General members of the American Meat Institute (AMI) voted unanimously on Wednesday to proceed with a merger with the North American Meat Association (NAMA).  This vote was the last step necessary to finalize a merger, which is expected to occur on January 1, 2015.  AMI’s board and NAMA’s board previously voted to proceed with the merger.  The two organizations will now move to create a transition committee to map out the merging of the two organizations.

“The General Membership’s unanimous vote today makes possible the formation of a new and stronger organization, well-positioned to meet the challenges of the future,” AMI Chairman Greg Benedict, chief operating officer and president of American Foods Groups, said in a news release.