting local communities through scholarships, charitable donations, and civic involvement.

OMEGA is committed to fostering industry growth while serving West Virginians with essential services like fuel, food, and convenience.

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Join a Community that Champions, Connects, and Elevates!

Your Essential Connection in West Virginia

OMEGA offers three types of membership: Convenience Store Members, Petroleum Marketer Members, and Grocer Members, all of which play a vital role in providing fuel, food, and essentials across West Virginia. As a liaison with state and national agencies, OMEGA works closely with organizations like NACS, PMAA, FMI, and the N.G.A. to advocate on behalf of its members.

We keep members informed through newsletters, legislative updates, an online resource hub, and educational seminars. Additional member benefits include access to the Encova Workers’ Compensation Discount Program and participation in our annual Trade Expo and fundraising efforts for children’s charities. OMEGA is here to support, advocate, and enhance the success of our industry members.

September isn’t just National Family Meals Month™ (NFMM). It’s also National Food Safety Education Month, the period every year when the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) devotes as many resources as it can to getting its message out about what families can do to reduce their risk of food poisoning.

By: Sue Borra, RD, Chief Health and Wellness Officer and Executive Director FMI Foundation and Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, CFS, Chief, Food and Product Safety Officer and Senior Vice President, Food Safety Programs and Chairman, Partnership for Food Safety Education <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/bac-the-partnership-mascot-and-mitty-the-family-meals-spokesmitt-encourage-families-to-eat-one-more-meal-each-week-and-to-use-safe-food-preparation-techniques.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=f2e67e6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="BAC, the Partnership mascot, and Mitty, the Family Meals spokesmitt, encourage families to eat one more meal each week and to use safe food preparation techniques" title="mg-caption: BAC, the Partnership mascot, and Mitty, the Family Meals spokesmitt, encourage families to eat one more meal each week and to use safe food preparation techniques" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> September isn’t just <a href="https://www.fmi.org/family-meals">National Family Meals Month™</a> (NFMM). It’s also National Food Safety Education Month, the period every year when the <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/" target="_blank">Partnership for Food Safety Education</a> (PFSE) devotes as many resources as it can to getting its message out about what families can do to reduce their risk of food poisoning. This isn’t just a coincidence either, according to Shelley Feist, PFSE executive director. In fact, PFSE and the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/foundation">FMI Foundation</a>, the motivating force behind National Family Meals Month, go way back. “FMI is a founder of this partnership,” Feist said. “It was one of the first organizations to make an investment 20 years ago to get this organization up and running.” And, in fact, the two efforts — to encourage families to eat one more meal each week and to pay attention to handling food safely at home — go hand in hand. Research has proven that consumers will pay attention to what Feist calls food safety prompts that lead to greater compliance regarding such things as using thermometers when cooking and adequately washing produce. “So working with the FMI Foundation, we determined that the development of recipes with food safety instructions would be a great idea,” she said. That’s why you can go to the partnership’s web site, <a href="http://fightback.org" target="_blank">FightBAC.org</a> (Get it?) to <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/food-safety-education/food-safety-education-month/" target="_blank">find recipes</a> that are simple and easy for families to prepare AND include easy-to-follow instructions on how to prepare those meals safely. To kick off National Family Meals Month/National Food Safety Education Month, PFSE <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw5mbZR-ZsU&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">presented a webinar</a> for its network of 14,000 food safety educators that included both important messages: Talk to consumers about preparing food safely and about eating one more meal each week together. “A lot of our educators are working with consumers on food safety as well as nutrition, so it’s a good match for them,” Feist said. Finally, Feist said, a vital part of PFSE’s work involves the cooperation of food retailers and those working on the front lines in America’s grocery stores. “The grocery store aisle is where many families make the decision about what to have for dinner,” she said. “That point of actually making food decisions and preparing food is the best possible time to talk about food safety,” Feist said. “That’s why we really look forward to working with retailers on recipes and outreach because there is such power on the retailer’s part on food that gets prepared at home.” Learn more at <a href="https://www.fmi.org/family-meals" target="_blank">www.FMIFamilyMeals.com</a> and <a href="http://www.FightBAC.org" target="_blank">www.FightBAC.org</a> and join the discussion on social media with #FamilyMealsMonth and  #FoodSafetyMonth.

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Supporting West Virginia Communities

OMEGA members play a vital role in West Virginia, supporting communities through substantial tax contributions and a wide-reaching presence across the state. With over 55% of the population living in border counties, our members are dedicated to serving both local and regional needs. Beyond business, we’re proud to give back, having contributed over $3.1 million to children’s charities since 2003, reflecting our commitment to making a positive difference.