Produce & Floral News Show Daily @ IFPA • Oct. 28, 2022

Onions

Innovation, 52 Weeks a Year

BOOTH #5442

By Falon Brawley, Director Marketing, Onions 52

At Onions 52, we grow high quality yellow, red, white and sweet Sunions® and Certified Organic onions That’s our focus, our passion and we’re happy to share it with you! Our goal is to always deliver a high quality product, on time, all year round From our growers and produc tion team to our sales a n d a c c o u n t i n g groups, we have some of the most dedicated

Continued on Page 28

Able Freight’s Commitment and Dedication to Service

BOOTH #3453

For 30 years, Able Freight Services, LLC has consistently maintained vital cold chain security transporting of perishable cargo to destinations worldwide, being the valued extension of growers and shippers, as well as helping to change the future of the cold chain industry

is about a life long passion, commitment and dedication to be the top provider of logistics solutions in the perishables and pharmaceuti cal shipping indus try. Our unwaver

clear expectations

Continued on Page 33

Prunes: The Feel-Good Fruit Continues to Prove Benefits

BOOTH #2005

We all feel the effects of aging in our bones, literally! That’s why it’s so important to support bone health through our diets across every stage of our lives The good news is that prunes contain vitamins and miner als essential to bone health in a snackable package and have been proven to support bone health

Prunes have been extensively studied over the past decade and are emerging as an easy and delicious way to improve bone health. A new research study published in the

Continued on Page 33

At the Table with Janet Burton and Heather Jeffares

BOOTH #3585

Sandi Ford Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Sandi Ford of Ford’s Gourmet Foods, co founder of Bone Suckin’ Sauce, was inducted into the Specialty Food Association Hall of Fame at the Summer Fancy Food Show

In 1992, Sandi and her husband, Lynn, told Lynn’s brother Phil they’d like to be his partners in bring ing his sauce to market Sandi came up with the n a m e B o n e S u c k i n ’ Sauce for the incredible tasting barbecue sauce She sold it at her two

to Janet Burton, vice president of sales, and Heather Jeffares, vice president of market ing.

Little Potato Company’s mission is to “Feed

Jeffares

Mooney Farms Launches

Farms

in the spirit of Italian quality

Mooney Farms’ very own California extra vir

oil,

specifically

for the salad dressings

pressed from the finest Arbequina olives

Mooney Farms

It’s Crunch Time

2022 Harvest Brings Consumer Excitement for Michigan Apple

The 2022 Michigan Apple harvest is underway with a large crop expected, to the delight of Michigan Apple fans and consumers everywhere Michigan’s climate and geography provide ideal conditions for growing apples and the mild spring weather along with dedi cated growers, nutrient rich soil and plenty of heat, sunshine and rain result in quality, colorful, flavorful apples for

consumers to enjoy With an average a n n u a l h a r v e s t o f n e a r l y 2 4 m i l l i o n bushels, Michigan is the third largest apple producing state in the United States While Michigan is third in quan t i t y , m a n y b e l i e v e t h e f l a v o r o f Michigan grown apples is the best in the world

Get Smart About Wash Water

T h e F o o d S a f e t y M o d e r n i z a t i o n A c t (FSMA) increased safety measures to protect people from consuming con taminated food; wash water is a vulner able spot where cross contamination often happens. It’s as simple as rotten pathogens from one bad apple trans ferring to the next batch through the water According to a study conducted by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) a n d t h e G r o c e r y M a n u f a c t u r e r s A s s o c i a t i o n ( G M A ) , f o o d r e c a l l s c o s t companies an average of $10 million p e r i n c i d e n t O x y F u s i o n ® w a s d e v e l oped to not only generate and dose p e r o x y a c e t i c a c i d o n s i t e , b u t w i t h Smart Technology to create reports that streamline the auditing processes to

keep facilities compliant

F S M A r e g u l a t i o n s a n d o n s i t e g e n e r a t e d d i s i n f e c t i o n c h e m i s t r y i s d e v i s e d t o p r o t e c t f a c i l i t i e s f r o m a s s u m i n g l i a b i l i t y i n c a s e o f a n o u t b r e a k ; t o d o s o , a u d i t i n g c o m p a n i e s r e v i e w w a s h w a t e r t r e a t m e n t d a t a r e g u l a r l y T h o u g h m a n u a l t e s t i n g i s a n o p t i o n , e v e n t h e m o s t c o n s c i e n t i o u s c a n m a k e e r r o r s I t ’ s i d e a l t o h a v e a 2 4 h o u r s y s t e m m o n i t o r i n g o n e , o r m a n y f a c i l i t i e s , w i t h o u t k e e p i n g m a n a g e m e n t u p a t n i g h t F o r a t e c h n o l o g i c a l s o l u t i o n t h a t m e e t s t h e s e s t a n d a r d s , y o u m u s t i n v e s t i g a t e t h e l e v e l s o f d e f e n s e , s e c u r i t y a n d c o n v e n i e n c e .

Flick

Albrecht

Ser

Monroe Account Manager

Neal Director of Operations

Thayer

Lee M Oser Founder

Anthony Socci

Brown

Jeanie Catron

Marcos Morhaim

Cecchi

Able Freight

Increasing Customer Visibility With DataHub

As a perishable logistics company, Able Freight does not shy away from techno logical advancements. When it comes to customer visibility and transparency, Able wants to provide only the best cus tomer shipment tracking capabilities with ease and without the frills of com plicated technology

E n t e r D a t a H u b ® , A b l e F r e i g h t ’ s shipment tracking portal, where cus tomers can track their shipments in real time from their computers and mobile phones

“Technology is changing how Able Freight does business. Improved tech nology, such as DataHub, increases pro ductivity in the sup ply chain and helps t o m i n i m i z e c o s t s and errors,” explains Orlando Wong, Able Freight’s CEO

With the com p l i c a t i o n s , s u c h a s delays, that COVID brought to the sup ply chain, it is no surprise that Able’s customers want more visibility of their shipments’ status DataHub provides one stop, real time visibility of all the related documents of the customer’s shipments and allows for proactive res olutions and communications DataHub benefits include real time shipment status, dashboard with geolo cation of in flight shipments, can be dis played in five different languages, stan d a r d a n d c u s t o m i z a b l e r e p o r t s , c u s tomizable shipment event notifications

and messaging, access to connecting flight details, visibility of temperature tracker details and so much more.

Recently, the features of DataHub have expanded to give more visibility to customers outside the app (no login required) These features include email a n d W h a t s A p p n o t i f i c a t i o n s w i t h a shipment tracking link, allowing cus tomers to have immediate shipment visibility

Since its release, DataHub has been utilized by top accounts to track the sta tus of their shipments. With more cus tomers jumping onto DataHub, they can rest assured about the status of t h e i r c a r g o i n an ever chang i n g s u p p l y c h a i n a t m o s phere

DataHub is just one of the many technolo g y o f f e r i n g s p r o d u c e d b y Able Freight when it comes to increas ing efficiency for the Able staff and cus tomers alike

Able Freight Services is based in Los Angeles, California, and is a global expert in importing and exporting per ishable commodities from the United S t a t e s a n d M e x i c o t o d e s t i n a t i o n s worldwide.

For more information, visit booth #3453, g o t o w w w a b l e f r e i g h t c o m o r c a l l 310 568 8883

How The Little Potato Company Is Working to Produce and Farm Potatoes Sustainably

In addition to growing and selling the most delicious Little Potatoes possible, The Little Potato Company considers s u s t a i n a b i l i t y i n e v e r y d e c i s i o n T h e company has implemented numerous initiatives to lessen its impact on the Earth, from integrated pest manage ment practices to water management to breeding programs

The Little Potato Company is an active member of and the first fresh potato company to join The Potato Sustainability Alliance, which is made up of farmers, supply chain partners, non profit organizations and advisors work ing together to improve the environ mental, social and economic aspects of potato production in the United States and Canada The Alliance is working on the biggest issues facing potato growers today: defining what sustainable potato production means and exactly how to farm potatoes sustainably.

“We, along with all the members of the Potato Sustainability Alliance, work together to develop more sustainable practices to ensure the long term viabil ity of our farmers, and to lessen our i m p a c t o n t h e p l a n e t , ” s a i d S t e v e Moorehead, director of agronomy at The Little Potato Company

Guan’s Mushroom: One Place for All Your Specialty Mushrooms

Guan’s Mushroom is a family owned m u s h r o o m g r o w e r a n d d i s t r i b u t o r based in Los Angeles, California The company was first started in 1996 by Juliet and David Guan, selling mush r o o m s f r o m t h e i r s m a l l g a r a g e i n Fremont. Since then, the company has expanded to locations in five metropol itan cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, P h i l a d e l p h i a , N e w Y o r k C i t y a n d Toronto “What really sets us apart from other companies is our commitment to specialty mushrooms Whether it was the first shipment of shiitake mushroom we had flown in from overseas or the

first farm we built in Ventura dedicated to shiitake and oysters, we have always put our focus on specialty mushrooms and always will,” says Jack Guan, busi n e s s d e v e l o p m e n t f o r G u a n ’ s Mushroom.

I n t h e e a r l y 2 0 1 0 s , G u a n ’ s b u i l t three farms along the Pacific coastline d e d i c a t e d t o p r o v i d i n g t h e l o c a l California market with fresh specialty mushrooms With a total growing space of 1 5 million square foot and perfect growing conditions and temperatures o f f e r e d b y t h e C a l i f o r n i a c o a s t l i n e , Guan’s is able to grow mushrooms all

F o r i n s t a n c e , T h e L i t t l e P o t a t o Company has developed a proprietary

year round

Specialty mushrooms are defined a s a n y s p e c i e s o f m u s h r o o m s n o t belonging to the genus Agaricus (white button, crimini, portabella). Some of the most popular varieties include shiitake, oyster, king oyster and maitake

“My favorite specialty mushroom is shiitake mushrooms Shiitakes have this earthy but umami flavor that you really c a n n o t g e t f r o m a n y o t h e r m u s h rooms,” says Juliet Chu, VP for Guan’s Mushroom

Specialty mushrooms have seen a tremendous growth in the retail sector. A c c o r d i n g t o d a t a c o l l e c t e d b y t h e M u s h r o o m C o u n c i l , s p e c i a l t y m u s h room sales in 2015 was $43 6 million

breeding program that is focused on u t i l i z i n g t r a d i t i o n a l b r e e d i n g t e c h niques to develop sustainable varieties t h a t y i e l d h i g h e r q u a l i t y w i t h m o r e r e s i s t a n c e t o p e s t s a n d d i s e a s e s A d d i t i o n a l l y , i t c o n t i n u a l l y w o r k s t o decrease water usage, including using recycled water in its sorting and wash i n g f a c i l i t y I n t e r m s o f m a i n t a i n i n g healthy soil, The Little Potato Company is meticulous about crop rotation, and it has long term, multi generational rela tionships with its farmers to ensure that t h e y a r e c o n s t a n t l y i m p r o v i n g t h e i r p o t a t o e s a n d t h e l a n d w h i l e u s i n g fewer resources The company’s goal is to nurture sustainable livelihoods for each farm and each family while provid ing better food for the whole world for generations to come Additionally, The Little Potato Company has reduced its plastic packaging by 23% in its 1 5 lb bags.

These are just some of the initia tives The Little Potato Company has undertaken to farm and produce pota t o e s a s s u s t a i n a b l y a s p o s s i b l e a n d leave the Earth better than they found it

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o w w w littlepotatoes com, call 780 414 6075 or email sales@littlepotatoes.com.

and doubled to $91 9 in 2020 In just five years, grocery stores were selling twice as much specialty mushrooms, showing the growing demand and pop ularity among consumers.

“We are very excited for the future of our company as well as the future for the mushroom industry We see more a n d m o r e c o n s u m e r s e a t i n g m u s h rooms and discovering all the different varieties of specialty mushrooms There is no better time to try mushrooms than the present!” says Jim Guan, farm man ager for Guan’s Mushroom

For more information, visit booth #4848, g o t o w w w

u

m o r email

g u a n s

Florida-Branded Displays and Sampling Events Lead to Retail Results

While November marks the end of har v e s t s e a s o n f o r m o s t o f t h e U n i t e d States, Florida is only getting started With over 47,000 farms producing more than 300 different commodities, the Sunshine State is proud to supply retail ers around the world with high quality fruit and vegetables In 2020, Florida ranked first in the United States in the value of production for oranges, sugar cane, fresh market tomatoes and water melons; second in the value of produc tion for strawberries and bell peppers; third in cabbage, grapefruit and fresh

m a r k e t s w e e t c o r n ; a n d f o u r t h i n peanuts.

“Fresh From Florida” runs its inte grated marketing campaign November through June with a combination of media and trade advertising, including TV, digital, social media, Hulu and more “Fresh From Florida” has retailer rela tionships in more than 25 countries with 100+ retail partners operating in over 12,000 stores. Through the retail incentive program, “Fresh From Florida” provides monetary incentives to gro cery retailers for promoting Florida pro

New ‘Plastics Treaty’ Prompts Move to Fiber-Based Packaging Solutions

Plastic pollution has a very visible impact on our environment Companies, includ ing produce brands, are facing increas ing pressure to move to more sustain able packaging not only from con sumers, retailers and investors, but from local and national governments and non government organizations (NGOs) as well. Many governments are consider ing or implementing legislation to increase recycling and reduce waste, and several have moved to limit or ban sin gle use plastics

On March 2, 2022, 175 countries, represented by heads of state, environ ment ministers and other prominent f i g u r e s , b a c k e d a r e s o l u t i o n a t t h e United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5) to negotiate an international legally binding agreement by the end of 2024 with the intention of ending plastic pollution (the UNEA Resolution) This new international “Plastics Treaty” aims to regulate global plastic produc tion, use and disposal, harmonizing reg ulatory standards by creating common m e t r i c s T h i s c o u l d h a v e s i g n i f i c a n t implications for businesses. Its frame work will likely:

● Look to eliminate both marine and other environments’ plastic pollution

● Impact the full lifecycle of plastic, covering all aspects of its production, use and disposal

● Foster coordination among existing international environmental treaties

● Encourage sustainable product and

material design

● Regulate microplastics

● Call on all stakeholders to help achieve the treaty objectives

With this global resolution to combat plastic pollution, the responsibility lies with brand owners to take the initiative with their packaging choices. With the a c c e l e r a t e d t i m e t a b l e o f t h i s n e w treaty, it is important for businesses to stay informed and ahead of the coming changes

WestRock partners with clients to imagine and deliver on the promise of a s u s t a i n a b l e f u t u r e b y h e l p i n g t h e m meet the demands of their customers and other stakeholders today, anticipat ing how those demands will change and developing solutions to meet those future needs This work takes expertise, fresh thinking, new ideas and institu tional willingness

duce in their stores. Additionally, “Fresh From Florida” marketing specialists col laborate with retailers on customized promotions based on their needs

Retailers also partner with “Fresh From Florida” on recipe promotions

“Using recipe cards with in store dis plays and ‘Fresh From Florida’ recipe

v i d e o s o n s o c i a l m e d i a h e l p s b o o s t existing print ads,” said Palmer Linscott, supervisor of trade and development f o r t h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f

A g r i c u l t u r e a n d C o n s u m e r S e r v i c e s (FDACS) With more than 400 recipes on i t s w e b s i t e ( w w w f o l l o w f r e s h f r o m florida com), an engaged fan base of “Fresh From Florida” Club members, and over 530,000 social media follow ers, there is significant consumer inter est in cooking with fresh, Florida ingre dients. From Florida blueberry breakfast casserole to Florida sweet pepper, corn, and shrimp bisque, there’s a vast recipe collection to choose from when pro moting Florida products in your store Cross merchandising and recipe pro motions have proven successful at driv ing impulse buys by simplifying con s u m e r s ’ s h o p p i n g e x p e r i e n c e w h i l e offering a visually appealing display

Of course, the best results come from a multi faceted approach. This can include a range of promotions, from

WestRock’s EverGrow™ collection of paperboard produce packaging offers customizable solutions for a wide range of produce types. The EverGrow collec tion enhances the shelf presence of any brand with the ability to print directly on the package, unlike its plastic packaging alternatives Made from renewable paperboard, this new line of produce packaging not only provides an original aesthetic, it allows for curbside recycla bility when emptied and flattened

Today’s produce brands must be looking for innovative ways to meet their sustainability goals and comply w i t h i n c r e a s i n g r e g u l a t i o n s t h r o u g h i n t e g r a t e d p a c k a g i n g s o l u t i o n s t h a t p u r p o s e f u l l y c o m b i n e f i b e r b a s e d materials, innovation led design and highly efficient machinery WestRock’s solutions, which address plastic and packaging materials’ reduction, recycla bility and lifecycle impact, help cus tomers ease the switch to sustainable p a c k a g i n g w h i l e r e d u c i n g r i s k s a n d total costs.

display contests to point of purchase materials and product stickers, to the inclusion of the “Fresh From Florida” logo in weekly circulars Featuring the

“ F r e s h F r o m F l o r i d a ” l o g o a l o n g s i d e

Florida sourced produce in weekly cir culars and advertisements is critical to capitalizing on consumer recognition and converting it into sales Go with the logo they know, and benefit from over 30 years of “Fresh From Florida” brand ing

I F P A ’ s G l o b a l P r o d u c e & F l o r a l

S h o w o f f e r s F l o r i d a ’ s f r u i t a n d v e g

e t a b l e g r o w e r s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o

s h o w c a s e t h e i r p r o d u c t s F l o r i d a ’ s

s t a t e c h e f a n d c u l i n a r y a m b a s s a d o r ,

J u s t i n T i m i n e r i , w i l l b e p r e p a r i n g d e l i c i o u s d i s h e s o n s i t e u t i l i z i n g F l o r i d a i n g r e d i e n t s . C o m e v i s i t t h e “ F r e s h

F r o m F l o r i d a ” g r o w e r s a t b o o t h # 2 1 7 1 a n d e n j o y a d e l i c i o u s s a m p l e p r e p a r e d b y C h e f J u s t i n a t b o o t h # 2 3 8 1 F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n s o u r c i n g

F l o r i d a p r o d u c t s o r p r o m o t i o n a l p a r t n e r s h i p o p p o r t u n i t i e s , c o n t a c t F D A C S

D i v i s i o n o f M a r k e t i n g a n d D e v e l o p m e n t a t 8 5 0 6 1 7 7 3 3 0 o r w h i t n e y l e t t @ f d a c s g o v

For more information, visit booth #2171,

Ariston Infused Sea Salts & Himalayan Rock Salt

Ariston infused Sea Salts & Himalayan Rock Salt are just one of the newest product lines at Ariston Specialties in 2022 They are not only a gourmet food, but also have their own adjustable mill, making it a nice kitchen tool These seven delicious items are a must for every kitchen in the United States!

Collect them all and make a lovely and tasty display in your store Order d i r e c t o r o n F a i r e a t w w w a r i s t o n specialties.faire.com.

Ariston Specialties looks forward to servicing your store

Where Apples Love to Grow

T h e m a j o r i t y o f M i c h i g a n A p p l e s , approximately 70 percent, are grown in the western part of the state along the coast of Lake Michigan, and the factors in this region make all the difference in p r o d u c i n g h i g h q u a l i t y , f l a v o r f u l apples

The Great Lakes help provide rich soil perfect for growing apple trees Soil that is not too heavy with just the right mix of nutrients helps keep the trees healthy during their entire lifespan The lake effect from Lake Michigan, along with the humid climate, are the perfect conditions for apple growing.

Even the cold winters here play an important role. This weather helps keep the trees dormant, resting them to pre serve energy to grow future crops and protecting them from potential dam age

Of course, all these soil and climate factors would be for nothing in produc ing Michigan Apples without the dedi cated growers found here With more than 14.9 million apple trees found on 775 family run farms in Michigan, the

passion, care and expertise shown by these growers is unmatched They are part scientist and part artist, and it is because of the knowledge these family growers have passed down from gener ation to generation that they are able to bring all of these elements together in creating such flavorful apples

The combination of the natural ele ments found in Michigan along with the pride, care and expertise of the growers all contribute to having the best tasting apples in the world! Be sure to check out www michiganapples com to find out where to buy Michigan Apples, as w e l l a s h e a l t h b e n e f i t s , r e c i p e s a n d more.

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan Apple and encourage its con sumption in Michigan and around the world

For more information, visit booth #3163 or go to www.michiganapples.com.

Exceptional Service from Melons Logistics

Melons Logistics, a subsidiary of the Michael Cutler Company, was founded in 2011 Mark Heise, director of logistics, saw an opportunity to provide in house logis tics for the Michael Cutler Company domestic onion programs and an internal value added service. By controlling the freight costs, the Michael Cutler Company was able to perform at a higher level in the produce industry Word quickly got out into the industry about the exceptional service that Melons Logistics was provid ing in house and cus tomers began reach ing out, too Over the past 11 years, Melons Logistics has expand ed to a fully opera tional 3PL The compa ny has expanded its

reach and offers Over The Road truckload services (van, reefer and flatbed), Intermodal (refrigerated and dry), Port Drayage and limited regional LTL options

In dealing with the volatile logistics l a n d s c a p e o v e r t h e p a s t f e w y e a r s , Melons Logistics has been able to fore cast trends, develop strategic plans and deliver customer freight on time and at a competitive rate I n 2 0 2 0 , U n i o n P a c i f i c C o l d C o n n e c t a b r u p t l y s h u t d o w n , leaving a major gap in many onion and potato shippers’ supply chains

Melons Logistics built a d o m e s t i c i n t e r m o d a l program and partnered with large refrigerated i n t e r m o d a l c o m p a n i e s that allowed their cus

Varstar Ready for Challenges and Opportunities

Varstar Alliance is a leading freight bro kerage company and trusted provider of transportation services across the N o r t h A m e r i c a n s u p p l y c h a i n T h e Varstar network of transportation com panies and logistics professionals is also dedicated to providing successful solu tions that meet the diverse needs of their individual customers in today’s rapidly changing marketplace

Like nearly all businesses and fami lies over the past two and half years, Varstar has dealt with the challenges p o s e d b y C O V I D 1 9 V a r s t a r h a s emerged as a stronger company a company that is ready for the future

G o i n g f o r w a r d , t h e f o c u s o f Varstar’s business remains on providing exceptional service to customers, which has meant doubling down on a com mitment to enhance and upgrade tech nology to meet the needs of and oppor tunities for the transportation industry.

As Varstar welcomes a return to a normal day to day business environ ment, the company is also encouraged to see so many people outside of the transportation industry now fully aware of the importance of an efficient conti nental supply chain to their day to day lives

Ultimately, the Varstar family has the interests of families in both the United States and Canada front and center every day Varstar plays a critical role in ensuring that everything from what goes on the kitchen table to prod ucts for the home arrives on time

Varstar’s commitment to technolo gy centers on a management system ( T M S ) t h a t c o m b i n e s s t a t e o f t h e a r t technology in an easy formula provid i n g a w i d e r a n g e o f f u n c t i o n s t h a t enables the company to be a shipper’s one stop shop. The investment in TMS

tomers to maintain competitive pricing in an otherwise “low value” market

In 2021, the pandemic drove hyper inflated demand that wreaked havoc on the logistics industry Consumer spend ing was out of control and shippers were utilizing every piece of equipment they could get their hands on in order to move their product Imported prod ucts were stuck in the port, rates rose roughly 30 to 40% for OTR trucks, and there were massive delays in the inter modal network due to labor shortages a n d i n c r e a s e d d e m a n d M e l o n s Logistics was able to leverage its part nerships with asset based carriers to provide solutions for shippers to get their products out of the ports, across the country and into the hands of con sumers efficiently and cost effectively

n o t o n l y m a k e s V a r s t a r ’ s j o b m o r e focused, but offers the most value to any shipper and provides an unlimited strategic potential for all parties along the supply chain

A n d r e i U n c , v i c e p r e s i d e n t o f Varstar, points out that with greater vis ibility, shippers are given more detailed i n f o r m a t i o n f o r t h e i r v i e w i n g w h e n planning a shipment, while carriers are also kept informed and updated with all the details pertinent to their routes and loads.

“Our fully integrated software allows for total control over shipments by pro moting constant communication between drivers and network partners, as well as open communication policies between our sales reps and logistics serv ice managers,” says Unc “Varstar’s inter nal load board also provides the ability to view the current location of trucks and their upcoming delivery detail.”

To help Varstar’s team provide real market pricing, proprietary rate matrix software compiles rate and capacity data for any lane currently serviced by i t s c o m p a n i e s , w h i c h e n s u r e s t h a t Varstar can provide accurate and highly competitive rates for every load, every t i m e V a r s t a r ’ s t r a i n e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s help customers save time and money

Vice President Unc points out that t h e c o m p a n y h e a d q u a r t e r e d i n Michigan and with offices in both the United States and Canada is ready for all challenges and opportunities ahead “Our vision is to make a true difference in the transportation community we p r o u d l y s e r v e , a n d t h a t i s a g r e a t responsibility, both to our customers and our committed partners ”

For more information, visit booth #143 or go to www.varstaralliance.com.

2022 has brought its own difficul t i e s i n t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s e c t o r including the highest fuel costs in the last 30 years and continued port con gestion, but Melons Logistics’ experi e n c e d t e a m c o n t i n u e s t o m e e t a n d exceed customer expectations

The Melons Logistics team secures one lane at a time to build up relation ships with shippers, carriers and receivers using their skills, tools and professional demeanor to develop long term business relationships Melons Logistics is a dedi cated team ready to offer exceptional service and continuously adapting to the consumers’ needs Melons Logistics is All About Performance

For more information, go to www michael cutlerco com or call 800 258 6646

Mooney Farms Welcomes You to the Bella Sun Luci Italian Kitchen

Bella Sun Luci is on a mission to trans form any home cook into an Italian chef! The California based brand will debut its new Italian Kitchen product l i n e a t t h e G l o b a l P r o d u c e & F l o r a l Show Bella Sun Luci’s Italian Kitchen l i n e i n c l u d e s a r t i s a n s a l a d d r e s s i n g s made from 100% olive oil and a Tuscan Rub that is low sodium and MSG free!

Woman owned and family operat ed, Bella Sun Luci stays true to its roots, sourcing local and high quality ingredi ents, including California grown toma toes and extra virgin olive oil for this new product line. The brand is especially proud to feature only 100% olive oil in the new line of premium salad dressings

“We created our home style salad dressings, so you don’t have to They’re made the way you would prepare them at home, with 100% olive oil and fresh, f l a v o r f u l i n g r e d i e n t s , ” s a y s M a r y Mooney, owner and CEO of Bella Sun Luci. “Our new line, including the salad dressings and sun dried tomato sea s o n i n g , b r i n g s a u t h e n t i c h o m e m a d e f l a v o r a n d c o n v e n i e n c e t o y o u r kitchen!”

In three delicious flavors, there’s a d r e s s i n g t o p a i r p e r f e c t l y w i t h a n y salad: California Vinaigrette made with

sweet oranges and wildflower honey, Sonoma Vinaigrette rich with garlic and s u n d r i e d t o m a t o e s a n d B a l s a m i c Vinaigrette featuring Di Nigris world renowned Italian Balsamic Vinegar from Italy

As the first and only U S producer of sun dried tomatoes packed in 100% olive oil and creators of the only plant based tomato jerky on the market, Bella Sun Luci has been pioneering unique, high quality, delicious products for over 30 years Their expansion to the Italian Kitchen line is an opportunity to bring r i c h I t a l i a n f l a v o r a n d w h o l e s o m e C a l i f o r n i a i n g r e d i e n t s i n t o e v e r y kitchen

About Mooney Farms & Bella Sun Luci Founded in 1986, Mooney Farms is a t h i r d g e n e r a t i o n , c e r t i f i e d w o m a n owned, family company rooted in qual ity, integrity and family values that has grown to be the premier producer of sun dried tomatoes in olive oil in the U n i t e d S t a t e s . B a s e d i n C h i c o , C a l i f o r n i a , M o o n e y F a r m s h a s a 100,000 square foot facility and 200 y e a r o l d o l i v e t r e e s p l a n t e d a m o n g rows of lavender and rosemary, which reflects the family’s rich history in the

Gourmet Sweet Botanicals

I t ’ s t i m e t o s m i l e ! A s w e a r e c e l e b r a t i n g m o m s , h o l i d a y s , b i r t h d a y s , w e d d i n g s a n d o t h e r s p e c i a l e v e n t s , G o u r m e t S w e e t B o t a n i c a l s ™ w i l l h e l p y o u t a k e t h e m t o t h e n e x t l e v e l U s i n g t h e b e s t m i c r o g r e e n s a n d e d i b l e f l o w e r s w i l l e n h a n c e y o u r a p p e t i z e r s , e n t r é e s , d e s s e r t s a n d b e v e r a g e s .

G o u r m e t S w e e t B o t a n i c a l s s e l l s h i g h q u a l i t y M i c r o g r e e n s , E d i b l e Flowers, Tiny Veggies™ and so much m o r e ! I t s o u r c e s p r o d u c t s f r o m t h e f i n e s t g r o w e r s l o c a t e d i n S a n D i e g o , C a l i f o r n i a G o u r m e t S w e e t Botanicals has read i l y a v a i l a b l e p r o d u c t s t h a t a r e h a r vested, packed and s h i p p e d o n t h e same day to guar a n t e e f r e s h f l a v o r , color and shelf life

With easy access to products, you can stay creative and inspired for all of y o u r h o m e c o o k e d m e a l s , t a k e o u t orders, baked goods and cocktail cre ations.

This is the perfect time to develop n e w r e c i p e s a n d k e e p t h e c r e a t i v e juices flowing Make inspiring cupcakes a n d c a k e s b y a d d i n g a d o r a b l e T i n y

Veggies on top Craft a delicious and elevated pizza with Micro Arugula or

create a stunning cocktail with Hibiscus Flower Gourmet Sweet Botanicals has a product for every aspect of culinary and mixology that will add elegance, beau ty, and fun to your dishes and bever ages

With many restaurants converting to take out, Gourmet Sweet Botanicals offers convenience and ease for sourc ing the best products for your cus tomers Create an enjoyable experience a r o u n d t a k e o u t b y enhancing your appetiz ers, salads and entrées w i t h

Edible Flowers Your cus tomers can enjoy beauti ful and tasty dishes right in the comfort of their own home

G

d

Mediterranean Its flagship product line, B e l l a S u n L u c i , f e a t u r e s p r e m i u m California grown and Mediterranean inspired foods created from authentic family recipes. The Bella Sun Luci line is best known for Sun Dried Tomatoes and Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil with a distinctively fresh and sweet fla v o r f r o m b e i n g d r i e d u n d e r t h e California sun and always packed in 1 0 0 % o l i v e o i l T h e y a d d a u t h e n t i c M e d i t e r r a n e a n f l a v o r t o h o m e m a d e

appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta, and more The Bella Sun Luci line also includes new 100% Olive Oil Salad Dressings, Tuscan Rub Spice, Bruschetta Spreads, Bottled Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Marinades

For more information, visit booth #2232, e m a i l s a l e s @ m o o n e y f a r m s c o m , g o t o w w w b e l l a s u n l u c i c o m , o r f o l l o w t h e company on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest

Pouches of All-Natural Seasoning Blends for Produce, Dairy & the Spice Aisle

The Spice Lab’s line of 15 all natural sea soning blends packaged in convenient, resealing pouches for produce and dairy sections as well as the spice aisle offer customers delicious solutions for appe tizing sides, hassle free dips and quick meals. Each pouch includes a recipe to m a k e f o o d p r e p a r a t i o n a breeze.

There are three seasoning v a r i a t i o n s f o r p o t a t o e s Steakhouse, Savory and Smoky R o a s t p l u s M a p l e T h y m e Glazed Carrot Seasoning, Street Corn and Glazed Spiced Sweet Potato Seasoning Two flavor twists for slaw Maple Mustard Coleslaw and Sesame Ginger Slaw Seasoning and a Sesame Ginger Stir Fry mix

and a wide array of packaging options from glass and plastic jars to premium ceramic grinders and gift sets Private label and custom blending are available

Founded in 2009, The Spice Lab is a woman owned and family run business s p e c i a l i z i n g i n c u s t o m s e a s o n i n g

prisingly intense flavors,

brilliant colors for your amazing creations and pairings. The company ships all over t

Gourmet Sweet Botanicals is able to deliver

For easy to prepare dips, the selec tion includes both classic Guacamole and Spicy Guacamole Seasoning to mix with avocados as well as Three Onion and Dill Seasoning Dip Mix for sour cream The Spice Lab’s best selling all n a t u r a l T a c o S e a s o n i n g a n d F a j i t a Seasoning also are offered in these con venient pouches. Pouches are sold in a case pack of 12.

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e p o u c h e s , t h e company offers an extensive selection of all natural seasoning blends, organic spices, gourmet salts and peppercorns

blends, premium organic spices, salts a n d g o u r m e t g i f t s P r o d u c t s a r e processed and packed in the company’s 125,000 square foot SQF certified facili t y i n P o m p a n o B e a c h , F l o r i d a , t h a t includes a design department, research and development kitchen with full time chef in residence, business offices and a product showroom. With expanded production lines, the company can pro duce 100,000 units per day

New Hazelnut Oils and Oregon Orchard Snack & Candy Items

T o t h e d e l i g h t o f c h e f s a n d b a k e r s

e v e r y w h e r e , h a z e l n u t o i l s a r e n o w

becoming more available on U.S. gro cery store shelves. Hazelnut Growers of Oregon (HGO) is releasing two versions o f i t s h a z e l n u t o i l : a n E x t r a V i r g i n Hazelnut Oil (EVHO) and a high heat Refined Hazelnut Oil

The Extra Virgin Hazelnut Oil (250 ml) is an excellent alternative to olive oil when making salad dressings, sauces, baking goods, or as a substitute for clarified but

Onions 52 (Cont’d from p 1)

people in the industry.

We promise to deliver high quality onions, 52 weeks a year This means we n e v e r s a y “ n o ” t o o u r c u s t o m e r s Instead, we find solutions We strive to p r o v i d e c u s t o m e r s w i t h h i g h q u a l i t y superior products and consistency of delivery There will never be a week without onions We hold ourselves to a high standard, so you can be assured this is a promise we will never break. Y o u ’ l l f i n d p l e n t y o f i n n o v a t i o n a t Onions 52 whether it’s our Tearless and Sweet Sunions, or our new tri color

The Little Potato Company (Cont’d. from p. 1)

day “From sustainability initiatives with our family farmers, to giving to food banks across Canada and the U S , this is my favorite part of working at The Little Potato Company.”

B u r t o n a g r e e s . “ I ’ m p a s s i o n a t e about our purpose: we believe that everyone, everywhere, deserves to have healthy, great food Everyone at the company lives our core values every day, including being down to earth and always doing what you say ”

Families are at the heart of every t h i n g t h e c o m p a n y d o e s P r o v i d i n g easy meal solutions and creating little moments of happiness for busy families are their guiding principles in bringing quality products to market

Ford’s Gourmet Foods (Cont’d from p 1)

specialty stores that she grew out of a small section of the family’s fourth gen eration produce business Sandi had the belief that locally crafted, high qual ity specialty foods filled an important role in the market Lynn and Sandi’s sons, Vaughn and Patrick, joined the f a m i l y b u s i n e s s i n 1 9 9 3 a n d 1 9 9 7 , respectively Thirty years later, the Bone Suckin’ Sauce product line has expand ed and is now sold in more than 80 countries around the world But com mercial success is not enough for Sandi Ford.

Sandi never shied away from being a woman in the male dominated barbe cue space She feels a responsibility to

ter It also imparts a “nutty” flavor and aroma For roasting, frying and grilling, it is best to use the odorless Refined Hazelnut Oil (500 ml), which has a higher smoke point of 470 degrees. Additionally, as a product 100% made in the USA, these oils are easily ordered by grocery stores and are not impacted by the supply chain dis ruptions that have been afflicting import ed cooking oil products

Along with the hazelnut oil launch, HGO is proud to improve and expand its

grab n go onion pack, Onions 52 is vir tually a one stop onion shop and can provide all your needs in one location.

Onions 52 is one of the nation’s few grower shippers of Tearless and Sweet Sunions Sunions are a game changer in the kitchen no goggles or crazy hacks are needed to keep from crying These groundbreaking onions didn’t happen by accident and are a non GMO prod uct of more than three decades of farm ing, research, and development. Grown in Washington state, Sunions are con sistently mild and crunchy and follow a tightly controlled brand promise that must certify them both tearless and

“In our research, we consistently heard that the lack of healthy, afford able, quick meal solutions was a pain point for families,” said Jeffares “Take out or ordering in are often expensive a n d u n h e a l t h y O u r q u i c k c o o k i n g , nutritious potatoes solve this problem ”

Much has been reported on the importance of families having dinner together and mealtimes are special to The Little Potato Company.

“ M e a l t i m e c a n b e a l o t o f l i t t l e things: little conversations, little laughs, little connections,” said Burton “Using quick and easy meal solutions like our Little Potatoes means having more time for these little but important things ”

The company’s products are versa tile, delicious and convenient for busy parents from easy kits to bagged

teach and mentor others with ideas they want to take to market “I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of locally crafted, high quality specialty foods in the market,” said Ford “Not only is it an important part of our local commercial market, it is also an impor tant part of our storytelling as a com munity, a state, a region and a nation Food tells a story, and I am so proud to be a part of it ”

M a n y o f t h e S p e c i a l t y F o o d Members have leaned on Sandi for help and support, which she offers freely and i n t r o d u c e s t h e m t o d i s t r i b u t o r s a n d stores whenever they ask. She is selfless with her time and knowledge. She has been recognized by several U.S. presi dents, the U S Commerce Department,

popular snack and candy line. This sum mer, Oregon Orchard introduced con venient 4 oz packaging for its chocolate and seasoned hazelnut flavor (nine items), along with the debut of seven exciting new chocolate covered hazel nuts The new flavors will encourage and inspire pairing ideas with other products in the grocery store, such as wine, coffee, cheese, meats and fruits. The new choco late flavors are Salted Caramel, Butterscotch, Pinot Noir, Maple Bacon, Dark Cherry, Mocha and Blackberry All of these items are gluten free, Kosher certified, and do not contain any artificial flavors or ingredients, a requirement for most natural grocery sets in specialty

sweet prior to shipping Sunions are harvested in August and are placed in storage for nearly three months where they develop their signature tearless and sweet characteristics through natu r a l c u r i n g p r o c e s s e s S u n i o n s a r e offered in a variety of pack styles and i n c l u d e c o m p l i m e n t a r y p o i n t o f s a l e materials for every customer

Our tri color onion bag is the ideal grab n go item for shoppers who are looking for an easy solution to fulfill their weekly cooking needs. The perfect mix of premium red, yellow and white onions ensures shoppers always have what they need for a recipe without

potatoes that are ready to use.

Jeffares uses them as a fast, healthy b a s e f o r p o t a t o b o w l s “ I c o o k o u r Microwave Ready Kits for five minutes, smash them in a bowl, and my 8 year old twins boys top them with whatever leftovers and toppings we have in the refrigerator It’s faster than takeout!” she said She also throws an Onion & Chive Oven | Grill Ready Kit on the bar becue while she is cooking burgers. “It’s just 30 minutes to perfect roasted pota toes, the ultimate side for burger night ” Burton uses them as appetizers for family get togethers with her adult daughters “I boil them the night before On the day of, I smash them in a cast iron pan and top with our favorites cheese, smoked salmon, dip everything works!” she said. Additionally, Burton loves the

senators, commissioners and even host ed the USA Secretary of Agriculture last year at the Farmers Market in Raleigh The co founder of NC Specialty Foods, Sandi is a much sought after expert, a u t h o r i t y a n d a d v o c a t e o f s p e c i a l t y foods, agriculture and locally owned and operated brands

Sandi is a true pioneer of so many things in the specialty food business that have benefited all producers, cre ators and makers There is no one more deserving of the Hall of Fame honor

The Hall’s mission is to honor indi v i d u a l s w h o s e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , impact, contributions, innovations, and s u c c e s s e s w i t h i n t h e s p e c i a l t y f o o d industry deserve praise and recogni tion

and conventional store chains.

The new lineup is shipping now and is available at a suggested retail price of $4 99 at Wilco Farm Stores in the Pacific Northwest, www farmstore com, www oregonorchard com and on Amazon

Hazelnuts are a good source of vita mins B6 and E and are keto friendly All Oregon Orchard snacks are produced with HGO members’ hazelnuts, which are steam pasteurized in small batches at the SQF (Safe Quality Food) Level 3 Certified processing facility in Aurora, Oregon

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o www wilco coop/hazelnuts

wasting any time deciding which bag of onions to buy. Onions 52 is one of the first grower shippers in the industry to i n v e s t i n m a c h i n e r y s p e c i f i c a l l y designed for packing tri color onions

Our tri color onion grab n go packs are available year round in a variety of pack styles both organic and conventional varieties

We like to focus on one thing and do it the very best, so Onions 52 is just that: onions, 52 weeks a year!

For more information, visit booth #5442, call 801 773 0630, go to www onions52 com or email sales@onions52 com

Fingerlings the perfect roasting pota toes and Purely Purple, which “have beautiful plate appeal for entertaining ”

F i n a l l y , w h a t d o t h e s e l e a d e r s dream for The Little Potato Company?

Jeffares wishes that busy families every where will create fun, easy and healthy meals using Little Potatoes and “inspire more cooking at home so that kids will grow up knowing how to nourish them selves.” Burton’s dream is for the com pany to “create little moments of happi ness at dining room tables and restau rants around the world, with families cooking and eating together ”

For more information, visit booth #3585, g o t o w w w l i t t l e p o t a t o e s c o m , c a l l 7 8 0 4 1 4 6 0 7 5 o r e m a i l i n f o @ l i t t l e potatoes.com.

About Ford’s Gourmet Foods Ford’s Gourmet Foods, a division of F o r d ’ s P r o d u c e C o m p a n y , I n c , i s a f o u r t h g e n e r a t i o n , R a l e i g h , N o r t h Carolina based family business man aged by Sandi and Patrick Ford. FGF creates and distributes some of the w o r l d ’ s g r e a t e s t t a s t i n g n o n G M O , g l u t e n f r e e , K o s h e r c e r t i f i e d f o o d s , including Wine Nuts and Fire Dancer Jalapeño Peanuts and the international ly acclaimed Bone Suckin’ Sauces the o n l y b a r b e c u e s a u c e s r a t e d # 1 b y Newsweek, Food & Wine and many oth ers

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , e m a i l S a l e s @ B o n e S u c k i n . c o m o r g o t o www bonesuckin com

Mooney Farms (Cont’d. from p. 1)

The three new 100% olive oil salad dressings are a natural fit for Mooney Farms’ Bella Sun Luci Italian Kitchen line, which features premium California grown and Mediterranean inspired foods created from authentic family recipes.

“A recipe needs to be as good as my mother’s or I’m not interested in making it,” said Mary Mooney about the concept behind the new premium salad dressing line “There are enough salad dressings on the shelf; we must offer the consumer something better I am proud to produce California’s original brand of premium sun dried tomatoes

Able Freight (Cont’d. from p. 1)

of teams, technology vision, and entre preneurial mindset define who we are,” says Orlando Wong, Able Freight’s CEO. Able Freight’s focus is preserving t h e s h e l f l i f e o f p e r i s h a b l e c a r g o through detail oriented and error free operations “With 24/7 operations, we are here to assist around the clock to e n s u r e p e r i s h a b l e c a r g o s h i p m e n t s arrive at their destination with the same high quality as we received it ” Technology is also a key founda tional cornerstone for Able Freight. “We

using only authentic cooking methods and olive oil We have made our sun dried tomatoes the same way for the last 200 years These vinaigrettes are a dream come true!

“I love sharing my family’s history and love for cooking Our new salad d r e s s i n g s f i t i n s e a m l e s s l y w i t h o u r existing Bella Sun Luci line that com bines the authenticity of simple, high quality Italian ingredients with innova t i v e C a l i f o r n i a f l a v o r s a n d I a m s o thrilled to introduce them!”

About Mooney Farms & Bella Sun Luci Founded in 1986, Mooney Farms is a t h i r d g e n e r a t i o n , c e r t i f i e d w o m a n

treat customizations of our technology a n d i n n o v a t i o n p l a t f o r m s f o r c l i e n t s and partners as an integral part of our freight forwarding services,” explains Orlando “To be effective in this indus try, one must understand the industry and know how to curate and apply the data. Between A Works (Able’s ware house and operational management system and DataHub (Able’s customer portal), our forward looking technolog ical capabilities are constantly improv i n g c u r r e n t p r o c e d u r e s , a u t o m a t i o n , data analytics, and real time tracking ” Able Freight is based in Los Angeles,

owned, family company rooted in quali ty, integrity, and family values that has grown to be the premier producer of sun dried tomatoes in olive oil in the United States Based in Chico, California, Mooney Farms has a 100,000 square foot facility and 200 year old olive trees planted among rows of lavender and rosemary, which reflects the family’s rich history in the Mediterranean. Its flagship product line, Bella Sun Luci, features p r e m i u m C a l i f o r n i a g r o w n a n d Mediterranean inspired foods created from authentic family recipes The Bella Sun Luci line is best known for Sun Dried Tomatoes and Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil with a distinctively fresh and

California, and has offices and affiliates located around the world in key logistics hubs The people representing each facili ty are the drivers of Able Freight’s opera tions and provide industry leading knowl edge, responsiveness and innovative solu tions Each facility possesses its own unique capabilities that are the drivers for success. Growers, brokers, and interna tional corporations benefit from the per sonal service and individualized attention provided from each Able location

It is Able Freight’s people, experi ence, and knowledge that help set Able a p a r t f r o m o t h e r f r e i g h t f o r w a r d i n g

sweet flavor from being dried under the California sun and always packed in 1 0 0 % o l i v e o i l T h e y a d d a u t h e n t i c

M e d i t e r r a n e a n f l a v o r t o h o m e m a d e appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta, and more The Bella Sun Luci line also includes new 100% Olive Oil Salad Dressings, Plant Based Tomato Jerky, T u s c a n R u b S p i c e , P a s t a S a u c e s , Bruschetta Spreads, Bottled Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Risotto, and Marinades.

For more information, visit booth #2232, e m a i l

c o

a

, g o t o w

, o

o l l o w t h e company on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest

c o m p a n i e s “ W e p r i o r i t i z e b r i n g i n g value to our services for the benefit of all our partners and customers Our diverse workforce is fluent in 17 lan guages,” Orlando says “Pair that with 24 hours a day/7 days a week service, with access to all layers of management ( i n c l u d i n g u p t o t h e C E O / p r e s i d e n t level), ensure that clients that can trust Able Freight to go above and beyond to satisfy requests and expectations ”

For more information, visit booth #3453, g o t o w w w a b l e f r e i g h t c o m o r c a l l 310 568 8883

Prunes (Cont’d from p 1) per, and polyphenols

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that eating a daily serving of prunes (five to six prunes) for one year can lead to clinically meaningful bone health benefits in vulnerable popula tions: postmenopausal women at risk for hip fractures.

“What’s exciting is that this study c o n f i r m s w h a t o u r p r e v i o u s s t u d y found at San Diego State University These new results confirm what we

Michigan Apples (Cont’d from p 4)

“ M i c h i g a n ’ s c l i m a t e p r o v i d e s a growing season of mostly cool nights, warm sunny days and plenty of mois ture ideal factors in producing a fla vorful crop of apples This year, growers are optimistic that they will harvest an above average sized crop with great quality and flavor and that’s definitely something for consumers to get excited a b o u t , ” s a i d D i a n e S m i t h , e x e c u t i v e

Wash Water (Cont’d from p 4)

Defense

P l a n n i n g f o r a n a u d i t c a n f e e l l i k e p r e p a r i n g f o r b a t t l e ; y o u n e e d t h e b e s t t o o l s o n t h e f r o n t l i n e T h e F S M A r e g u l a t i o n s a r e w e l l k n o w n a n d p r o c e s s i n g c o m p a n i e s s t o r e d a t a i n a s e c u r e p l a c e f o r p o t e n t i a l a u d i t s T h e c a p a c i t y t o a s s e m b l e d a t a q u i c k l y f o r a n a u d i t o r i n c a s e o f a n o u t b r e a k i s c r u c i a l T h e s e r e p o r t s s h o w w h a t d a y a n d t i m e a n d a t w h a t r a t e w a t e r w a s t r e a t e d t o h e l p m i t i g a t e a l l e g a t i o n s o f l i a b i l i t y . S m a r t

demonstrated in 2016 that eating five to six prunes a day is an achievable and effective target to improve bone health f o r p o s t m e n o p a u s a l w o m e n , ” s a y s Shirin Hooshmand, PhD, RD, Professor o f N u t r i t i o n a t S a n D i e g o S t a t e University and Sunsweet Growers part ner who studies bone health but is not associated with this specific research

A variety of nutrients can be found in prunes that work synergistically to protect the bone such as fiber, vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, boron, cop

d i r e c t o r o f t h e M i c h i g a n A p p l e Committee

According to the official estimate a n n o u n c e d a t t h e U S A p p l e O u t l o o k Conference in August, growers will har vest 29 5 million bushels (1 239 billion pounds) of apples this fall Consumer favorites Gala, Honeycrisp and Fuji are commonly found in the produce sec tion of most grocery stores and super markets, along with managed varieties that are also grown in Michigan

T e c h n o l o g y r e p o r t s s h o w f l u c t u a t i o n s i n t h e o p e r a t i o n p r o c e s s v a r i a b l e s T r a c k i n g v a r i a t i o n s i n w a t e r u s a g e a n d c h e m i c a l w a s t e h e l p s d e c r e a s e p r o d u c t i o n c o s t s a n d i n c r e a s e s s u s t a i n a b i l i t y

Security

Protecting your company’s food safety d a t a i s o f p a r a m o u n t i m p o r t a n c e Company data is privileged information for authorized employees who need access to read reports, track process v a r i a b l e s , a n d p r e v e n t t a m p e r i n g .

“Prunes are such a great snack on their own, and there are so many other ways to get five to six per day in deli cious ways,” says registered dietitian and Sunsweet Growers partner, Erin P a l i n s k i W a d e H e r e a r e t h r e e w a y s P a l i n s k i W a d e l o v e s t o r e c o m m e n d enjoying prunes:

1 Prune purée adds moisture and richness to a variety of baked goods To create this yummy purée, add 1 1/3 cups Sunsweet® Amaz!n Prunes and 6

“Many consumers don’t realize that they can support Michigan growers by purchasing Michigan Apples in the gro cery store, as well as in farm markets and cider mills. Michigan is the third largest apple producing state mean ing they are sold on a commercial basis as well as in what’s known as agri tourism locations,” said Smith

Follow the Michigan Apples social m e d i a a c c o u n t s o n I n s t a g r a m , Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and

Smart Technology issues unique login information to permitted users, adding a level of security and giving adminis trators peace of mind.

Convenience

Remote access to reporting paves the road to success by keeping manage ment informed so authorized users can observe facility performance from any device with internet access This feature is especially convenient for those man aging and supervising multiple facili ties’ operational metrics without book

Tbsp hot water in a food processor

2. Think your classic PB&J, but with the benefits of prunes. Prunes are a great addition to incorporate into sandwiches

3 Adding prunes to sauces and marinades can boost flavor and the nutrition of everyday dishes

Sunsweet Amaz!n Prunes can help us feel good from the inside out

For more information, visit booth #2005 or go to www.sunsweet.com.

YouTube for the latest on the 2022 apple harvest

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its con sumption in Michigan and around the world

For more information, visit booth #3163 or go to www michiganapples com

ing any tickets or gassing up the truck

OxyFusion answers to the industry’s wash water treatment questions using S m a r t T e c h n o l o g y t o m o n i t o r m o r e than the volume of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) dosed; but also pH, energy use and the temperature of wash water The data generated by Smart Technology is stored and easily accessible

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