restaurants present their meals,” said Stephen Ondich, operations manager. “The timber we bring to market will come with a well-documented provenance.” Proceeds from the harvest will be used to create access paths to environmentally significant areas for use by educators. These areas will be preserved and open to the public. Commercial Forest Products will document the transition process from unmanaged to managed forestland for educational purposes.
New Deck & Rail Group Launched
DISTRICT FORESTER Michael Jensen of the Maine Forest Service conducts a preliminary evaluation of Commercial Forest Products’ recently purchased tract.
Hardwood Specialist Buys Forest
Commercial Forest Products, Fontana, Ca., has purchased 150 acres of forestland in Harrington, Me. The company is collaborating with the Maine Forest Service on a forest management plan for the long-term improvement of red maple and white pine density on the land. “This annexation allows us to vertically integrate while taking an active role in forest stewardship. The timber harvested from this project will be distributed in a woodsto-warehouse format similar to the way that farm-to-table
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The Merchant Magazine n
February 2019
The Deck & Rail Institute has been launched to provide advocacy, training and safety standards for deck and rail industry professionals in order to better meet consumer demands for professionalism, quality and safety. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, of the estimated 45 million existing decks, only 40% are completely safe. “A need exists within the deck and rail industry for an entity to lead the charge in establishing codes and standards for the betterment of the industry,” said David Stewart, DRI chair. The DRI will address these issues through the development and implementation of codes and standards, educational training, and engagement opportunities for deck and rail professionals. A division of the American Fence Association, DRI is based in Plano, Tx. As part of the renewed focus on decking and railing, AFA is also reviving the DeckTech component of its annual FenceTech show, starting at this year’s event March 11-13 in Indianapolis, In. To learn more about DRI or become a member, visit www.deckandrailinstitute.com or contact Cristina Rodriguez at info@deckandrailinstitute.com.
Building-Products.com