Archive For The “News” Category
By Steve Hull, ALC Special Projects
I recently celebrated my 27th anniversary working at Allen Lund Company. So far, my career has included many different job titles and roles, from transportation broker to management positions and now to my current role as special projects business analyst. I’ve seen firsthand how the use of data in the supply chain has grown and evolved over that time span.
When I started as a transportation broker working in the Los Angeles branch office in 1996, emails were rare, and the internet was still a ‘new thing’ we were all trying to figure out. Customers tendered loads to me via fax machine, and tracking and tracing a load amounted to a phone call every few days from the driver. If there were problems after hours, the drivers all had my home landline phone number to call! And we gave directions to drivers via atlases and the trusty Thomas Guide. The only real data we used was either counting up the piles of paperwork on your desk or tallying how many loads you helped a trucker haul in a month.
Things evolved when I was promoted to assistant manager in the Portland, OR, branch office in 1998. To help be more connected to data and information, I convinced the team we needed to upgrade to mobile phones and then Palm Pilots a few years later. That way, we could better monitor pickup and delivery ETAs and update our customers.
Then, as general manager of the Portland office in the early 2000s, data-driven principals really took off. Analytics around load volumes, pricing trends, and metric-driven scorecards started to be commonplace. We started using customers’ TMS modules, and ALC brought our solution to market in AlchemyTMS. Fax machines and print-outs went away, and e-faxes and digital PDFs became the norm. We also eschewed the room full of filing cabinets in favor of hard drives and servers. When the iPhone came out in 2007, I knew right away that the future had arrived! The ease at which you could pull up data to share with your customers was (and is) astonishing.
I held that branch manager title for 20 years, and then it was time to hand off those responsibilities and put my experience to use in a new way. In early 2022, I took on the role of business analyst within ALC’s Special Projects team. I now work daily with our team of talented folks who help keep our broker’s eyes and ears aware of all the requirements of our customers and carriers. Dashboards, scorecards, maps, and spreadsheets are the tools of our trade. And we’re preparing for the future as well. APIs and AI programs will surely play a big role in what’s to come in the next decade.
Data has proven to be the key to success for many parts of the supply chain in my past 27 years, and I’ve enjoyed my front-row seat to this proliferation of information. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
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Steve Hull is a business analyst working for the Corporate office, and has been with the Allen Lund Company for 27 years. Hull is a graduate of the University of Southern California, completing a dual major in political science and U.S. history.
steve.hull@allenlund.com
It was less than two months ago shipments to the East Coast through the Panama Canal were not expected to be serious delayed. However, this has apparently changed.
Because of restrictions imposed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in late May, some import shipments from Asia to the U.S. East Coast were expected to be delayed as the annual Christmas season traffic gridlock occurs.
“Christmas goods urgently shipped from Asia into the East Coast, may not arrive in time,” British-American Shipping CEO Paul Snell tells AJOT.com
Faced with an unprecedented drought this year, the ACP announced a cut to the draft restrictions for ships transiting its larger neopanamax locks by six feet. Transits were also slashed by 20% to just 32 vessels a day.
Last September PhilaPort reported liner operators should reserve their transits ahead of time and have a priority to pass the many bulkers and tankers waiting in the anchorages at both sides of the waterway.
While current restrictions only affect vessels sailing at deep drafts, leaving out the conventional reefer segment, the logistic issues that are expected to arise during holiday season could still show an impact on fruit imports.
PhilaPort notes there will be vessels out of sync, out of alignment, and potentially all arriving at one time. So, it will be harder to control the schedule and it will be harder to maintain schedules both in and out of the U.S.
BATAVIA, Ill. — To help customers spend less and seat more guests this Thanksgiving, ALDI is dishing out a big helping of savings on over 70 holiday classics.
Starting Nov. 1, and lasting throughout the entire holiday season, customers will see price reductions of up to 50% on items across the store. These items include seasonal favorites like gravy, potatoes, green beans, cranberries and pumpkin pie, as well as staples such as butter and flour*.
With these extra savings on top of ALDI every day low prices, the retailer expects shoppers to afford to invite three more guests to the annual feast** so everyone can take part in the holiday fun without blowing the budget.
As the holiday synonymous with delicious food and celebrating with loved ones, Thanksgiving shouldn’t break the bank or force hosts to make difficult decisions about which quirky cousins or neighbors to invite. High food prices have gotten in the way for far too long, and ALDI is taking charge to champion value in a way that only ALDI can. This Thanksgiving, customers can have their apple pie and eat it, too.
“Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and we’re so grateful for our many loyal customers from coast-to-coast,” said Dave Rinaldo, President of ALDI. “With inflation still looming, we’re providing shoppers extra relief to make the holidays a time for celebration, not stress. What’s served on the Thanksgiving table is just as important as who’s sitting around it, so ALDI is delivering big savings on key items so there’s always room for more guests.”
At ALDI, a disciplined approach to operating with simplicity and efficiency gives customers great products at the lowest possible prices year-round. It’s why ALDI is one of America’s fastest-growing retailers. ALDI customers save up to 40% on their grocery bills as compared to traditional supermarkets and more than 15% compared to big-box discounters.
The price reductions will run until the end of the year so shoppers can continue to delight their guests with wow-worthy charcuterie boards, festive sides and more through the holiday season. From light bites and starters to fresh produce and baking essentials, some of the reduced-price items include:
*Product prices and availability may vary by location.
**Calculated based on an average 30% savings on a sample Thanksgiving meal for 10 people that includes popular dishes such as stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, rolls, charcuterie board, pumpkin pie and coffee. Excludes turkey.
About ALDI U.S.
ALDI is one of America’s fastest-growing retailers, serving millions of customers across the country each month. Our disciplined approach to operating with simplicity and efficiency gives our customers great products at the lowest possible prices. For six years running, ALDI has been recognized as No. 1 in price according to the dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index Report.* ALDI strives to have a positive impact on its customers, employees and communities by being socially and environmentally responsible, earning ALDI recognition as a leading grocer in sustainability.** In addition to helping protect the planet, ALDI helps customers save time and money through convenient shopping options via in-store, curbside pickup or delivery at shop.aldi.us.
Wenatchee, WA: In a thrilling new development four years in the making—Starr Ranch Growers™/Oneonta Trading Company, which includes Custom Apple, Diamond Fruit and Apple King—announce an agreement has been reached to join forces with CMI Orchards, delivering more than 8 million cartons to CMI’s manifest. This strategic move marks a momentous milestone in the world of fresh produce, forging a powerhouse of innovation, quality, and building on CMI’s commitment to leading the industry with the largest selection of core, organic and specialty apples, pears and cherries under one roof.
The addition of Juici® and Karma® apples from Starr Ranch enhances CMI’s high-flavor arsenal, which includes varieties such as Ambrosia Gold®, KIKU®, Kanzi®, Jazz™, Envy™, Smitten®, SugarBee®, Sunrise Magic®, EverCrisp®, and Cosmic Crisp®. In combination with core conventional varietals from Custom Apple, and organics from Apple King, the move boosts CMI’s total volume by around 4.3 million cartons of apples.
The new partnership with Diamond Fruit Growers in Hood River, OR, brings an additional 2 million pear cartons into CMI’s fold, establishing CMI as the largest pear shipper globally with optical sorting technology and pre-sizing for versatility. Hood River represents one of the three best pear growing locales around the world, and this addition means CMI now supplies pears from all three regions—Hood River (Diamond), the upper Wenatchee Valley (McDougall and Sons, Independent Warehouse and Hi-Up) and imports from Rio Negro, Argentina (Kleppe).
Along with apples and pears, CMI anticipates an additional volume of 1.8 million cartons of cherries, with more early and late season offerings. “Extending the high-velocity cherry season means our retail partners can reap the benefits of one of the most lucrative times of year for longer, and come to one place for all the very best apples and pears year-round,” explains Bob Mast, President of CMI Orchards.
Jim Thomas, owner of Custom Apple Packing and Chairman of Starr Ranch shares his excitement about the partnership. “After 90 cherished years nurturing the Starr Ranch community of growers, team members, and customers with unwavering integrity, the visionary path forward is unmistakably clear—uniting with CMI Orchards. This forward-thinking collaboration has been a long time in the making, promising unprecedented benefits and a bright future for our growers and retail partners.”
Thomas extends heartfelt gratitude to Starr Ranch CEO Don Odegard for his guidance and dedication during this pivotal transition period, laying a solid foundation for prosperous times ahead. “As we transition, the seasoned leadership of Bob Mast, who has guided CMI Orchards with distinction for over a decade, instills great confidence in what lies ahead,” Thomas said. “United, the CMI and Starr Ranch teams herald a future brimming with potential, grounded in a shared vision of success, innovation, and diligence. I remain as committed as ever to not only our orchard but to nurturing a vibrant and sustainable future for the Wenatchee Valley’s fruit industry.”
Bryon McDougall, Chairperson of CMI Orchards, expresses his excitement about collaborating with the esteemed Thomas family of Starr Ranch Growers, envisioning a golden chapter ahead for CMI. “We hold Jim Thomas and the Thomas family in the highest regard,” says McDougall. “Uniting with a company of Starr Ranch’s stature—a true powerhouse that has significantly shaped the tree fruit industry—not only marks the onset of an exhilarating new chapter for CMI but symbolizes a partnership rooted in deep respect, integrity and a shared vision for the future.”
“Customers, partners, and fruit enthusiasts can expect an even greater focus on quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, all while meeting CMI’s outstanding standard of service,” adds Mast. “Starr Ranch and CMI have an exceptional legacy of integrity and producing the finest apples, pears and cherries, and this move leverages our collective strengths, expands our offerings, and combines the skills and experience of two outstanding teams of people, allowing us to drive innovation like never before.”
About CMI Orchards
CMI Orchards is one of Washington State’s largest growers, shippers, and packers of premium-quality conventional and organic apples, pears, and cherries. Based in Wenatchee, WA, CMI Orchards delivers outstanding fruit across the U.S.A. and exports to over 60 countries worldwide. www.cmiorchards.com
By Iyer Amruthur, ALC San Antonio
One of the most refreshing things on a hot Texas (or hotter Arizona!) day is an ice-cold sarsaparilla soda, or at least I’ve been told. My generation grew up during one of the peak periods for soda, candy, snacks, and a cornucopia of “consumables” that tasted great, but usually ended up in more than a few dentist visits. It’s safe to say a lot of us are still on the “high-fructose”, “high carbonation” train; admittedly, I was the same way. I gave up soda in my youth because I always felt the sugar crash pretty rapidly, and eventually, many sugar-based products began to weigh down my digestion. Fast forward to the current date and I’ve almost entirely cut out refined sugars from my diet. So what’s been my go-to fix while being healthy, you ask? Well, maybe you’ve heard of nootropic beverages?
Instead of being taste-centric, these beverages are purchased for their perceived nutritional benefits. In the same way you might drink/consume pre-workout supplements, or take a shot of apple cider vinegar per a daily schedule, you would now pursue these commercially available products. Some of my favorite examples include companies like Soylent, Huel, and Ka’chava for their dedication to nutrition/complete meals as a drink. They provide consumers with a bag of powdered food that prioritizes all the vitamins, minerals, carbs, protein, and fats humans need to operate (just add water!). Another example is Kin Euphorics and several similar companies that have created “mocktails” that taste similar to a non-sweetened cocktail; the drinks are chock-full of roots, herbs, vitamins, and more, meant to enhance mood, cognition, and digestion.
The category that was so dominated by the sensation of taste has now become a laterally divided market between taste and utility. The latter has become popular with younger demographics and those concerned with improving their health or creating better consumption habits in general. While these drinks are often smaller in volume and higher in price, they have been flying off the shelves at most common stores (Walmart, Costco, Kroger, etc.). So, what’s popular, healthy, and tasty?
Enter Kombucha! Kombucha is what I call “the produce of beverages,” and for good reason. Kombucha takes black tea, sugar, water, and a culture of bacteria (think yeast for bread) called a S.C.O.B.Y. (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). These mix together, and over time, they ferment into a delicious and bubbly beverage. Most commercial retailers pasteurize any alcohol retained during the process and ship it to major stores to be sold as a healthy, tasty, and unique alternative to sugary sodas.
It’s safe to say this is going to be a growing market, and we may see “soda” spots be replaced with kombucha, meal-based-beverages, smoothies, pressed juices, and even some drinks that might twist your tongue from the flavor profile, but deliver a calm nights rest.
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| Iyer Amruthur is a national sales manager in the ALC San Antonio office and has been with the company for three years. He attended The University of Georgia where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, with a minor in Communications. iyer.amruthur@allenlund.com |
Syracuse, UT- Onions 52, Inc. announces plans to expand operations to the east coast; with a distribution and packing facility in Cincinnati, Ohio set to be fully operational beginning early 2024. With existing FOB shipping locations in Utah, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and New Mexico, the expansion will better serve east coast retailers and foodservice partners.
Onions 52, a vertically integrated onion supplier grows, packs, and ships all varieties of onions 52 weeks a year – ensuring there is a never a week without onions. While some companies focus on many different commodities, Onions 52 focuses on one thing, onions, and does it the very best.
Trevor Flint, CFO of Onions 52 said, “The expansion will increase production capacity through additional space and process improvements by adding an additional 60,000 square feet of consumer packing machines and sorting lines.” Flint continued, “As the demand for same-day and next-day order fulfillment increases, this new facility will make operations more efficient and help supply our top-quality onions coast to coast.”
About Onions 52
Onions 52, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Syracuse, UT. The vertically integrated onion supplier is the country’s leading year-round grower-shipper of yellow, red, white, sweet, and organic onions.
Mexico has surpassed record avocado exports to the U.S. so far in 2023, according to the trade association Avocados From Mexico (AFM) based in Dallas.
Imports to the United States are expected to increase this year, which would mark the beginning of a new record, due to increasing international demand over 2022.
Export volumes to the U.S. this year could exceeded 1.19 billion tons.
Avocados are gaining in popularity, mainly with celebrations and events, when consumption soars. The Super Bowl and Cinco de Mayo are the United States’ leading avocado events.
The Association of Mexican Avocado Producers and Packers and Exporters is the only Mexican cooperating partner with the United States, as well as with the USDA-APHIS for Mexican avocado exports. It is also responsible for avocado promotions in other countries under the Avocados From Mexico brand. Currently, the association involves almost 35,000 growers and 84 packing houses.
DENVER – Every year, neighborhoods across America embrace their favorite Halloween traditions. But in recent years, families are jumping on new trends that bring an element of surprise to our beloved traditions with potatoes.
That’s right, Potatoes USA is reporting that America’s favorite vegetable has expanded its spooky season repertoire with crafts, games and some very excited trick-or-treaters.
Potatoes or Candy?
Want to surprise and delight your trick-or-treaters? Offer them a potato! Revelers nationwide have begun offering spuds as a fun alternative to candy. “It honestly started as a joke,” explained Pat Foy, a self-employed contractor in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “I thought, if I’m going to give something out to kids on Halloween, I don’t want to just give them something that makes them go nuts. I’m of Irish descent, so potatoes made sense. I gave away big baking potatoes, and before I knew it, it took on a life of its own. Who would’ve thought?”
And Foy isn’t the only one mixing things up for Halloween. Families are exploring spooky spud crafts that provide new and old twists on Halloween activities.
Potatoes – The Original Jack-o’-Lantern!
It’s not Halloween without a jack-o’-lantern. But did you know this tradition started with potatoes? The Irish would carve spooky faces into spuds to scare away an evil spirit called Stingy Jack.
Modern Halloween lovers are bringing back this historic trend, sharing their favorite potato jack-o’-lanterns or jack-o’-taters. In addition to being adorable, they know that potatoes are easy to carve and affordable – so it’s easy to have a few extra on hand in case you need a redo. Like pumpkins, the potato’s long shelf-life makes it ideal for displaying your family’s carved creations. And no need to toss the potato insides! Carved out potato can be cut into small pieces for Fall Harvest Mashed Potatoes or other delicious dishes.
Spooky Spud Stamps
Because of their hardy texture, raw potatoes are an ideal craft tool for making spooky spud stamps. While adults carve the potatoes, younger artists can add their own spin to these handmade stamps by choosing designs and acting as the master painter.
“There’s always an element of child-like delight on Halloween. We want to be amazed and see things we don’t expect. Traditions like trick-or-treating for candy bars and carving pumpkins aren’t going anywhere. But it’s really fun to experiment with unexpected twists that can catch people by surprise,” said Marisa Stein, marketing director, Potatoes USA. “Potatoes and Halloween go far back historically, so it’s really cool to see them come back together, and for our traditions to come full circle.”
Families can also create delicious, nutritious Halloween recipes with extra potatoes, like Boo! Pumpkin and Potato Stew, Baked Jack-O’-Lantern Potatoes and Roasted Pumpkin And Potato Soup.
An all-star vegetable, a 5.3 oz skin-on potatoes bring to the table the highest potassium among top 20 most eaten vegetables, nearly one-third of the vitamin C we need each day and 3 grams of plant-based protein, making it an easy choice for families reaching for healthy dishes to balance out the post-Halloween candy hoard.
Be sure to visit PotatoGoodness.com to learn more about the many health benefits of potatoes and find some delicious Halloween or fall recipes.
If you participate in #JackOTater or #Trick-or-Tater, tag @PotatoGoodness on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win Potato Goodness Swag!
About Potatoes USA
Potatoes USA is the national marketing and promotion board representing U.S. growers and importers. Potatoes USA, the largest vegetable commodity board, was established in 1971 by potato farmers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes. For more information on Potatoes USA’s mission to “Strengthen Demand for Potatoes,” visit PotatoesUSA.com.
U.S. strawberry growers are increasing organic production faster than conventional with imported berries.
Those are two observations from a new report from the USDA.
“The Changing Landscape of U.S. Strawberry and Blueberry Markets: Production, Trade, and Challenges from 2000 to 2020,” a 38-page report from the USDA Economic Research Service, examines changes in domestic production, consumption, prices and trade for strawberries and blueberries over two decades.
“This study helps explain how the major berry markets evolved in a short time and examines opportunities and challenges these markets face,” the authors said.
The study found:
- In California, which grows more than 75% of the domestic organic production, organic strawberry acreage tripled from 2008 to 2019.
- Imports of fresh highbush blueberries increased from 44 million pounds in 2000-02 to 450 million pounds in 2018-20, which accounted for about 62% of the domestic fresh blueberry disappearance.
- The development and adoption of high-yielding strawberry varieties led to an increase in total domestic production with less acreage.
- Fresh strawberry imports increased significantly in the last two decades, particularly from Mexico. Fresh strawberries imported from Mexico reached a record high of 431 million pounds in 2020. While Mexican strawberries have an almost year-round presence in the U.S. market, approximately 85% of Mexico’s U.S.-bound shipments enter the market during the winter and spring months.
- Most strawberry exports from the U.S. are for fresh-market consumption and are shipped to Canada. Fresh strawberry exports increased 94% in volume during 2018-20 compared with 2000-20.
Average consumer expenditures experienced big increases in 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Higher costs were highlighted by a 12.7% increase in food purchases.
The Consumer Expenditures report said that average annual expenditures for all consumer units in 2022 were $72,967, a 9% increase from 2021.
Overall, the report said expenditures increased faster than income in 2022. Average annual income before taxes rose 7.5% in 2022, while expenditures increased 9%.
The rise in consumer expenditures exceeds the government’s inflation measure for 2022. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 8% in 2022.
The average annual expenditures for 2022 were broken down into 14 major components, according to the report.
Overall, housing accounted for the largest share (33.3%) of expenditures, followed by transportation (16.8%), food (12.8%), personal insurance and pensions (12%), and health care (8%), the report said. Each of the remaining categories contributed less than 5% of total expenditures.
The report said that among the 14 major components of household spending, the largest percent increase in expenditures was in cash contributions (up 14.1%). The next largest increase was in food (up 12.7%), followed closely by a 12.3% rise in personal care products and services spending, and a 12.2% increase in transportation spending. The only major component to decrease from 2021 to 2022 was entertainment (down 3.1%), according to the report.
The report said spending on food increased 12.7% in 2022, compared to an increase of 13.4% in 2021. The increase was driven by food-away-from-home (restaurant) spending, up 20.1%, accompanied by an increase in food-at-home spending (grocery), up 8.4%.
“Expenditures for food away from home in 2022 exceeded 2019 levels, marking the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that this has happened,” the report said.
Average consumer spending on fresh fruit in 2022 was $406, up 7.4% from $378 in 2021, according to the report. For fresh vegetables, average expenditures in 2022 were $352, 7.3% above $328 in 2021.