Archive For The “News” Category
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA is tapping into the growing network of food bloggers by hosting a contest which will ultimately result in gaining a new set of brand ambassadors. By hosting a contest specific to food bloggers California Giant hopes to extend their reach to consumers continuing to build brand loyalty and participate in new exciting recipes created by foodies at home in their own kitchens.
The Food blogging universe has become a great way to gain access to amazing home cooks with their own set of fans making recipes that they want to share while providing step by step instructions on how to recreate each recipe in your own home. The casual formats provided by food bloggers today makes cooking interesting, interactive and very inviting to those that might be intimidated by creating recipes in the kitchen.
“Food Blogging has become a great platform for innovative cooks at home to share their recipes, ideas on entertaining, and be part of a larger network, or community of people focused on similar interests,” says Cindy Jewell, Director of Marketing for California Giant. “We are excited about building new relationships with bloggers that want to work with us and help tell our story through their own eyes and their own kitchens”, she adds.
The contest will run between July 10, 2013 and September 18, 2013 with the winner receiving an all expense paid trip to a blogger conference in 2014. In addition, the winner of the contest will be appointed as a California Giant Berry Farms Official Brand Ambassador for six months and represent the company and its products at the blogger conference they attend.
Too often, if not most often it seems, company drivers and leased owner operators have plenty of criticism for the carrier with whom they work.
Driver Rex Criddle of Downey, ID can’t say enough good things about his company, Doug Andrus Distributing LLC of Idaho Falls, ID. It is a family owned carrier that has been around a long time (DOT number is 000234).
“They (Andrus) are a religious, hard working people who treat their people right, plus they maintain good values,” Rex says. He notes the fleet owner drove trucks for 20 years and got a good understanding of the profession before moving into the office. Andrus runs about 250 trucks with flatbed, reefer and bulk divisions.
Rex says even though he is happy working for the fleet operation, he takes nothing for granted.
“They could sell out tomorrow to a Swift (Transportation), and things could change,” he states. “I always tell my kids, the first check that bounces, you get another job. The first fuel card that won’t work, you start looking elsewhere for work.”
He also pragmatically states the DOT may appear at your door one day and shut down your operation. Again, he doesn’t take anything for granted.
One change in trucking Rex likes are the new electronic logbooks. He says they are more simple, plus easier to fill out.
“It’s not worth having logbook violations on your record,” he states. “It seems the DOT is more interested in safety violations than anything.”
For example, he points to the CSA-2010 rules administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which many in transportation view as unfairly rating the safety of motor carriers.
“I seriously wonder how many of the older drivers want to continue putting up with all these rules, while the younger kids want to be home more often,” he says.
At one time in his career Rex was farming, then 12 years ago began driving for a regional carrier. He says both trucking and farming have a lot in common and both provide a lot of independence.
Rex has been driving for Andrus Distributing for 10 years. He had an accident while driving early in his career, but since this time has had a perfect driving record. This also has resulted in Rex receiving his Million Mile Safe Driving Award.
“It always seems to be the (truck) driver’s fault in an accident. These four wheelers don’t seem to realize how dangerous getting hit by an 80,000-pound truck can be. You have to learn how to relax while driving. I learned this driving a farm tractor.”
Rex does a lot of team driving with his wife Lori Criddle, except when she is spending time at home with her grand children.
“I think my wife is a better driver than I am. We make a good pair. Team driving can either strengthen your marriage, or it can ruin it,” he observes. “She’s done a great job of raising the kids. One of daughter just recently got married.”
Rex and Lori have one child, while he has another six children from a previous marriage.
The couple drives a Freightliner Cascadia. It is equipped with an automatic transmission. The truck has a 70-inch sleeper and pulls a 53-foot Utility trailer with a Carrier Transcold reef unit.
Rex had just delivered a load of Idaho potatoes to the Atlanta State Farmers Market. He was then going to pick up a load of beer in Albany, GA for delivery to Vancouver, WA.
Truckers and their families along with everyone else could see retail prices for fresh fruits and vegetables rise between 3% and 5% in 2013.
The USDA’s Economic Research Service in a recent food price forecast estimates retail fresh fruit prices will rise 3% to 4% this year after rising only 1% in 2012.
Fresh vegetable retail prices will climb between 4% and 5% this year, compared with 5.1% deflation in 2012.
The USDA-ERS inflation forecast for both all food and food-at-home prices in 2013 is 2.5% to 3.5%.
“This forecast means that prices are likely to increase more than in 2012, but that overall inflation is expected to be near the historical average for both indexes,” according to a report summary.
Strongest inflation is associated with animal-based food products due to higher feed prices. For most other food products not affected by the drought, inflation for 2013 will be at or perhaps below normal levels.
The USDA notes fresh fruit prices increased 2.4% in May, and the fresh fruit retail index is up 2.1% compared with a year ago. Retail apple prices were 12.4% higher, while banana prices are 1.1% down and citrus prices up 1.2%.
Fresh vegetable prices at retail declined 2% in May, with fresh vegetable prices up 3.3% compared with a year ago. Potato prices are down 6.1%, lettuce prices are up 4.4% and tomato prices were up 11.4% compared with a year ago.
Company driver Leonard Capps has driven one million accident-free miles during his 38 years in trucking, and has the seal on the side of the big rig he drives to prove it.
He earned his million-mile award about three years ago, while driving for his current carrier, Werner Enterprises, The Omaha -based company he’s now been with 11 years.
Leonard is proud of the fact he’s had no accidents, and has never been arrested during his career. He’s driven for a number of companies over the years and has received safety awards at every stop along the way.
He was an owner operator for about three years after completing his enlistment in the Army.
“My dad suggested when I got out of the service I start driving a truck. I’ve been doing it ever since,” he says.
Leonard was stationed in Germany during his military stint, then lived in Chicago after he got out of the Army. He then moved to Mississippi now calls Iuka, Ms home.
At one time during his career the driver hauled a lot of fresh produce out of California to Walmart distribution centers. These days, most of his driving is in the Southeastern USA, although he’ll get as far north occasionally as Pennsylvania delivering Sara Lee products.
Leonard drives a 2010 Peterbilt housing a 475 hp Cummins diesel, with an eight speed transmission and 70-inch sleeper. He was pulling a 53-Utility trailers with a Carrier reefer unit.
While he still enjoys trucking, the excessive rules and regulations make it more difficult. For example, he was parked in a Georiga truck stop waiting for another driver to take over the load for final delivery.
“I only had 30 minutes left on my 14-hour restart, so I had only driven a few miles. After the other driver picks up the trailer, I’m going to deadhead home.”
While he continues to enjoy trucking and seeing different places, Leonard admits it is not as much fun as it used to be.
“Nobody talks to you anymore; not even other company drivers. There are four or five other Werner drivers parked here; we ought to at least be talking to one another,” he says.
Leonard logs about 60,000 miles a year, unlike the 135,000 annual miles he used to drive. There also is a 62 mph governor of that Pete. Still, he’s got those million miles of safe driving under his belt. That’s something of which to be proud.
With $328 billion in U.S. retail sales, Walmart holds a dominant position as the largest retailer in the United States.
In 2012 Walmart had higher sales numbers than the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-largest retailers combined, according to STORES magazine’s annual report on the top 100 retailers in the United States. The U.S. accounts for approximately 70 percent of Walmart’s $467 billion in worldwide sales.
Kroger, with more than $92 billion in sales, came in second on the list. The Cincinnati-based company operates entirely in the U.S. and saw a 6.6 percent increase in sales from 2011 to 2012.
Target, another retailer operating entirely in the U.S., came in third, with just under $72 billion in sales and a 5.1 percent increase over 2011.
Costco, another large-format retailer, came in fourth at $71 billion in sales, but it also saw a 10.6 percent increase in sales over 2011.
According to the report, supermarkets on the Top 100 list had average sales of $21.2 billion in 2012.
Safeway, based in Pleasanton, CA, had the ninth-largest sales numbers for 2012. The $37.5 billion in U.S. sales accounted for nearly 89 percent of it’s global total.
A complete listing of the top 100 U.S. retailers is available at stores.org.
California truck supplies have been seasonally tight this year, but there hasn’t been any critical shortages of refrigerated equipment for eastbound produce loads. Often, the biggest demand for trucks comes towards the end of the week.
Many produce shipments out of the West have come a week or two later than normal due to a cold, wet growing season. While record California table grape shipments are possible this year, most fruits and vegetables appear they have relatively normal volume, if not somewhat small production this year.
As a result freight rates on produce this spring and summer haven’t hit the height some thought would be possible. Sure there have been some $9,000-plus coast-t0-coast east bound rates, and even a few topping $10,000, but those seem to have moderated some in recent weeks.
This is not said folks are complaining about rates, for example that are common out of Salinas and the San Joaquin being in lower to upper $8,000 range.
Vine ripe (pole) tomatoes as well as romas are being shipped in good volume from Southern California areas such as Oceanside. Loadings will be available into the fall.
Mature green tomatoes are originating out of the San Joaquin Valley, with the best volume located in the Newman and Tracy areas.
Nogales
Rates has been plummeting out of Nogales, AZ as border crossing of table grapes from Mexico are in a rapid seasonal decline. There are still items such as melons, mangos and tomatoes available, but overall, Nogales should not be the place your are looking for loads this time of year.
As we prepare to celebrate our Nation’s 237th Birthday on Thursday, here are some interesting details about how we have observed this holiday through the years. Source: Wikipedia
- In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired in salute, once at morning and once again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.
- In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.
- In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.
- In 1781 the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.
- In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled “The Psalm of Joy”.
- In 1791 the first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” occurred.
- In 1820 the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state.
- In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.
In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.
Cherry lovers, take note! The Northwest Cherry Growers have announced cherry season has arrived. Northwest cherries are being plucked, packed and shipped nationwide by the 2,500 cherry growers spread across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana.
Rich in fiber, potassium, and melatonin, Northwest sweet Bing cherries are also taking center stage in the nutritional arena thanks to a recent USDA study which touts the health benefits of this iconic summer fruit. According to the results of a study conducted by researchers at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service Western Human Nutrition Research Center sweet cherry consumption may “reduce risk or modify the severity of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, CVD, blood pressure and cancer.”
Spearheaded by Darshan S. Kelley, PhD., a Research Chemist at the Western Human Nutrition Research Center, USDA-ARS and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Nutrition at UC Davis, the study examined the effects of fresh sweet cherry consumption on concentrations of risk factors for chronic diseases. Researchers studied 16 women and 2 men who had slightly elevated C-reactive protein levels, an inflammatory biomarker, and who were between the ages of 45 and 61.
According to Dr. Kelley the results show that several interlinked pathways of inflammation were affected and suggest that consuming sweet cherries may reduce risk or modify the severity of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, CVD, blood pressure and cancer. The study took place in two phases, starting in 2006 and the results of the study have been published in the March 2013 issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
So, stock up on those Northwest sweet Bing cherries while they are fresh and in season. Simply serve the convenient and nutritional powerhouses in a bowl to share for an easy party snack, or pitted in salads, on oatmeal, or stirred into yogurts and ice cream. Add them for depth to savory dishes or buy them and freeze them whole for use in smoothies, sauces, and frozen desserts during the winter. Cook up batches of jams or jellies for easy holiday gifts or dehydrate the cherries and add them to trail mixes or granola for a hearty and healthy snack for the kids when school starts in the fall.
For additional information, see this multimedia release from NW Cherries, which features background information, a video, B roll, numerous photos, and a Southwestern Style Cherry Coleslaw recipe.
About Northwest Cherries
Founded in 1947, the Northwest Cherry Growers is a grower’s organization funded solely by self-imposed fruit assessments used to increase awareness and consumption of regionally-grown stone fruits. The organization is dedicated to the promotion, education, market development, and research of stone fruits from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana orchards.
For more information, visit www.nwcherries.com.
When it comes to women and trucks, owner operator Mark Baumann has found if you treat your truck right, it will never let you down. Women are another matter. He also has a few issues with the large carriers, but one matter at a time.
On this particular day a few weeks in Chicago, it was a bright sunny day. Although he’d driven through some rain storms the night before, his 2005 Peterbilt still looked sharp, even though it needed a bath.
I’d love to see this rig at night with its 300 lights shining!
“My mom always said be seen, not heard,” Mark recalls. “Life has been good to me, but like anything else it has had its ups and downs. I’ve made a lot of money, but I’ve lost a lot of money.”
Mark hauls cheese under a lease to Wisconsin Refrigerated Express LLC out of Sheboygan, WI. Those loads are usually destined to Texas. On the return haul he’ll pick up fresh produce grown in South Texas or Mexico, which he delivers to the Anthony Marano Co. in Chicago. The large midwest produce distributor will unload him, and fill his truck with more produce for delivery to Wisconsin supermarkets.
He purchased his 379 Pete new in 2005 for $115,000 and has since logged nearly 1.3 million miles. It is powered by a C-15 Cat, 18-speed transmission with 3:55 rears. The rig features a fuel enhancing Pittsburgh box by HBA, allowing him to average 5 mpg, which he says is similar to one produced by Bully Dog.
He also owns a 2004 Great Dane, 48-food trailer with a Thermo King Whisper, a reefer unit known for its quietness and fuel efficency.
Mark loves his Pete and states if someone offered him what he paid for it new, he’d walk away from the offer.
“You can find a good woman anywhere. Women come and go, but a good truck is hard to come by,” states the 47-year-old trucker from Plymouth, WI. “That ole girl (Pete) will be with me til the day I die. She’ll do whatever I want, if I ask her nicely.”
He adds, “I always haul produce and cheese. Trucking is in my blood. Once it is there, you can’t get rid of it.”
Mark says he spends $2,800 a week on fuel. Although “that’s a good chunk of money, I’m making good money.”
However, like most successful owner operators, making money comes with a price. He is consistently logging about 3,400 miles per week and spends little time at home.
“I’m the guy they call when they say a job can’t be done,” he states.
Mark has been trucking 16 years and says it is the independent truckers that have built this industry; the small fleet owner with four or five trucks. However, he says it is becoming more difficult to compete with the rate slashing big fleets.
He also is critical of the new drivers hitting the highways for the large carriers, saying many have inadquate training before being put behind the wheel of a big rig.
“A lot of bad things can happen with lack of enough training. They train them for three weeks, give them a new Kenworth and tell them to the head to California. You can replace a rig, but you can’t replace a life,” he observes.
An exciting summer recipe contest is being sponsored by Concord Foods. Consumers are invited to submit their best summer recipes that use CONCORD FOODS LEMON & LIME JUICE for great prizes. The grand prize winner will receive $500.00 cash. Several runner-up prizes are also available.
To support the recipe contest, attention-getting merchandising is available through August 2013. During the promotional period, all lemon and lime juice bottles will come with beautiful summer tags. Special floor displays will also feature the contest. All materials contain QR codes, which savvy consumers can use to easily enter the contest.
Concord Foods will use social media to promote the recipe contest to its customer base. “The 2012 contest was very successful for us with over 635 recipe submissions. We are looking forward to breaking that record in 2013! Our consumers enjoy interacting with us and sharing recipe ideas and tips. We will use the strength of our social media network to promote the recipe contest.” Said Samantha McCaul, Marketing Manager at Concord Foods.
Concord Foods CONCORD FOODS LEMON & LIME JUICE are available in 24 and 144pack floor shippers for the 4.5 oz size and 12 and 84 packs for the 8 oz size. Distribution channels include retail grocery stores, mass merchandisers and club stores in the U.S.
ABOUT CONCORD FOODS
Concord Foods Incorporated is a leading supplier of retail food products and custom ingredients to nationally recognized supermarkets, food service operators and leading food manufacturers. Concord Foods retail division offers a wide variety of produce friendly items from Candy Apple Kits to produce seasoning mixes. Consumers count on our quality products to glaze pies, create guacamole and batter onion rings. For more information, please visit www.concordfoods.com.
Source: Concord Foods Inc.