schedules and spend more time with them. But now, with this whole COVID thing, I actually come into work more now than I did before since we’ve had to shift to more of a skeleton crew. I’ve actually been loving spending more time at the office and being more present. I’ve talked to some of our wine clients and they’ve been seen a boom in sales of value wines, but a decline in sales of higher dollar bottles. So, we’ve seen a shift in volume of business from higher end wineries to those that produce more value product. In light of that we are doing well so far, but when it comes to long-term fallout… I just wish I had a crystal ball. One of the customers we work with is Away Suitcases, who abruptly closed all of their retail. So, we’re just sitting on product, wondering when it’s going to move. Interestingly, we’ve heard from a lot of food manufacturers who are looking for warehouse space. So, it’s making us reflect on our customers and partners and try to determine whether they would be considered “essential” in the event that, God forbid, something like this happens again. Before all of this happened, truckers and trucking companies had a terrible reputation, especially when it comes to environmental impact. But interestingly, through this horrible situation, we’ve kind of come out as knights in shining armor. People are realizing how essential this industry is in getting their food to grocery stores, delivering their online orders, etc. So, that’s been the one sort of positive thing for us in this situation. BM: What can you say about the legacy of Yandell? AYH: We have a powerful story to tell. People like that we’re family owned and operated. We’re reaching the point (the third generation) when a lot of other multigenerational businesses either sell or close up shop, but we’re committed. I always tell my kids “hey, when you reach 8th grade, you’re going to be sweeping the warehouse floors, because that’s what we did, and that’s your legacy.” I’m not forcing my kids into the family business, but I definitely think involving them early will give them a strong work ethic, like it did for me.
Vangi’s Garden Bitsy Hall As the number of our ordinary activities dwindle with shelter in place orders, two pastimes have surfaced as favorites: gardening and outdoor walks. Many Benicians taking their outdoor strolls have stumbled upon an oasis on the outskirts of First Street. Vangi Damayo’s garden encapsulates both of these pastimes and has become a town treasure through the years. Vangi’s gardening interests began at a young age. Even before ever tending to a garden, she loved watching plants grow and change. While growing up in the Philippines, she helped her parents water their vegetable garden every afternoon. She was eight years old when she would “fetch pails of water from a nearby stream.” Her talent and interest in gardening later blossomed into a major hobby. Before coming to the United States in 2008, Vangi spent her early twenties in Malaysia, where she currently keeps a second home. Having gardens in both California and Malaysia offer a unique look into the different gardening scenes. Most notably, Vangi says that “we can almost grow anything here in California,” compared to a more limited variety of only tropical flowers and vegetables in Malaysia. Due to California’s friendly climate, Vangi is able to incorporate tropical plants into her garden here as well. Beside her roses, passersby can find heliconias, frangipani, plumerias, or hibiscus plants that she collected from her garden abroad. Her Benicia garden exhibits a fusion of Malaysian and West Coast plants. To Vangi and other green thumbs alike, the benefits of gardening go without saying. The therapeutic and social aspects are reason enough to start planting. Harvesting ripe vegetables or cutting fresh flowers offers a sense of accomplishment and pride. Vangi says that “being able to do what you like and enjoy seeing a plant grow to a nice flower, or harvesting your vegetables or fruits is something that only you can achieve for yourself.” Beyond the gratification felt from a successful garden comes the invitation of conversation. While gardening in her front yard, Vangi has had people in cars and pedestrians stop to compliment her garden. This has transformed her garden into not only a place of interest, but of personal achievement and community. Vangi encourages fellow gardeners, both current and aspiring, to get to know their plants. Getting to know your plants is deeper than studying the seed package or researching online – ”you must spend time with them.”
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