Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/264046
P r o d u c e S h o w D a i l y 5 1 F r i d a y, O c t o b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 3 wherever it may be. Located on the south Texas border near the Reynosa port of entry, Mike's Loading is home to a true gateway between the United States and Mexico. Mike's brokers have a history of successfully coordi- nating freight throughout the U.S., with a special niche in Texas and cross border service. In 2012, Mike's Loading ran near- ly 40,000 loads, and more than 40 per- cent were produce. As a result of their commitment to quality service, the Mike's Loading customer base contin- ues to grow. Excellence is the goal. 12,000 customers have entrusted MLS to coordinate their products' delivery across the nation. Mike's Loading Service is a highly qualified, licensed transportation broker. Mike's is a member of Blue Book, Red Book, TIA, NASTC, NMFTA and NPFDA. Mike's has been awarded the Business Character Award with Red Book, is listed as a Best Broker with NASTC and is certified with a $100,000 bond through TIA. Additionally, Mike's maintains general liability, contingent cargo liability and theft/dishonesty bond coverage. With Mike's Loading Service, your freight is safe. At Mike's, the "HAT" (Honest, Accurate and Timely) approach to quality business communication is the standard. This is the promise Mike's Loading strives to keep to every cus- tomer on every load they coordinate. However efficient a business may aspire to be, problems sometimes arise. In every situation, Mike's solu- tion is to provide honest and accurate dissemination of information in order Mike's Loading Service (Cont'd. from p. 1) to resolve issues in the timeliest man- ner possible, and ensure customers are able to make the very best decisions that meet their needs. Mike's Loading has the experience and expertise to give each of its cus- tomers the greatest opportunity for good deliveries on their loads. Mike's Loading employs specialists in risk management, produce, claims mitigation and customer service. The company also invests in the latest technology to keep business run- ning quickly and efficiently. McLeod PowerBroker facilitates dispatch and communication with customers. All phone and fax systems run on Cisco net- working. In addition, TranStrategy Partners and Prosperio Group are brought in to redefine short and long term strategic goals in an effort to improve performance. Ray Villarreal Jr., Mike Castillo and David Rowland, Mike's Loading owners, have lead Mike's Loading growth. Today, Mike's has an employ- ee base of 74 staff and brokers coordi- nating transportation services through- out the continental United States for all types of perishable commodities, frozen goods, general, heavy haul and expedited freight. Mike's Loading Service looks for- ward to proving the worth of the com- pany's partnership to new customers. Mike's Loading values all its business partners, as Mike's succeeds when you do. To learn how Mike's Loading Services can serve your logistics needs, visit booth 5238 at Fresh Summit, call 956- 292-2700, email info@mikes loadingservice.com, or check out www.mikesloadingservice.com. alliances with growers and grower/ship- pers who can meet the high standards and stringent specifications of the Cuties brand. Sun Pacific's team of quality con- trol inspectors will be in place in California to support this effort. "We have been very pleased to welcome some of California's best known mandarin growers and shippers to the Cuties coop- erative," DiPiazza said. "They will pro- vide significant acreage and production to increase our supply." DiPiazza also has plans in place to help retailers connect Cuties with their customers. In past years, Cuties' market- ing budget was spent almost exclusively on national television. That's changing, according to DiPiazza. "As a long time retailer, I always felt that one size does not fit all when it comes to marketing programs," he said. "We believe that cus- tomer specific marketing is very effec- tive, allows for customer input and col- laboration and allows for customization. We are excited to have a more balanced marketing budget that addresses both consumer advertising and customer spe- cific marketing." This year, that means that more cus- tomers will take advantage of the Cuties custom display materials that drive dra- matic sales increases. "While I can't completely provide all the details, I can tell you we will have an aggressive and innovative social marketing plan with some truly fresh ideas and the ability to fully inte- grate with existing social plans our cus- tomers have in place," DiPiazza said. "Our advertising agency will take a Sun Pacific (Cont'd. from p. 1) more targeted approach than in the past to consumer advertising in electronic media, along with some very innovative approaches to digital video and print consumer advertising." That targeted approach will ensure that the Cuties advertising messages will be reaching consumers in areas where the Cuties product is in major distribution and readily available. "Last year we ran TV advertising in some markets that had little or no Cuties distribution," DiPiazza said ruefully. Sun Pacific is making progress in introducing Cuties into school lunch programs around the country, and some of its marketing programs will be direct- ed at those young consumers. "We have some creative marketing planned for the kids, the same kids that accompany mom to the supermarket and spot the Cuties they enjoyed for lunch. You know the rest of this story," DiPiazza said. "I guess you could say that in addi- tion to providing a great tasting, healthy, nutritious snack for the children, we are cultivating our next generations of Cuties shoppers." And what else is ahead for Sun Pacific? "With all these exciting plans for Cuties, the plans we have for our suc- cessful Ripe & Easy kiwi brand, Air Chief navel oranges and grapes, and the launch of our new Air Chief label lemons, it's going to be a very busy year at Sun Pacific," DiPiazza said. For further information, visit Sun Pacific during Fresh Summit in booth 1375. After the show, visit online at www.sun pacific.com, call 213-627-9544 or email info@sunpacific.com. rail service, with state-of-the-art freight forward distribution capabilities and refrigerated warehouse terminals. Because of this, the cold chain is never broken, which ensures that perishable shipments arrive at their destinations fresh and intact. We are also the green- est transportation alternative. Each of our locomotives carries roughly 100 truckloads, and we average two loco- motives a train, four times a week. That's about 800 truckloads off our highways every week. PSD: How is Railex going to grow? JP: Railex Jacksonville will be up and running by the spring of 2014. Our serv- ice frequency will increase from two train departures a week to four, from each point of origin. We will have all four cor- ners of the U.S. covered, so no matter where our customers are located, whether shipper, receiver or distributor, Railex has you covered. PSD: What is the most unusual cargo Railex was asked to transport? JP: I think it's cool that we have been able to ship so many different commodi- ties through Railex, from frozen squid, expensive wines, cheese, nursery stock, pumpkins and almost every produce commodity imaginable. But the wildest thing we were ever asked to ship was a '65 Pontiac GTO from Los Angelesto the Hamptons in New York! Needless to say, Railex (Cont'd. from p. 1) we had to take a pass on that one. PSD: You are a fourth-generation potato farmer, and second-generation Railex. Tell us about that legacy and what your hopes are for the company's future. JP: When I was a kid, I used to play with model potato tractors while my friends were playing with G.I. Joe. It's not often enough, but I feel at ease when I'm out in the fields, harvesting at sunrise. There's a sense of peace with my roots and myself. Now that I am part of the Railex management team, I am able to help ship a diversity of produce and other perishable goods across the country in an efficient and environmentally friendly way. It makes me happy to continue this proud history. My dream is to have terminals in all major U.S. shipping/receiving points, including Texas, and eventually expand- ing to our neighboring countries, Mexico and Canada. PSD: What do you do in your spare time? JP: I like to challenge myself physically and mentally every day. In nature, I enjoy surfing and deep-sea fishing. I also recently discovered a passion for com- petitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It keeps me focused and out of trouble. During Fresh Summit, visit Railex at booth 1075. Call 888-472-4539 or visit www.railexusa.com for more information. coming years. Alliances at all levels of food pro- duction and distribution, contractual mar- keting arrangements, joint ventures and complex ownership structures are increasingly common and are driving a more sophisticated and coordinated sup- ply chain. This means that lenders will have to consider the terms, conditions, and risks of these arrangements both to the business and to the bank. Sorting out how costs and returns are accounted for will also present a challenge and require better quality financial reporting. Furthermore, these arrangements will raise questions concerning owner- ship interests, liability, and the methods of legal recourse supporting them. Multiple entities with multiple owners and the various interlocking ownership and contractual arrangements will also increase the lender's risk for knowing and trusting the customer. Even in family-owned businesses, complexities can arise. The four Ds – death, disability, divorce, and departure – may give rise to a wave of buy-sell agree- ments to address business continuity and viability in the face of adversity. All of these changes in agribusiness emphasize Bank of the West (Cont'd. from p. 1) the importance of commitment to the arrangement as well as the capability and compatibility of the management styles and business philosophies of all the par- ties involved. It is the lender's responsibility to effectively bridge the gap between what the farmer is attempting to accomplish and the inherent risk that banks will (and in some cases are only allowed) to take. To that end, the banking industry is tasked with ensuring that its lenders have the expertise to effectively manage these risks and communicate them to the bor- rower. Your bank must continually upgrade its staff through training and education, so that the borrower or the lending institution is able to effectively manage through these transitions and risks. In a dynamic industry such as food and agribusiness, this will be the chal- lenge of the future. Curt Covington delivered these comments on the bigger risks facing Ag Lenders today to the Agricultural Lending Institute's graduating class of 2012. For more information, visit Bank of the West in booth 3824 during Fresh Summit. After the show, visit online at www.bankofthewest.com.