Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/264043
P r o d u c e S h o w D a i l y T h u r s d a y, M a y 1 6 , 2 0 1 3 2 2 order while sitting in front of the cus- tomer, tell them price and availability, calculate the total order cost, transmit the order and then give the customer the order number without leaving with no pause in between. Buyers can pur- chase what is need, when it is needed while physically inspecting the prod- uct at hand. Users can instantly retrieve up-to-date open invoices and payment history. Silver Creek is offering a five-user show special of WMS 3.0 as well as special pricing on Visual iPad sales and purchases. Stop by booth 531 for details. For more information, visit booth 531, go online to www.silvercreek.com, call 208-388-4555 or email info@silver- creek.com. Silver Creek Software (Cont'd. from p. 19) A LOOK AT THE RICH HISTORY FOR WHOLESALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS AT UNITED Since the association's founding, wholesalers and distributors have been at the heart of United. The sector continues to have a home at the association and will celebrate its rich history at a special net- working reception on Tuesday, May 14 at United Fresh 2013 San Diego. Not too many people today know that our association was formed by a group of Midwest wholesalers, all the way back in 1904. The association was known then as the Western Fruit Jobbers Association. By December of its first year, 100 members had joined the associ- ation, which held its first convention in Omaha, NE. And, surprisingly, the issues reported in United's 100th anniversary publication, A Century of Service, sound very familiar transportation, fair trading, and produce quality. The association continued to grow with its office moving to Denver, and later to Chicago's South Water Market. In 1937, a merger with the American Fruit & Vegetable Shippers Association brought forth the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association. The use of "United" in the new association name signified the purpose of uniting the industry from shipper to receiver, a mis- sion which continues to resonate for our members today. In 1952, members of the National League of Wholesale Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Distributors joined United, further enriching the diversity of wholesale operations active in the associ- ation. For Wholesalers and Distributors, United has been more than an association – it's been a family. Past United Chairman Alan Siger, Chairman of Consumers Produce Company in Pittsburgh, recalls his very first experi- ences with United. "My first exposure to United was the 1979 convention in New Orleans. My father had passed away sud- denly, and this was my first time attend- ing convention in his place. So many of his business associates took me under their wings, treating me like a son, and helped me understand the business and the industry. I'm still very close to their families and companies today, and have enjoyed doing business with the next generation of sons and daughters." Siger continued to be involved with United serving on the Membership Committee and Government Relations Committee before becoming Chairman of United in 1992, noting that "serving as a volunteer leader in United not only was an important part of my personal growth, but it also provided strong visibility for my company and greater recognition within the industry." United has always had a special focus on wholesalers and distributors through programs designed for the for- mer terminal market division and whole- sale division. In 2008, the legacy of these groups led to the formation of the current WholesalerDistributor Board, which was first chaired by Matthew D'Arrigo of D'Arrigo Brothers Company of New York."The WholesalerDistributor board continues to be a great forum for whole- salers and distributors to get involved in United," said D'Arrigo. "Being around other business leaders who are facing the same issues that I do every day has been invaluable. Observing the board meet- ings and volunteering to serve on the board is a great way for wholesalers and distributors to get value out of your United membership." The board has tackled important issues such as food safety, traceability, regional food systems, federal feeding programs, produce in schools and opera- tional best practices, and serves as the voice for wholesalers and distributors at United. Today's Wholesaler-Distributor Board also develops a wealth of educa- tion and networking opportunities for the sector, including specialized education at the Washington Public Policy Conference and United Fresh Convention. Wholesaler-Distributor board members carry on a proud legacy of service, with board members repre- senting the second, third, fourth and fifth generations of their families' involve- ment in United. In addition to long serv- ing members, a number of board mem- bers have represented companies found- ed in the last 20 years, proving that the wholesale and produce distribution sec- tor continues to grow and thrive. IMPACT OF CARB REGULATIONS FOR WHOLESALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS A new California state regulation affect- ing refrigerated transportation will affect produce wholesale and distribu- tion operations throughout the country. Starting this year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has expanded enforcement powers that can affect any company that ships with refrigerated trucks into or out of the state. For years, the owner of a noncompliant reefer could be fined for not meeting the state's Transportation Refrigeration Unit regulation. That changed in January with when CARB added that a shipper or receiver who hires a company that uses noncompliant reefers may be fined up to $10,000. "CARB is a hot topic right now for our company and we're looking very closely about what it will mean to our bottom line," said Lisa Strube, Director of Finance & Administration at Strube Celery & Vegetable Company and Vice Chairman of United's WholesalerDistributor Board. "These regulations will drastically affect the costs of transportation, which will in turn affect the cost of product through- out the supply chain. Wholesalers and distributors will most certainly be affected." "CARB applies to any load that touches California that's on a refrigerat- ed truck," said Kenny Lund, Vice President of Support Operations at the Allen Lund Co. and a member of United's Board of Directors. "The fines can be given to anybody involved in that load – the shipper, the receiver, the transportation broker, the trucking com- pany and now the driver." Lund added that the $10,000 fine level is reserved for extreme cases; a $1,000 fine is more common. The CARB regulation focuses on the air emissions to protect public health and the environment. It covers trans- portation refrigeration units (TRUs) powered by integral diesel engines in refrigerated trucks and trailers, includ- ing those used for shipping fresh pro- duce. According to the regulation, TRU engines must be retrofitted with a filter, rebuilt or replaced entirely. Only units manufactured in 2003 or newer are exempted. The costs to retrofit a TRU to meet the CARB standards can run sev- eral thousand dollars. Carriers with older rigs will have to buy new equip- ment to meet the CARB standards. A new refrigeration unit can cost $20,000 or more. "The CARB regulations are impos- sible to comply with," added Lund. "About 95 percent of produce is hauled by companies with 10 trucks or less, and they do not have the money to retrofit," said Lund. "Less than 30 per- cent of the trucks out there are compli- ant. So how do you take 70 percent of the trucks out of the system and still move product? Kenny Lund moderated a workshop hosted by the United Fresh Supply Chain & Logistics Council, Wednesday, May 15 in San Diego at United Fresh 2013. At the workshop, transportation experts shared strategies for how to protect your shipments and minimize the impact on produce industry compa- nies. MOONEY FARMS: A LEADER IN THE PRODUCE INDUSTRY By Mary Mooney, Partner, Mooney Farms Built on a foundation of family values, qual- ity, and integrity, Mooney Farms has pro- duced Bella Sun Luci, the "premium brand" of sun-dried tomato products for more than 25 years. Family-owned and operated, and locat- ed in Chico, Calif., we have invested in our company's technology and packaging capa- bilities so all of our orders are "packed fresh." This allows for the longest shelf life in the industry. We do not rely on a co-pack- er, and every bag and jar of sun-dried toma- toes are produced at Mooney Farms under the strictest guidelines. Our state-of-the-art, kosher, and Silliker-audited facility supplies sun-dried tomatoes to more than 20 coun- tries. With retail, foodservice, private label, and industrial divisions, Mooney Farms is the largest packer and shipper of sun-dried tomatoes in the United States. With strict attention to tradition, Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes are only packed in 100 percent pure olive oil. Unlike many brands that are co-packed, we are ver- tically integrated allowing for a lower cost that we can pass on to the consumer. Since we focus on one core item, our economy of scale allows us to use higher quality ingre- dients, including olive oil. We never use any low-end oils like canola or sunflower seed oil in our jars. Mooney Farms recognizes the impor- tance of being innovative, and we continu- ally introduce new items that fit the needs of today's consumer. Our new flavored line of bags are one of a kind and include; Premium Julienne Cut with Italian Basil, Premium Julienne with Zesty Peppers, and Premium Julienne with Greek Oregano, Basil & Garlic. These items are fat-free, sugar-free, kosher, and have no salt added. Our re-sealable pouches have been redesigned to prominently feature the words "California," "extra moist", and "ready-to - at." Phil Lempert, The Supermarket Guru, recently rated the Zesty Pepper version a 95 out of 100 as a "Hit!" Today, the average consumer also is looking for more nutrition on a budget. The new NuVal Nutritional Scoring System is a unique food labeling system that ranks all foods between 1 and 100; the higher the score, the higher the food's overall nutrition. Our Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs is the highest scorer in the sun-dried tomato category with a score of 56. We offer the better value, not just in price, but in nutrition. For more information, check out www.mooneyfarms.com or call 530-899- 2661.