Author Archive
By Larry Oscar
With all the wild news today one can’t help but question the truth of the information we are getting. Living in the United States we assume that our “government” is telling us is accurate.
However, it has long been suspected by those of us, who know human nature quite well, that it is always wise not to jump to any conclusions based on what someone says who has a vested interest in telling us “some version” of the truth. Our government’s self interest always seems to lean towards prevaricators of the highest magnitude who are first on the scene to do damage control.
The recent Islamic terror attack in Orlando, Fl is a prime example. The quick pivot of the White House towards deranged individuals and gun control rather than the simple fact that the killer was taking action on behalf of ISIS and in the name of Islam should disturb you down to the core. And to make matters worse, the White House had their justice department scrub the transcript of the released 911 calls this Islamic murderer made to delete all references to Islam. This should make every American stand up and take notice.
We all know our founding principles have been under attack by the left wing mooching class for decades. It is without a doubt their next attack will upon truth. Truth is just about all that is left of the unique values that this country was built upon. It is not by accident the first document of our national foundation, The Declaration of Independence, starts out by referring to the concept of truth. “We hold these truths to be self-evident….”
Our founding fathers knew that any relationship, whether it be between individuals, institutions, or governments must first be based on truth if it is to be a lasting one. Now anybody with any amount of life’s experiences knows often the truth hurts. Truth calls out our human weaknesses and personal failures and more times than not it does not make us feel very good. In fact it and is a source for depression in some individuals who look upon their lives as a hopeless succession of failures.
However, the plain simple truth is that you cannot build a solid foundation for a house on weak and shifting sand. And twisting and contorting the truth is the shifting sand that causes a house to fall ( Matthew 7:24-27).
If our leaders in the private sector, public sector, religious, academic, or family institutions distort the truth they do so at their own peril and the peril of others. Regardless of how painful or degrading the truth is history has taught us that we are far better off if we face it head on and act accordingly. We fought World War II against a socialist nation led by people who actually had a Reich Minister of Propaganda, Joesph Goebbles. He served in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.
History has taught us that socialism cannot survive if it is under the microscope of truth. This may be the greatest inherent danger of socialism. We may very well be able to measure just how far our country has degraded by counting the lies and deceit that comes from the White House these days. Note how our illustrious President recently gave a glorious speech about our success against ISIS. And the very next day the head of the CIA, John Brennan, told our Congress that we have not slowed ISIS or their ability to carry out global attacks in this country or any other country.
Now who do you think is telling the truth here. You must remember every day the President gets a CIA briefing on world affairs and global threats. Who knows best, the one that is doing the briefing or the one being briefed? Words matter.
The left wing press is all over Donald Trump for his use of words, but when our own President says, “What does it matter what we call them?” the press manifests their true hypocrisy. If words don’t matter, than who cares what Donald Trump says. After all, they are “just words” aren’t they?
The truth is words do matter. And just because the truth does not support what you want to think, or what you believe does not mean it should not be said. You can choose not to listen to the truth and you can choose to ignore the truth, but you must never twist, distort, or just plain lie about the truth.
The right to know the truth is a basic natural human right we all have that was endowed upon us by the Creator. And there is one truth that should never be in question above all others……………Cold beer is always better in the summertime!
The initial outlook for new season shipments of Washington state apples and North Carolina sweet potatoes are looking good, with increases in loadings expected for both.
Washington apple shipments for the fresh market are expected to hit nearly 133 million carton this season . If you include apples for processing it climbs to 168 million cartons, which was be a massive 15.7 percent increase over last season. This would represent 64 percent of the nation’s apple volume.
Shipped in 40-pound cartons, the fresh crop is up 15 percent from last year’115 million boxes. However this would be down 6 percent from 2014’s record 141.8 million boxes.
Washington growers typically begin harvesting in early August and continues into November, but due to warm growing conditions the crop is coming on a week or two early. The forecast also could be affected as we journey into the season due to several months of variable weather which can affect the final season’s crop total.
The red delicious variety remains the biggest-producer accounting for 25 percent of total production. Galas are at 23 percent fujis at 14 percent,with granny smiths at 13 percent. This season honeycrisps are forecast at 7 percent and cripps pinks — also known as Pink Lady apples — are at 4 percent.
Yakima Valley apples – grossing about $4200 to Dallas.
Sweet Potato Shipments
Depending upon the growing operation, harvest of North Carolina sweet potatoes for the new season will get underway anywhere from August 15th to the 25th. However, the old crop from the 2015-16 season will continue to be shipped into September. However, old crop supplies are dwindling. This will probably result in some shippers shipping uncured sweet potatoes from the new crop. Just make sure your customers are aware you’ll be delivering uncured product, since cured sweet potatoes are preferred. The new season with cured sweet potatoes should be in good volume by early October.
The outlook on size of the North Carolina crop hasn’t been issued yet, but early indications are it will be as large, if not a little larger than last season.
By Growers Express
Salinas, CA — Fresh on the heels of a June announcement that Growers Express had acquired Misionero Vegetables of Gonzales, Calif., they announced this week that they have also acquired long time Green Giant Fresh supplier and partner—Curran’s of Biddeford, Maine.
Both of these recent acquisitions will bring increased production, processing and distribution to this ever-expanding fresh vegetable grower/shipper, most notably with the addition of Misionero in the West and Curran’s on the East Coast.
Curran’s, formerly of Saco, Maine, has been a valued supplier of premium Green Giant Fresh value-added products since 2006, and has had a successful relationship with Growers Express since 2009. Jamie Strachan, CEO Growers Express said, “Curran’s commitment to the Green Giant Fresh program and the success of the brand made this a desirable partnership for us as we continue to expand Growers Express.”
Curran’s recently expanded its operation into a new 55,000-square-foot facility in Biddeford, Maine in the fall of 2015. This new state-of-the-art facility allows for substantial expansion of products and capacity for continued growth.
“The acquisition of this ideally located tried and true partner is strategically significant for us,” said Strachan. Continuing, “from their New England location, we will be able to reach 40 percent of the population of the United
States and Canada, as well as reduce lead times which will better ensure product quality and shelf life upon delivery.”
“Growers’ mission has them evolving into a next generation healthful foods company,” said Bert Roberge, new director of sales for Growers Express, “and our shared values of integrity, relationships and teamwork are a perfect fit.” Already acting as an extension of the industry leader, this new acquisition helps poise Growers Express for continued customer service and growth into the future.
Roberge concluded, “We are thrilled to join forces with Growers; it’s an honor to represent—and officially join—a company with such focus on quality, exceptional customer service and proven industry leadership as their East Coast division.”
About Growers Express
Founded in 1987, Growers Express is comprised of eight produce growers whose farming practices and standards, combined with their generations of experience and passion for farming, have contributed to making Growers Express one of the nation’s industry-leading suppliers of premium fresh produce. Headquartered in Salinas Valley—known as the “salad bowl of the world”—our total year-round ground base exceeds 40,000 acres. Our continually evolving and innovative line includes 40+ commodities, value-added products, bunching items, meal solutions, fresh herbs and a new organic line in 2015 under the banner Farm Day Organic.
There is no substantiated evidence of human health risk from genetically engineered crops, according to a new study by the National Academy of Sciences, nor did it find “conclusive cause-and-effect evidence” of environmental problems.
However, NAS called resistance to current GE characteristics in crops a major agricultural problem.
Nearly 900 studies were examined by researchers on the effects of GE maize, soybean and cotton, along with public meetings and webinars.
“The committee focused on listening carefully and responding thoughtfully to members of the public who have concerns about GE crops and foods, as well as those who feel that there are great benefits to be had from GE crops,” said Fred Gould, committee chair and University Distinguished Professor of Entomology and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University.
“Studies with animals and research on the chemical composition of GE foods currently on the market reveal no differences that would implicate a higher risk to human health and safety than from eating their non-GE counterparts,” the 420-page report found. “Though long-term epidemiological studies have not directly addressed GE food consumption, available epidemiological data do not show associations between any disease or chronic conditions and the consumption of GE foods.”
On the environmental impact, NAS found the use of insect-resistant or herbicide-resistant crops did not reduce the diversity of plant and insect life on farms, though the panel said the long-term environmental changes cannot be assessed at this time.
NAS did not find the effects of GE crops on agriculture as completely beneficial.
“Evidence shows that in locations where insect-resistant crops were planted but resistance-management strategies were not followed, damaging levels of resistance evolved in some target insects.” Also, data on the commodity crops show no evidence that GE crops increased yields.
On the issue of regulation, NAS said the committee did not believe mandatory labeling of GE foods was necessary based on human health concerns, but the issue may be influenced by “value choices,” such as social issues.
The new report comes as leaders on the Senate Agriculture Committee are feverishly working on compromise legislation to build a federal solution to GE food labeling as many food companies fear Vermont’s mandatory labeling law that went into effect in July.
By Cargo Data
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Final Rule for Sanitary Transportation for Human and Animal Food was released in late March 2016.
Industry leaders have been working with regulators to understand how enforcement will be approached. The following points will most likely characterize regulatory enforcement:
1) Enforcement for of the Sanitary Transportation requirements will begin 12 months from release of the Final Rule for large firms. This means enforcement will begin March 2017 for many large perishables handlers. Enforcement for smaller firms will begin March 2018.
2) Inspectors will not generally be interested in reviewing reams (or gigabytes!) of data related to in-transit temperatures, product accept/reject reports, or other detailed information. Instead:
3) Compliance will likely be considered satisfactory when subject firms can demonstrate they have developed and implemented systems which satisfy the requirements of FSMA.
For example: Since FSMA mandates that all authorized individuals in the supply chain (shippers, carriers, Receivers) must remove suspected adulterated or abused products from the supply chain, can each participant demonstrate its system supports such action?
Cargo Data recommends Lightning NFC as a vital element of your new FSMA compliance program. The Lightning NFC system is designed specifically to provide each participant in the cold chain with immediate temperature data review and automatically archives the data to the Cloud. Lightning NFC supports FSMA by making it easy to check cold chain integrity and to make informed decisions about product safety.
Lightning NFC temperature recorders can be ordered online.
Contact Cargo Data Corporation today to learn more about FSMA compliance and Lightning NFC at 800-338-8134 or information@cargodatacorp.com .
A seasonal shift in watermelon shipments is taking place, plus here’s an update on loadings for California grapes, Florida avocados and Western onion shipments.
Watermelon Shipments Shift
Volume watermelon shipments are making a seasonal shift to new production areas. Loadings are now taking place from fields west of Lubbock, TX. Shipping will continue through September. Both Indiana and Delaware should have watermelon shipments moving into good volume this week….Mexican watermelon shipments through Nogales, AZ are expected by mid October.
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia watermelon shipments – grossing about $1100 to New York City.
California Grape Shipments
In the week ending July 30, about 67 million pounds of California grapes were shipped in the U.S., down from 72.7 million pounds in the same week in 2015. The July 30 total, was however, more than the 61.9 million pounds that shipped in 2014. Year-to-date as of July 30, about 1.47 billion pounds of grapes had shipped in the U.S., down from 1.59 billion pounds last year.
San Joaquin Valley grape shipments – grossing about $6200 to New York City.
Florida Avocado Shipments
Florida avocado grower-shippers expect to ship about one-third less fruit compared to previous seasons. Initially, about 1 million bushels of the green-skinned avocados were expected to be moved. However, that estimate was later reduced to about 800,000 bushels. Following an unfavorable growing season, grower-shippers are now eying 600,000-700,000 bushels, about 35 percent smaller than normal. Typically, shippers such as New Limeco LLC in Princeton, FL as well as Unity Groves Corp. and Brooks Tropicals, both based in Homestead, FL, have peak loadings in July, August and September. Most shipments will be finished in December, although very light volume will extend through March.
Onion Shipments
Washington, Idaho and Oregon account for one-third of the nation’s onion shipments. The primary Pacific Northwest shipping locations for storage onions are in the Treasure Valley in western Idaho and eastern Oregon and in the Columbia Basin in Central Washington and North Central Oregon. Three years ago Northwest onion shipments exceeded 32 million hundredweight.
Northwest onion volume is currently very light, but gradually increasing. Much heavier shipments are taking place from southern New Mexico, averaging about 750 truckloads a week. California’s San Joaquin Valley has over 650 truck loads being shipped weekly.
Southern New Mexico onion shipments – grossing about $3100 to Chicago.
By Produce for Kids
ORLANDO, Fla. – For the third year, Produce for Kids and produce partners are encouraging families nationwide to kick off the school year right by pledging to eat a healthier lunch, Aug. 8 through Sept. 23, at PowerYourLunchbox.com. The Power Your Lunchbox Pledge® website offers tips and recipes to help families and classrooms eat healthier lunches, after-school snacks and weekday dinners this school year. For every online pledge, lunchbox-friendly companies supporting Power Your Lunchbox Pledge will make a collective $1 donation to Feeding America® programs that support families and children.
Produce for Kids’ 11 produce partners are featured in lunchbox-friendly recipes on PowerYourLunchbox.com, in digital communications to more than 25k subscribers, targeted social media efforts and in digital coupons provided to families taking the pledge.
Produce partners supporting Power Your Lunchbox Pledge 2016 include: Avocados from Mexico – Mexican Hass Avocados, Bee Sweet Citrus, Crispy Fruit Freeze-Dried Fruit Snacks from Crispy Green®, Eat Smart® Fresh Cut Vegetables, Earthbound Farm® Baby Kale, GROW Bananas by Organics Unlimited, Marie’s® Dressings, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice, NatureFresh™ greenhouse tomatoes, Pero Family Farms® Mini Sweet Peppers and Snipped Green Beans, and Sun World® grapes with additional support provided by Bentology™.
During the campaign, Produce for Kids will be generating a healthy lunch buzz by giving away a Bentology™ bento box each day and hosting a #PowerYourLunchbox Twitter party allowing Twitter users to join in an hour-long conversation about back to school and healthy lunches. Additionally, families will be encouraged to use the #PowerYourLunchbox hashtag on social media throughout the campaign to share ideas with each other.
“Back to school is a great time for families to make a healthy resolution they can carry on through the duration of the school year,” said Trish James, vice president, Produce for Kids. “As a mom of two boys, I understand the challenges parents face when packing a healthy, nutritious lunch for their children and for themselves. The Power Your Lunchbox Pledge was designed to help families tackle this universal challenge.”
Here are a few ways to get involved in the campaign:
- Take the pledge. Pledge to eat healthier this school year at PowerYourLunchbox.com. Companies supporting the program will make a collective $1 donation for every pledge taken to Feeding America programs that support families and children.
- Show off healthy lunchboxes on social media. Produce for Kids’ Instagram and Twitter followers can use the #PowerYourLunchbox hashtag to show off their healthy lunchboxes to have their lunchboxes featured on the Produce for Kids Facebook page. Follow along on the hashtag to see great ideas from fellow parents.
- Party with Produce for Kids on Twitter. Parents looking for even more tips and resources for healthy lunchboxes are invited to join Produce for Kids and partner companies at the #PowerYourLunchbox Twitter party at 9 pm ET on August 17.
This month’s back-to-school themed Produce for Kids “We Heart RDs” kit, sent to retail dietitians, included pledge sheets, “I Pledged” stickers, lunchbox recipes and more. There is a dedicated retail dietitian section on PowerYourLunchbox.com.
“Retail dietitians are in a position where they can support families during the back-to-school timeframe while they are in the store making decisions,” said James. “It made sense to bring the Power Your Lunchbox message to our more than 300 retail dietitians so that they can share healthy back-to-school recipes with shoppers.”
In addition to outreach in the grocery store, classrooms can get involved in the pledge by visiting the PowerYourLunchbox.com teacher resource page that provides teachers in grades K-5 with fun, free nutrition-focused downloadable lesson plans, certificates for their students, take home materials for families, and the ability to take the pledge as a classroom.
Since 2014, the campaign raised more than $15,000 for kid’s health and wellness programs across the country.
For more information visit poweryourlunchbox.com.
# # #
About Produce for Kids®
Produce for Kids® is a philanthropically based organization that brings the produce industry together to educate consumers about healthy eating with fresh produce and raises funds for local children’s non-profit organizations. Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $5.7 million to benefit kids. To learn more about Produce for Kids and healthy eating, visit www.produceforkids.com, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Valley of Fire. State Park. USA. This image is processed from 16-BIT RAW and professionally edited for best quality and usage.Similar images from same location:
ATHENS, Ga., Aug. 4, 2016 — Carrier Transicold today announced it will offer a customized telematics solution that will deliver advanced capabilities for its transport refrigeration units (TRUs). The new telematics solution will help fleets manage their refrigerated assets by enabling remote refrigeration unit monitoring, control and diagnostics, data management and other value-added capabilities.
“We are excited about the opportunity to provide an advanced two-way wireless communications system, uniquely qualified for truck and trailer units and backed by our comprehensive dealer support network,” said David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems. “Adoption of telematics by the transport industry has evolved rapidly and is now an important tool for fleet management.”
ORBCOMM Inc., a global provider of machine-to-machine and internet of things solutions, was selected to develop the system according to design and qualification requirements specified by the Georgia based company.
“We launched this initiative in response to customer demand for an original equipment manufacturer-provided system for TRUs,” Appel said. “The system can be factory-installed and will be supported by our authorized dealer network. ORBCOMM’s experience with remote monitoring and control solutions for mobile assets complements our expertise in transport refrigeration systems. Its expansive satellite and cellular capabilities provide the scale needed to support Carrier Transicold TRUs.”
“We are pleased to have been chosen to support global refrigerated transport leader Carrier Transicold,” said Marc Eisenberg, CEO, ORBCOMM. “ORBCOMM’s
technologies and knowledge will provide Carrier Transicold’s customers with tools to better track and monitor their shipments.”
With field trials nearing completion, the company anticipates the full release of its telematics solution in North America in 2017, followed by rollouts in Europe and other regions around the world.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, the company has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, directdrive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com.
The new U.S. potato shipping season is underway in very light volume. Here is a preview from five states on what to expect.
Indiana Potato Shipments
Here’s one you may not be aware of. The red potato harvest has begun at Black Gold Farms’ operation in Winamac, IN, located about hallway between Chicago and Indianapolis. Red potatoes for the fresh market account for several hundred acres of Norland and Dark Red Norland varieties, which are being shipped through August. The Winamac farm allows Black Gold Farms to ship potatoes the year-round from its own farms. The cycle that starts each year in Texas and then transitions to North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri before moving up to Indiana and finally to the Red River Valley in North Dakota and Minnesota.
North Dakota/Minnesota Potato Shipments
Red River Valley red potato shipments out of North Dakota and Minnesota are expected to be off 25 to 30 percent from a year ago due to weather factors. However, shipments, which will begin in mid October, are expected to be normal for 2016-17 until storages start running out of product late in the season (May and June). This will probably mean an earlier than normal end to shipping for most shippers. The Red River Valley is the nation’s largest red potato shipping area. A & L Potato Co. in East Grand Forks, MN is already packing and shipping red potatoes. Big Lake and Long Prairie, MN, along with Wisconsin typically ship the first red potatoes of the new season beginning in August.
Big Lake, MN potatoes – grossing about $1000 to Chicago.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments
Central Wisconsin is now shipping red potatoes, with russets coming soon. The first russets are expected this week in very light volume. The Badger State ranks third in U.S. potato shipments. Normal volume is expected this year.
Idaho Potato Shipments
The nation’s leading potato shipper, Idaho, is expected to get underway for the new season the week of August 15th. Normal volume is expected for the 2016-17 shipping season.
Twin Falls, ID potatoes – grossing about $1450 to L.A.
Now that we are well into summer, here’s a look at California strawberry shipments, blueberries from the Northwest and New Jersey, as well as from Michigan, plus more.
For the 2016 season, California will ship nearly 80 percent of the strawberry volume in the United States.
The 2016 California Strawberry Acreage Survey from the California Strawberry Commission notes 32,515 acres of strawberries were planted in California for the 2016 season. This breaks down to 27,783 acres planted in the fall of last year for production in the winter, spring and summer and then 4,732 acres planted this summer for production in the fall.
California strawberries are shipped year-round in California, with the ‘late-season strawberries’ second planting often referred to as the “summer plant.”
The majority of this acreage is shipped into the fall/early winter, and primarily originates from the Oxnard and Santa Maria areas.
Watsonville strawberries and Salinas vegetables – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
Blueberry Shipments
Oregon blueberry shipments are now coming out of the Willamette Valley region with mid- to late-season varieties. Fresh shipments have ended a week or so early this year and now loadings are coming with “blues” out of storage. Shipments should continue through September.
Meanwhile, peak blueberry shipments are expected through August from British Columbia and New Jersey, with both areas continuing with lighter volume through September.
Michigan Produce Shipments
Michigan could set record blueberry shipments as loadings continue this season. However, growers are fighting a pest known as the Spotted Wing Drosophila, a nasty invasive fruit fly. It’s requiring close attention with insecticides, are abundant, requiring stringent controls, DeGrandchamp said.
Meanwhile Southwestern Michigan also is shipping peaches and plums (Berrien County), but in much lighter volume. The apricot season has ended.
Berian County apple shipments get underway in September, followed closely by loadings from Allegan County.
Michigan blueberry shipments – grossing about $3500 to Dallas; Michigan vegetable shipments grossing 25 to 30 percent less, depending upon destination.
By Larry Oscar
With all the wild news today one can’t help but question the truth of the information we are getting. Living in the United States we assume that our “government” is telling us is accurate.
However, it has long been suspected by those of us, who know human nature quite well, that it is always wise not to jump to any conclusions based on what someone says who has a vested interest in telling us “some version” of the truth. Our government’s self interest always seems to lean towards prevaricators of the highest magnitude who are first on the scene to do damage control.
The recent Islamic terror attack in Orlando, Fl is a prime example. The quick pivot of the White House towards deranged individuals and gun control rather than the simple fact that the killer was taking action on behalf of ISIS and in the name of Islam should disturb you down to the core. And to make matters worse, the White House had their justice department scrub the transcript of the released 911 calls this Islamic murderer made to delete all references to Islam. This should make every American stand up and take notice.
We all know our founding principles have been under attack by the left wing mooching class for decades. It is without a doubt their next attack will upon truth. Truth is just about all that is left of the unique values that this country was built upon. It is not by accident the first document of our national foundation, The Declaration of Independence, starts out by referring to the concept of truth. “We hold these truths to be self-evident….”
Our founding fathers knew that any relationship, whether it be between individuals, institutions, or governments must first be based on truth if it is to be a lasting one. Now anybody with any amount of life’s experiences knows often the truth hurts. Truth calls out our human weaknesses and personal failures and more times than not it does not make us feel very good. In fact it and is a source for depression in some individuals who look upon their lives as a hopeless succession of failures.
However, the plain simple truth is that you cannot build a solid foundation for a house on weak and shifting sand. And twisting and contorting the truth is the shifting sand that causes a house to fall ( Matthew 7:24-27).
If our leaders in the private sector, public sector, religious, academic, or family institutions distort the truth they do so at their own peril and the peril of others. Regardless of how painful or degrading the truth is history has taught us that we are far better off if we face it head on and act accordingly. We fought World War II against a socialist nation led by people who actually had a Reich Minister of Propaganda, Joesph Goebbles. He served in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.
History has taught us that socialism cannot survive if it is under the microscope of truth. This may be the greatest inherent danger of socialism. We may very well be able to measure just how far our country has degraded by counting the lies and deceit that comes from the White House these days. Note how our illustrious President recently gave a glorious speech about our success against ISIS. And the very next day the head of the CIA, John Brennan, told our Congress that we have not slowed ISIS or their ability to carry out global attacks in this country or any other country.
Now who do you think is telling the truth here. You must remember every day the President gets a CIA briefing on world affairs and global threats. Who knows best, the one that is doing the briefing or the one being briefed? Words matter.
The left wing press is all over Donald Trump for his use of words, but when our own President says, “What does it matter what we call them?” the press manifests their true hypocrisy. If words don’t matter, than who cares what Donald Trump says. After all, they are “just words” aren’t they?
The truth is words do matter. And just because the truth does not support what you want to think, or what you believe does not mean it should not be said. You can choose not to listen to the truth and you can choose to ignore the truth, but you must never twist, distort, or just plain lie about the truth.
The right to know the truth is a basic natural human right we all have that was endowed upon us by the Creator. And there is one truth that should never be in question above all others……………Cold beer is always better in the summertime!
The initial outlook for new season shipments of Washington state apples and North Carolina sweet potatoes are looking good, with increases in loadings expected for both.
Washington apple shipments for the fresh market are expected to hit nearly 133 million carton this season . If you include apples for processing it climbs to 168 million cartons, which was be a massive 15.7 percent increase over last season. This would represent 64 percent of the nation’s apple volume.
Shipped in 40-pound cartons, the fresh crop is up 15 percent from last year’115 million boxes. However this would be down 6 percent from 2014’s record 141.8 million boxes.
Washington growers typically begin harvesting in early August and continues into November, but due to warm growing conditions the crop is coming on a week or two early. The forecast also could be affected as we journey into the season due to several months of variable weather which can affect the final season’s crop total.
The red delicious variety remains the biggest-producer accounting for 25 percent of total production. Galas are at 23 percent fujis at 14 percent,with granny smiths at 13 percent. This season honeycrisps are forecast at 7 percent and cripps pinks — also known as Pink Lady apples — are at 4 percent.
Yakima Valley apples – grossing about $4200 to Dallas.
Sweet Potato Shipments
Depending upon the growing operation, harvest of North Carolina sweet potatoes for the new season will get underway anywhere from August 15th to the 25th. However, the old crop from the 2015-16 season will continue to be shipped into September. However, old crop supplies are dwindling. This will probably result in some shippers shipping uncured sweet potatoes from the new crop. Just make sure your customers are aware you’ll be delivering uncured product, since cured sweet potatoes are preferred. The new season with cured sweet potatoes should be in good volume by early October.
The outlook on size of the North Carolina crop hasn’t been issued yet, but early indications are it will be as large, if not a little larger than last season.
By Growers Express
Salinas, CA — Fresh on the heels of a June announcement that Growers Express had acquired Misionero Vegetables of Gonzales, Calif., they announced this week that they have also acquired long time Green Giant Fresh supplier and partner—Curran’s of Biddeford, Maine.
Both of these recent acquisitions will bring increased production, processing and distribution to this ever-expanding fresh vegetable grower/shipper, most notably with the addition of Misionero in the West and Curran’s on the East Coast.
Curran’s, formerly of Saco, Maine, has been a valued supplier of premium Green Giant Fresh value-added products since 2006, and has had a successful relationship with Growers Express since 2009. Jamie Strachan, CEO Growers Express said, “Curran’s commitment to the Green Giant Fresh program and the success of the brand made this a desirable partnership for us as we continue to expand Growers Express.”
Curran’s recently expanded its operation into a new 55,000-square-foot facility in Biddeford, Maine in the fall of 2015. This new state-of-the-art facility allows for substantial expansion of products and capacity for continued growth.
“The acquisition of this ideally located tried and true partner is strategically significant for us,” said Strachan. Continuing, “from their New England location, we will be able to reach 40 percent of the population of the United
States and Canada, as well as reduce lead times which will better ensure product quality and shelf life upon delivery.”
“Growers’ mission has them evolving into a next generation healthful foods company,” said Bert Roberge, new director of sales for Growers Express, “and our shared values of integrity, relationships and teamwork are a perfect fit.” Already acting as an extension of the industry leader, this new acquisition helps poise Growers Express for continued customer service and growth into the future.
Roberge concluded, “We are thrilled to join forces with Growers; it’s an honor to represent—and officially join—a company with such focus on quality, exceptional customer service and proven industry leadership as their East Coast division.”
About Growers Express
Founded in 1987, Growers Express is comprised of eight produce growers whose farming practices and standards, combined with their generations of experience and passion for farming, have contributed to making Growers Express one of the nation’s industry-leading suppliers of premium fresh produce. Headquartered in Salinas Valley—known as the “salad bowl of the world”—our total year-round ground base exceeds 40,000 acres. Our continually evolving and innovative line includes 40+ commodities, value-added products, bunching items, meal solutions, fresh herbs and a new organic line in 2015 under the banner Farm Day Organic.
There is no substantiated evidence of human health risk from genetically engineered crops, according to a new study by the National Academy of Sciences, nor did it find “conclusive cause-and-effect evidence” of environmental problems.
However, NAS called resistance to current GE characteristics in crops a major agricultural problem.
Nearly 900 studies were examined by researchers on the effects of GE maize, soybean and cotton, along with public meetings and webinars.
“The committee focused on listening carefully and responding thoughtfully to members of the public who have concerns about GE crops and foods, as well as those who feel that there are great benefits to be had from GE crops,” said Fred Gould, committee chair and University Distinguished Professor of Entomology and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University.
“Studies with animals and research on the chemical composition of GE foods currently on the market reveal no differences that would implicate a higher risk to human health and safety than from eating their non-GE counterparts,” the 420-page report found. “Though long-term epidemiological studies have not directly addressed GE food consumption, available epidemiological data do not show associations between any disease or chronic conditions and the consumption of GE foods.”
On the environmental impact, NAS found the use of insect-resistant or herbicide-resistant crops did not reduce the diversity of plant and insect life on farms, though the panel said the long-term environmental changes cannot be assessed at this time.
NAS did not find the effects of GE crops on agriculture as completely beneficial.
“Evidence shows that in locations where insect-resistant crops were planted but resistance-management strategies were not followed, damaging levels of resistance evolved in some target insects.” Also, data on the commodity crops show no evidence that GE crops increased yields.
On the issue of regulation, NAS said the committee did not believe mandatory labeling of GE foods was necessary based on human health concerns, but the issue may be influenced by “value choices,” such as social issues.
The new report comes as leaders on the Senate Agriculture Committee are feverishly working on compromise legislation to build a federal solution to GE food labeling as many food companies fear Vermont’s mandatory labeling law that went into effect in July.
By Cargo DataThe Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Final Rule for Sanitary Transportation for Human and Animal Food was released in late March 2016.
Industry leaders have been working with regulators to understand how enforcement will be approached. The following points will most likely characterize regulatory enforcement:
1) Enforcement for of the Sanitary Transportation requirements will begin 12 months from release of the Final Rule for large firms. This means enforcement will begin March 2017 for many large perishables handlers. Enforcement for smaller firms will begin March 2018.
2) Inspectors will not generally be interested in reviewing reams (or gigabytes!) of data related to in-transit temperatures, product accept/reject reports, or other detailed information. Instead:
3) Compliance will likely be considered satisfactory when subject firms can demonstrate they have developed and implemented systems which satisfy the requirements of FSMA.
For example: Since FSMA mandates that all authorized individuals in the supply chain (shippers, carriers, Receivers) must remove suspected adulterated or abused products from the supply chain, can each participant demonstrate its system supports such action?
Cargo Data recommends Lightning NFC as a vital element of your new FSMA compliance program. The Lightning NFC system is designed specifically to provide each participant in the cold chain with immediate temperature data review and automatically archives the data to the Cloud. Lightning NFC supports FSMA by making it easy to check cold chain integrity and to make informed decisions about product safety.
Lightning NFC temperature recorders can be ordered online.
Contact Cargo Data Corporation today to learn more about FSMA compliance and Lightning NFC at 800-338-8134 or information@cargodatacorp.com .
A seasonal shift in watermelon shipments is taking place, plus here’s an update on loadings for California grapes, Florida avocados and Western onion shipments.
Watermelon Shipments Shift
Volume watermelon shipments are making a seasonal shift to new production areas. Loadings are now taking place from fields west of Lubbock, TX. Shipping will continue through September. Both Indiana and Delaware should have watermelon shipments moving into good volume this week….Mexican watermelon shipments through Nogales, AZ are expected by mid October.
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia watermelon shipments – grossing about $1100 to New York City.
California Grape Shipments
In the week ending July 30, about 67 million pounds of California grapes were shipped in the U.S., down from 72.7 million pounds in the same week in 2015. The July 30 total, was however, more than the 61.9 million pounds that shipped in 2014. Year-to-date as of July 30, about 1.47 billion pounds of grapes had shipped in the U.S., down from 1.59 billion pounds last year.
San Joaquin Valley grape shipments – grossing about $6200 to New York City.
Florida Avocado Shipments
Florida avocado grower-shippers expect to ship about one-third less fruit compared to previous seasons. Initially, about 1 million bushels of the green-skinned avocados were expected to be moved. However, that estimate was later reduced to about 800,000 bushels. Following an unfavorable growing season, grower-shippers are now eying 600,000-700,000 bushels, about 35 percent smaller than normal. Typically, shippers such as New Limeco LLC in Princeton, FL as well as Unity Groves Corp. and Brooks Tropicals, both based in Homestead, FL, have peak loadings in July, August and September. Most shipments will be finished in December, although very light volume will extend through March.
Onion Shipments
Washington, Idaho and Oregon account for one-third of the nation’s onion shipments. The primary Pacific Northwest shipping locations for storage onions are in the Treasure Valley in western Idaho and eastern Oregon and in the Columbia Basin in Central Washington and North Central Oregon. Three years ago Northwest onion shipments exceeded 32 million hundredweight.
Northwest onion volume is currently very light, but gradually increasing. Much heavier shipments are taking place from southern New Mexico, averaging about 750 truckloads a week. California’s San Joaquin Valley has over 650 truck loads being shipped weekly.
Southern New Mexico onion shipments – grossing about $3100 to Chicago.
By Produce for Kids
ORLANDO, Fla. – For the third year, Produce for Kids and produce partners are encouraging families nationwide to kick off the school year right by pledging to eat a healthier lunch, Aug. 8 through Sept. 23, at PowerYourLunchbox.com. The Power Your Lunchbox Pledge® website offers tips and recipes to help families and classrooms eat healthier lunches, after-school snacks and weekday dinners this school year. For every online pledge, lunchbox-friendly companies supporting Power Your Lunchbox Pledge will make a collective $1 donation to Feeding America® programs that support families and children.
Produce for Kids’ 11 produce partners are featured in lunchbox-friendly recipes on PowerYourLunchbox.com, in digital communications to more than 25k subscribers, targeted social media efforts and in digital coupons provided to families taking the pledge.
Produce partners supporting Power Your Lunchbox Pledge 2016 include: Avocados from Mexico – Mexican Hass Avocados, Bee Sweet Citrus, Crispy Fruit Freeze-Dried Fruit Snacks from Crispy Green®, Eat Smart® Fresh Cut Vegetables, Earthbound Farm® Baby Kale, GROW Bananas by Organics Unlimited, Marie’s® Dressings, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice, NatureFresh™ greenhouse tomatoes, Pero Family Farms® Mini Sweet Peppers and Snipped Green Beans, and Sun World® grapes with additional support provided by Bentology™.
During the campaign, Produce for Kids will be generating a healthy lunch buzz by giving away a Bentology™ bento box each day and hosting a #PowerYourLunchbox Twitter party allowing Twitter users to join in an hour-long conversation about back to school and healthy lunches. Additionally, families will be encouraged to use the #PowerYourLunchbox hashtag on social media throughout the campaign to share ideas with each other.
“Back to school is a great time for families to make a healthy resolution they can carry on through the duration of the school year,” said Trish James, vice president, Produce for Kids. “As a mom of two boys, I understand the challenges parents face when packing a healthy, nutritious lunch for their children and for themselves. The Power Your Lunchbox Pledge was designed to help families tackle this universal challenge.”
Here are a few ways to get involved in the campaign:
- Take the pledge. Pledge to eat healthier this school year at PowerYourLunchbox.com. Companies supporting the program will make a collective $1 donation for every pledge taken to Feeding America programs that support families and children.
- Show off healthy lunchboxes on social media. Produce for Kids’ Instagram and Twitter followers can use the #PowerYourLunchbox hashtag to show off their healthy lunchboxes to have their lunchboxes featured on the Produce for Kids Facebook page. Follow along on the hashtag to see great ideas from fellow parents.
- Party with Produce for Kids on Twitter. Parents looking for even more tips and resources for healthy lunchboxes are invited to join Produce for Kids and partner companies at the #PowerYourLunchbox Twitter party at 9 pm ET on August 17.
This month’s back-to-school themed Produce for Kids “We Heart RDs” kit, sent to retail dietitians, included pledge sheets, “I Pledged” stickers, lunchbox recipes and more. There is a dedicated retail dietitian section on PowerYourLunchbox.com.
“Retail dietitians are in a position where they can support families during the back-to-school timeframe while they are in the store making decisions,” said James. “It made sense to bring the Power Your Lunchbox message to our more than 300 retail dietitians so that they can share healthy back-to-school recipes with shoppers.”
In addition to outreach in the grocery store, classrooms can get involved in the pledge by visiting the PowerYourLunchbox.com teacher resource page that provides teachers in grades K-5 with fun, free nutrition-focused downloadable lesson plans, certificates for their students, take home materials for families, and the ability to take the pledge as a classroom.
Since 2014, the campaign raised more than $15,000 for kid’s health and wellness programs across the country.
For more information visit poweryourlunchbox.com.
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About Produce for Kids®
Produce for Kids® is a philanthropically based organization that brings the produce industry together to educate consumers about healthy eating with fresh produce and raises funds for local children’s non-profit organizations. Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $5.7 million to benefit kids. To learn more about Produce for Kids and healthy eating, visit www.produceforkids.com, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Valley of Fire. State Park. USA. This image is processed from 16-BIT RAW and professionally edited for best quality and usage.Similar images from same location:
ATHENS, Ga., Aug. 4, 2016 — Carrier Transicold today announced it will offer a customized telematics solution that will deliver advanced capabilities for its transport refrigeration units (TRUs). The new telematics solution will help fleets manage their refrigerated assets by enabling remote refrigeration unit monitoring, control and diagnostics, data management and other value-added capabilities.
“We are excited about the opportunity to provide an advanced two-way wireless communications system, uniquely qualified for truck and trailer units and backed by our comprehensive dealer support network,” said David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems. “Adoption of telematics by the transport industry has evolved rapidly and is now an important tool for fleet management.”
ORBCOMM Inc., a global provider of machine-to-machine and internet of things solutions, was selected to develop the system according to design and qualification requirements specified by the Georgia based company.
“We launched this initiative in response to customer demand for an original equipment manufacturer-provided system for TRUs,” Appel said. “The system can be factory-installed and will be supported by our authorized dealer network. ORBCOMM’s experience with remote monitoring and control solutions for mobile assets complements our expertise in transport refrigeration systems. Its expansive satellite and cellular capabilities provide the scale needed to support Carrier Transicold TRUs.”
“We are pleased to have been chosen to support global refrigerated transport leader Carrier Transicold,” said Marc Eisenberg, CEO, ORBCOMM. “ORBCOMM’s
technologies and knowledge will provide Carrier Transicold’s customers with tools to better track and monitor their shipments.”
With field trials nearing completion, the company anticipates the full release of its telematics solution in North America in 2017, followed by rollouts in Europe and other regions around the world.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, the company has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, directdrive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com.
The new U.S. potato shipping season is underway in very light volume. Here is a preview from five states on what to expect.
Indiana Potato Shipments
Here’s one you may not be aware of. The red potato harvest has begun at Black Gold Farms’ operation in Winamac, IN, located about hallway between Chicago and Indianapolis. Red potatoes for the fresh market account for several hundred acres of Norland and Dark Red Norland varieties, which are being shipped through August. The Winamac farm allows Black Gold Farms to ship potatoes the year-round from its own farms. The cycle that starts each year in Texas and then transitions to North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri before moving up to Indiana and finally to the Red River Valley in North Dakota and Minnesota.
North Dakota/Minnesota Potato Shipments
Red River Valley red potato shipments out of North Dakota and Minnesota are expected to be off 25 to 30 percent from a year ago due to weather factors. However, shipments, which will begin in mid October, are expected to be normal for 2016-17 until storages start running out of product late in the season (May and June). This will probably mean an earlier than normal end to shipping for most shippers. The Red River Valley is the nation’s largest red potato shipping area. A & L Potato Co. in East Grand Forks, MN is already packing and shipping red potatoes. Big Lake and Long Prairie, MN, along with Wisconsin typically ship the first red potatoes of the new season beginning in August.
Big Lake, MN potatoes – grossing about $1000 to Chicago.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments
Central Wisconsin is now shipping red potatoes, with russets coming soon. The first russets are expected this week in very light volume. The Badger State ranks third in U.S. potato shipments. Normal volume is expected this year.
Idaho Potato Shipments
The nation’s leading potato shipper, Idaho, is expected to get underway for the new season the week of August 15th. Normal volume is expected for the 2016-17 shipping season.
Twin Falls, ID potatoes – grossing about $1450 to L.A.
Now that we are well into summer, here’s a look at California strawberry shipments, blueberries from the Northwest and New Jersey, as well as from Michigan, plus more.
For the 2016 season, California will ship nearly 80 percent of the strawberry volume in the United States.
The 2016 California Strawberry Acreage Survey from the California Strawberry Commission notes 32,515 acres of strawberries were planted in California for the 2016 season. This breaks down to 27,783 acres planted in the fall of last year for production in the winter, spring and summer and then 4,732 acres planted this summer for production in the fall.
California strawberries are shipped year-round in California, with the ‘late-season strawberries’ second planting often referred to as the “summer plant.”
The majority of this acreage is shipped into the fall/early winter, and primarily originates from the Oxnard and Santa Maria areas.
Watsonville strawberries and Salinas vegetables – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
Blueberry Shipments
Oregon blueberry shipments are now coming out of the Willamette Valley region with mid- to late-season varieties. Fresh shipments have ended a week or so early this year and now loadings are coming with “blues” out of storage. Shipments should continue through September.
Meanwhile, peak blueberry shipments are expected through August from British Columbia and New Jersey, with both areas continuing with lighter volume through September.
Michigan Produce Shipments
Michigan could set record blueberry shipments as loadings continue this season. However, growers are fighting a pest known as the Spotted Wing Drosophila, a nasty invasive fruit fly. It’s requiring close attention with insecticides, are abundant, requiring stringent controls, DeGrandchamp said.
Meanwhile Southwestern Michigan also is shipping peaches and plums (Berrien County), but in much lighter volume. The apricot season has ended.
Berian County apple shipments get underway in September, followed closely by loadings from Allegan County.
Michigan blueberry shipments – grossing about $3500 to Dallas; Michigan vegetable shipments grossing 25 to 30 percent less, depending upon destination.