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P ro d u c e S h o w D a i l y Fri d a y, O c to b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 2 6 BLUE BOOK SERVICES PROVIDES TRAINING VIDEOS ON INDUSTRY FUNDAMENTALS FOR NEW HIRES Blue Book Services, Inc. has introduced the "New Hire Academy," a program designed to help new hires learn industry fundamentals. The New Hire Academy (NHA) available online through www.produce- bluebook.com includes five instructional videos: Sales and Account Management, Trading Customs and Rules, Transportation Customs and Rules, the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Trust and Understanding Blue Book Ratings. "Feedback from our members has been very positive," enthused Jim Carr, President and CEO of Blue Book Services. "There's always more to learn, and for a new hire it can be especially challenging. We're finding the videos are a helpful 'refresher' for industry veterans as well." "Having eagerly awaited the New Hire Academy's debut, I signed up immediately to be a participant," stated Doug Stoiber, Vice President of Produce Transportation Operations at L & M Transportation Services Inc. (LMTS). "By the time I finished all five sessions," Stoiber explained, "I was convinced the New Hire Academy had to be part of every LMTS new hire's experience, and that our veterans needed to participate and 'graduate' too. At LMTS, we believe so strongly in the value of the Academy that we not only reward our team mem- bers for participating, we want our cus- tomers and carriers to see our commit- ment to this program, too." Once employees complete the NHA series and successfully pass the associated testing, their managers are notified by Blue Book Services. "We are very grateful to our outside partners who vol- unteered their time and expert- ise for this important initiative," stated Carr. The Sales and Account Management session is presented by Minos Athanassiadis, Managing Partner of the Fresh Link consulting group, while the PACA Trust session is presented by Jason Read, partner at Rynn & Janowski law firm. Ken Schultz, Vice President of Rating Services at Blue Book, presents the session on Understanding Blue Book Ratings, and Doug Nelson, Blue Book's Vice President of Special Services presents the sessions on Trading Customs and Rules and Transportation Customs and Rules. Topics covered in the sessions include forming a contract, the impor- tance of written confirma- tions, the authority to grant price adjustments and modi- fy terms, the warranty of suitable shipping condition, key transportation docu- ments (e.g., bills of lading, rate confirmations, etc.), the PACA Trust and reparations process, interpreting Blue Book Ratings, industry segments (retailer, distributor, whole- saler, foodservice, processor) and much more. Best of all, each of the NHA video sessions is free to Blue Book members. "Blue Book Services has many new and exciting innovations to share at this year's Fresh Summit," stated Carr, who encourages attendees to visit Blue Book Services at booth #2258 to learn more and enter to win an iPad mini. For more information, visit www .producebluebook.com, call 630-668- 3500, email info@bluebookservices.com or stop by booth #2258. UNLEASH THE POWER OF LEMONS WITH LIMONEIRA The Limoneira Difference Limoneira's 121 year history has enabled the company to calibrate its business model to deliver the quality and consis- tency that grocery and foodservice part- ners require. It is vertically integrated and has been a grower, harvester and packer for over a century. Its teams are closely con- nected to respond quickly to customer needs. Since manifests can change daily, it needs to make sure its response times are optimal. Consumers want to know that the food they are eating is safe and is sus- tainably produced. Limoneira is Global Gap certified and has some of the highest food safety ratings in the industry. It has solar arrays that produce 2 MW of ener- gy for its Northern and Southern Ranch operations. Rigorous water practices con- serve this vital resource. Its organic green waste operations reduce usage of water, herbicides and fertilizer and maintain healthy root stocks. Its Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs use benefi- cial organisms and reduce pesticide usage. Helping Partners Market to Customers The "Unleash the Natural Power of Lemons" campaign is advertised on high traffic consumer websites and discusses five important uses for lemons including their nutritional proper- ties, advantages for beautiful hair and skin, natural cleaning abili- ties, lifestyle possibilities, and of course, their use to create deli- cious recipes and beverages. Fall, winter, spring, summer – every season is the perfect oppor- tunity to unleash the power of lemons with Limoneira. Promotions through the holidays into next year build awareness for the lemon category and promotes its partners. Additionally, Limoneira "Unleash" opinion leaders geographical- ly located in its customers shopping areas will be actively working to help drive consumers to their stores, bars and restaurants. These are described below in more detail. Mid-November to December 31, 2014: Limoneira's "Unleash" chefs and bartenders promote lemon recipes and festive drinks for the holidays. January 2015: "Unleash" nutritionists share healthy lemon tips to start off the new year with a bang. February 2015: Limoneira "Unleash" beauty opinion lead- ers share lemon skin and beauty tips for Valentine's Day. March 20 to April 20, 2015: Natural spring cleaning tips from Limoneira "Unleash" green cleaning opinion lead- ers. June 15 to July 15: Summer BBQs, pool parties and picnics with Limoneira "Unleash" lifestyle opinion leaders. For more information, stop by booth #3138 or visit www.limoneira.com. INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE AT ROCKET FARMS By Jason Kamimoto, Vice President, Marketing, Rocket Farms. Innovation and excellence are hallmarks of the Rocket Farms brand. As one of the largest growers of indoor and outdoor blooming plants, potted edibles and herbs in the nation, we are committed to bring- ing innovative thinking and best in class products to the marketplace. As a market leader with 70 years of experience, we are committed to customer satisfaction, success and creating a positive consumer experience with our products. Our presence is nationwide, offering full scale products and services to cus- tomers across retail and food service channels. Our base operations in northern and southern California offer optimum growing conditions to grow and distrib- ute our world class products. Our Vision Our products enhance the quality of life. Beautiful, unique, fresh and healthy products complement today's consumer 's lifestyle in the home, kitchen and garden. We take tremen- dous pride in the hallmarks of our brand, innovation and excellence, and look forward to leading the industry for many more decades. Visit Rocket Farms Herbs at booth #3066. Online, find Rocket Farms at www.rocket farms.com, www.facebook.com/rocket farms, www.twitter.com/rocketfarms, and www.pinterest.com/rocketfarms. MAKE EVERYTHING BETTA WITH FORMAGGIO BRAND'S BETTA-CHEESE For years, New York based cheese maker, Formaggio, has brought award-winning fresh mozzarella to the fore of America's culinary consciousness through its inno- vative creation of categories and unre- lenting quality standards. Over the last few years it has been familiarizing cus- tomers in the produce department with what can be done to a salad with little or no effort by opening a jar of Just Add Lettuce™ 3-D and/or its hit spin-off Bits & Pieces. But Formaggio's latest offer- ings to the produce department are actu- ally cheese items. What's going on here? What are two cheese products doing in the produce department? Betta-Bleu and Betta-Feta actually belong in the pro- duce department. The majority of the crumbled feta and crumbled bleu cheese sold is used on products that originate from the produce department. People use it in all sorts of salads using all kinds of lettuce, but also mashed or roasted pota- toes. Sometimes we'll stuff it in mush- rooms. Since the Betta line consists of products that go with and enhance ingredients from the produce depart- ment, that's where they belong. Because Formaggio's Betta-Feta and Betta-Bleu are a fresh twist with a fresh-product aspect, it belongs in a fresh section. Yes, Formaggio's Betta-Feta and Betta-Bleu will enhance any salad. This is the most popular use. But, if you were going to buy feta or bleu cheese to put on a salad, would you be done? Of course not. You'll still have to add herbs and spices, garlic, maybe olives, some oil, etc. Or you can simply open a cup of Formaggio's Betta-Feta and Betta-Bleu which is sold with all those ingredients inside already. Formaggio's Betta-Feta and Betta-Bleu are value-added items. They are consumer-friendly items which will help make con- sumers' lives easier. Who wants to spend all that time buying sepa- rate ingredients and then preparing all those things? Crumbling, breaking, chop- ping, mincing, mixing, etc. And let's not forget the clean up. Fuhgeddaboudit! Formaggio's Betta-Feta and Betta-Bleu are not just award-winning products for flavor profile; they are also products that win huge praise for the simplicity brought to the lives of modern con- sumers. Get Betta! For more information, stop by booth #2813.