Third District Congressman Mark Souder visited a couple of Warsaw businesses Wednesday to learn more about their operations.
He toured Little Crow Foods in the morning and Symmetry Medical Inc. in the afternoon.
"In Kosciusko County, jobs are heavily related to agriculture and orthopedics, and I feel when I am not in session it is important to visit companies in my district to see what they make and do," Souder said.Souder was joined by his local representatives, Allison McSherry and Tracy Jackson.
Souder spent Wednesday morning touring Little Crow Foods and meeting with employees.
"We were honored to have Souder spend time touring our facility, and talked about the increased price in wheat and how that is affecting our business," said Denny Fuller, Little Crow Foods president.
"The biggest thing I learned is that alternative energy is impacting more than just corn and soybeans," Souder said.
He said he learned the cost of wheat has increased by 160 percent and the cost of corn has increased by 7 percent.
Souder sat down with the Times-Union to discuss his candidacy in the May 6 primary.
He faces Republican Scott Wise, Columbia City, in the primary.
"Clearly, health care, energy prices and the housing crisis are concerns this year, but an election must not be focused on only the issues relevant this year, but a set of principles that will guide a person on issues that come up in the next few years," Souder said.
Souder met with Mayor Ernie Wiggins for lunch at the Boathouse to discuss issues relevant to the city.
In the afternoon, Souder toured Symmetry Medical Inc.
Barry Parker, Symmetry Medical Inc. senior vice president for design and development, gave Souder a tour of the company's design and development center and instrument production facility. Parker also made a presentation on the company's operations.
"I am pleased Souder was able to visit Symmetry Medical to get a pulse for the orthopedic industry," Parker said.
Symmetry Medical Inc. is the world's largest independent provider of orthopedic implants and related instruments and cases in the global orthopedic device industry.
The company designs, develops and produces these products for companies in more than 25 medical device markets, including dental, osteobiological and endoscopy sectors.
