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Wendy’s to Buy 2 million lbs. of Strawberries, 1 million lbs. of “blues”

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THE WENDY'S COMPANY BERRY ALMOND CHICKEN SALADTouting fresh U.S. blueberries and California strawberries as key ingredients, Wendy’s restaurants are again offering berry almond chicken salads.

The fast food restaurant chain plans to buy 2 million pounds of strawberries and 1 million pounds of blueberries from now through September to meet customer demands for the seasonal salad, according to a news release from the Dublin, Ohio-based company.

Wendy’s officials hinted in the release that unseasonable weather in berry growing regions of the U.S. had an effect on the timing of the reintroduction of the berry almond salad.

“Thank goodness berries are ripening on the vine — at last,” Derek Detenber, Wendy’s vice president of brand management, said in the release.

The the salads include 11 types of field greens, in addition to fresh berries, providing a total of three servings of vegetables and one serving of fruit, according to the release. As with its other fresh produce items, Wendy’s employees slice fresh strawberries for the salads at individual restaurants.

Salads have been on the menu at Wendy’s for almost 35 years, with the chain selling more than 100 million salads in the U.S. in 2012, according to the news release. In 2012 Zagat rated Wendy’s salads as No. 1 in the fast food category, beating out Panaera, Chipolte and Subway.

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Hunts Point Vendors Sue New York City as Fued Continues

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103_0304Months after talks over a new site for the Hunts Point Terminal Market broke down, the market’s vendors have sued the City of New York.

Hunts Point is the world’s largest wholesale terminal produce market and thousands of refrigerated big rigs deliver fresh produce to it daily, for distribution throughout New England and much of the East Coast.

On April 22, the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association sued the city and its Business Integrity Commission, according to court documents filed in Bronx Supreme Court.

The association claims in the suit that the Business Integrity Commission, which oversees many activities at Hunts Point, forced produce wholesalers to hire an unqualified consultant to review the association’s public safety department.

A no-bid contract was issued to Long Island-based Global Consulting LLC, which, the suit argues, not only was unqualified for the job but was run by principals with “checkered law enforcement histories.”

The work Global Consulting did for the association was “superficial” and consisted largely of documents provided by the association itself.

The association is suing the City and the Business Integrity Commission for $500,000.

The lawsuit comes at a time when talks between Hunts Point’s produce vendors and the City over construction of a new terminal market have broken down.

In a January meeting, the market board rejected a city offer to amend its existing lease.

Talks  are not expected to resume until 2014, when a new mayor enters office.

 

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Rehrig’s New Pallet Tracts In-Transit Loads

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RPCpalletRehrig Pacific Company, a market leader in logistics & supply chain management, reusable transport packaging, and environmental waste & recycling solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of their new GMA Rackable Plastic Pallet.

The GMA Rackable Plastic Pallet is the latest in Rehrig Pacific’s supply chain solutions. “We’ve engineered the GMA Pallet as a result of customizing innovative products and solutions that help our customers achieve a lower cost-per-trip, improve sustainability, and ultimately provide efficiency in every aspect of the supply chain,” said Jerry Koefelda, General Manger for Rehrig Pacific Company.

The new GMA Pallet is 100% recyclable and made from a high-density polyethylene resin using high-pressure injection molding that prevents moisture and bacteria absorption. The GMA Pallet meets current FMSA and ePedigree traceability standards, providing the ability to track and trace product movement throughout the supply chain. The precise monitoring system tracks temperature conditions, shock and vibration to lower the risk of liability due to product damage or loss.

About Rehrig Pacific Company

Rehrig Pacific has been helping customers find better ways to transport and store their products for 100 years. Founded in 1913, Rehrig Pacific has become a world-leading provider of logistics & supply chain management, reusable transport packaging, and environmental waste & recycling solutions. In addition to roll-out carts, recycling bins and commercial containers for the waste & recycling collection industry, Rehrig Pacific also manufactures plastic pallets and containers servicing the agriculture, bakery, beverage, dairy and materials handling industries. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., Rehrig Pacific serves customers with manufacturing and service locations throughout the United States and Mexico in addition to sales offices in South America and Europe.

Press Release:  Rehrig Pacific Co.

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An Eastern Produce Shipping Round Up

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VidaliaOnion1Photo:  Courtesy Vidalia® Onion Committee

Shipments of  New Jersey-grown peaches should get underway in early July, a little later than last year.  Good quality and quantity are being predicted, with loadings lasting through mid-September.  More volume is seen this season since some trees planted three to five years ago are coming into production. (more…)

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Produce Loading Opportunities from Both Coasts.

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DSCN0255

Potential loads for cherries have taken a hit in the Northwest due to an April frost and heavy May rains.

Estimates are now at 17 million boxes, down from 18.6 million boxes.

Loadings will be adversely affected the most on early varieties like chelans and early bings.

Caution is urged when you are at the loading dock and be on the look out for splitting in cherries and other issues.

Shipments are underway, but expected to be lighter than normal.  Volume should be decent within a couple of weeks for deliveries to retailers for the Fourth of July holiday.  Good volume and much better quality is seen during the month of July.

California cherry shipments are on the downside and this should result in good demand for fruit available in the Northwest, especially with its current light volume.

Oregon Cherries

Hood River cherry shipments in Oregon are expected to start around July 15th and should continue through August.  Good volume and quality are forecast.

California Fruit

California’s Watsonville district should have good strawberry volume for shipments leading up to the Fourth of July holiday.  The same can be said for stone fruit loadings originating out of the San Joaquin Valley.

New Jersey Blueberries

New Jersey’s blueberry shipments should start this week  with good volume heading into the Fourth of July.  Good quality should reduce your chances of claims or rejected loads.

Georgia Sweet Corn

Georgia sweet corn loadings, along with a number of mixed vegetables should make for good loading opportunities.  There’s also Fort Valley peaches and Vidalia onions.  Quality on all these items is now generally good.

South Georgia mixed vegetables – grossing about $3200 to Boston.

San Joaquin Valley stone fruit – grossing about $6900 to Atlanta.

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Fernado Jemenez is both a Company Driver, Small Fleet Owner

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DSCN0503While the Peterbilt may be considered the Cadillac of trucks with many drivers, Fernado Jemenez will take a Freightliner anyday.  He’s driven both.

Fernado is both a company driver and a small fleet owner.  HaulProduce.com caught up with the Los Angeles-based trucker a couple of months ago at a Pilot Truck Stop  in Vienna, GA, while he was waiting word from dispatch for his next load.

He is driving for I&F Transportation and operating a 2005 Peterbilt, powered by a 470 h.p. Cat diesel, and pulling a 53-Utility trailer with a Carrier reefer unit.

The 40-year-0ld trucker says, “I’m just not happy with this Pete.  It shakes too much; rides rough, and there just is not enough room in the sleeper.  I want to drive a Classic.  I own two Freightliners, and I like them a lot.”

He says the Peterbilt consumes too much fuel and only averages 4.5 mpg.

As the small fleet owner of FJ Transport, he prefers his Freightliners.  His own company uses a combination of working directly with some shippers on loads, while using brokers on others.

Fernado has been trucking six years and wishes the rates on dry freight would pick up, noting that produce loads are paying a lot more.

He had a load of produce from Californa, requring six pick ups that took three days to get loaded.  It was delivered to Pompano Beach, FL.   He deadheaded to Georgia and had been waiting seven hours at the truck stop for his dispatcher to assign a load.

No one said trucking was easy, but Fernado was trying to show patience, waiting on a load to take him back to the West Coast.

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In-Transit Issues – Part VI: Reducing Claims and Rejected Loads

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Hauling fresh produce tends to provide much higher freight rates than dry freight, obviously because of the perishability of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the extra care required with temperature, humdity, air circulation in the load, etc.

The higher risk to which truckers are exposed, also includes the possibilites of claims that reduce a driver’s pay check, or even worse, having the load rejected.

The degree of exposure to problems upon arrival at destination can depend on the honesty and integrity of the parties involved.  Did the shipper pre-cool the product?  Did the driver maintain proper temperature settings?  Did the buyer or receiver pay too much for that product five days ago when the order was placed, and now the fruit on the market is worth $2 a box less?  All of these examples can lead to claims or rejections with produce loads.

There have been studies over the years including the recent one titled Comparison of Pallet Cover Systems to Maintain Strawberry Fruit Quality During Transport which provides some interesting information.  For example, this research concludes that TransFresh Corp’s Tectrol process reduces fruit decay  by increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in pallets covered by bags. 

With CO2 levels increased by 11 to 16 percent, Tectrol beats its competitors in the important area of decay in strawberries by up to seven percent following delivery and two days on the shelf.

So how does this translate into a reduction in claims and load rejections for the produce trucker, if there is less decay in product being transported?

“That’s an interesting equation,” states Rich Macleod of TransFresh Corp. ,  Salinas, CA.  “No one will ever talk about that.  No one gives us their data.  We’ve never been able to prove that (fewer claims, rejected loads), because we get it (information) by hersay.”

Macleod  says experienced drivers know if they pick up a load of strawberries covered with bags, they are confident there will be no problems with that load.  The expert in controlled atmosphere loads has been told by retailers “…their strawberry program is much easier” since using Tectrol.

However, when he asks that customer  for data relating to load rejection and claims for strawberries comparing shipments with and without CO2 infused bagged pallets, he hits a stone wall.  Those receivers acknowledge the benefits of Tectrol, but refuse to provide any statistics.

(This is the last of a 6-part series featuring an interview with Rich Macleod, vice president, pallet division North America for TransFresh Corp., Salinas, CA.  He has been with company since 1976, and has a masters degree in post harvest science from the University of California, Davis.)

 

 

 

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Jimmy DeMatteis: Takin’ It to the Streets Fighting the Feds

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JimmyDeMatteisWhen it comes to being proactive in working for improvements in the trucking industry, by speaking out and pushing for improved, if not fewer regulations, Jimmy DeMatteis certainly seems to do his share.

You might say he’s takin’ it to the streets fighting the bureaucracy in an effort to improve the trucking industy for everyone.

As the president of Des Moines Truck Brokers in Norwalk, IA, his company was named in 2009 as the National Broker of the Year by the National

Jimmy DeMatteis                                       Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC).  DeMatteis serves on the executive committee of ASECTT (Alliance for Safe Efficient and Competitive Truck Transportation) and  is chair of the Transportation Intermediaries  Association (TIA) Political Action Committee.

While involved in these groups, not to mention others, he recently led a $12 million building project that now is the new headquarters for Capital City Fruit and Des Moines Truck Brokers.

A lot of DeMatteis’ efforts have been through the ASECTT trying to get some sanity put into the CSA-210, which is administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).  In the past he has blasted federal bureaucrats over the program which rates the safety of motor carriers.  It also ends up rating many safe carriers as being unsafe, he states.

“The CSA scores are unproven, unreliable and based on factors the FMCSA doesn’t even understand,” DeMatteis states.  “There has been  massive amounts of costly research conducted and proven to be faulty.  Yet every motor carrier on the road is subject to the CSA score at any given time.  This could result in them being black balled from hauling freight.”

DeMatteis accuses the FMCSA of refusing to recognize their responsibility in this whole equation.  His problem with this federal agency is it wants to “deputize” the trucking industry to police and do the job the bureaucrats should be doing.  Instead, the FMCSA expects shippers and brokers to judge  carrier fitness.

He points out  FMCSA bases its safety program on percentages and no matter how many bad carriers are removed from the industry, there are always going to be 35 percent that are going have “alerts.”  This is because the system only allows 65 percent of carriers to be considered safe operations at any one time.

As a result, DeMatteis contends some shippers are including requirements in contracts based on CSA scores that blacklist many good, small trucking companies.  This results in many of these good small fleets going out of business because shippers and brokers refuse to work with them, due to so-called unsafe scores.

In the April issue of  Dashboard, DTMB’s online newsletter, it lists goals of the ASECTT regarding CSA-210.  They are:

Short Term Goal:

 To require the FMCSA to redact publication of CSA 2010 methodology pending rulemaking or to otherwise affirm that data cannot be used in a court of law to establish vicarious liability and that shippers and brokers may rely upon the Agency’s current fitness determination of satisfactory, unsatisfactory or unrated (which is equivalent to satisfactory).

Long Term Goal:

To reestablish primacy of FMCSA for certifying safety, including preemption of state law.

For more details, visit www.asectt.blogspot.com

 

 

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Wal-Mart Working to Upgrade its Handling of Produce

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WalMartYou buy a tasteless cantaloupe at Wal-Mart, or a sour grape sold as being sweet, just bring your receipt back to the store and they’ll refund you money, under a new police in U.S. stores selling produce.  This according to a recent story by Reuters news service.

As the largest grocer and seller of produce in the United States, Wal-Mart  has already lowered prices on produce as it tries to get its shoppers, many of whom are on limited budgets, to buy more healthy fare.   The huge chain, which made a splash in produce nearly 20 years ago, but has since seen its produce departments lose some of their shine, says it is now working on getting fresher produce to its stores more quickly and training its staff to do a better job of selling the goods.

Walmart is buying directly from growers and relying on its own distribution centers and trucking systems to get product from the field to shelf faster.  It has produce experts working with farmers in key growing regions and aims to double its sales of locally grown produce by December 2015.

Buying more local produce and cutting supply chain costs have helped Walmart keep a lid on prices, which has been key in its push to stay ahead of rivals that include traditional grocers such as Kroger Co and drugstores such as Walgreen Co. Walmart started to see sales gains in produce earlier this year after it began making improvements in produce handling.

Other chains, such as Safeway Inc and Texas’ H-E-B, have already offered guarantees on their produce, but Walmart’s push will be the biggest as it is the nation’s biggest retailer.

Walmart customers not satisfied with the produce can bring their receipt back to the store for a refund. Walmart said the shoppers will not need to bring back the produce to qualify.

To ensure that fresh produce makes it to the stores, Walmart said unnamed third-party service providers will do weekly checks in more than 3,400 of its stores selling produce. Walmart said it would benchmark itself and its competitors week over week.

Walmart also said it recently began a produce training program for 70,000 employees. Store managers, market managers and produce department managers are set to learn more about handling fruits and vegetables. Quality guides for workers will illustrate how to identify top produce, the company said.

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Shipments Set for Arkansas Tomatoes, Florida Avocados

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DSCN0236Following early shipments the past couple of years, Arkansas tomato loadings are expected to be more normal time-wise with light volume starting around June 10.  Primary production is centered in south-central Arkansas around small towns such as Hermitage.  Shipments should continue until about July 20th.

Florida Avocados

We’ll soon be entering the time of year when the bottom will drop out on Florida produce shipments as overall volume plummets.  An exception is with Florida avocados.

South Florida had  7,500 acres in the  2012-13 season, shipping  1.16 million bushels.  This was  higher than the 819,594 bushel average growers shipped on an annual basis between  2006 and 2010.

Very light avocado shipments have started, but good volume will not hit until about July 1st.  Peak shipments should take place in July through September.

Citrus

It is the tail end of the Florida shipping season for citrus, but there may be a little more product for hauling than originally predicted.  The updated estimate shows an increase in grapefruit and a small decline in tangerines, with orange volume remaining the same.

The grapefruit forecast has been increased by 1.3 million equivalent cartons in May from its April estimate.

Colored grapefruit production increased 500,000 cartons while white grapefruit jumped 800,000 cartons, according to the USDA.  About 95% of the state’s grapefruit has been shipped.  The tangerines  forecast has been dropped by 100,000 boxes to 3.4 million boxes.  About 97% of the state’s honey tangerines has been shipped.

As for oranges, volume remains at 138 million cartons, with the late season valencias volume staying at 71 million cartons.  The majority of the Florida’s oranges are processed.    As for the fresh market, about 70% of navels, half of the grapefruit and two-thirds of the tangerines are for fresh.

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