Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/586338
P r o d u c e S h o w D a i l y S a t u r d a y, O c t o b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 1 4 NEW REALITIES OF THE BANANA SUPPLY CHAIN In the 1980s, the "Big Three" global banana traders, Chiquita, Dole and DelMonte, controlled more than 65 per- cent of all global banana exports. By 2013 it was down to 37 percent, accord- ing to a recent report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. This reflects the significant power shift that's taken place over the same period from growers and exporters to large retailers. Today, with the diverse demands of major retailers controlling the market- place, the big brands have moved away from plantation ownership and produc- tion. The focus is now on post-produc- tion and supply chain logistics, sourcing bananas from multiple growers, and inte- grating purchasing, transportation, mar- keting and distribution under a single brand. This has brought renewed focus on stem-to-store quality control, particu- larly on color, quality and consistency at point-of-sale. "Quality control is the number-one conversation among our customers," says David Byrne, Vice President of Sales for Thermal Technologies. "As the indus- try's largest designer and installer of pro- duce ripening rooms, we've been work- ing together with the big global exporters as well as the largest retailers in the industry for over 20 years. During that time, the discussion on both sides has become less about sourcing and more about how to maximize quality, consis- tency and value at the point of sale." The renewed emphasis on quality pulls together the interests of both retail- er and exporter, says Byrne, with ripen- ing operations playing a central role. "Ripening operations have become the focal point where the inter- ests of both retailer and exporter come together. This has created a new part- nership mentality in which all the stakeholders share the same common goal of providing consistent, high- quality fruit, whether it comes from one source or many." This new reality often puts competi- tors on the same team. "Due to the sheer size and volume of our retail customers, we often end up working side-by-side with more than one of the major exporters for the same retailer at the same time," says Byrne. "While this may have been unheard-of in the past, this makes good business sense today, where the needs of the retailer and the sheer volume of demand are driving the market." While the shift of power towards retailers has created opportunities for smaller growers and suppliers, the power of the Big Three and the ability to pro- vide stem-to-store quality control along with value-added serv- ices and marketing keeps them in a strong position. "There's no doubt that the major brands will continue to have powerful influence on the industry," says Byrne. "They have the biggest com- bined share of the marketplace, a solid track record of success and well-estab- lished industry relationships. As the industry continues to diversify with more growers, providing a greater vari- ety of organics and other bananas, there's no doubt that the big exporters – as well as ripening – will play an increasingly important role in making sure all these products reach the con- sumer with predictable high quality and consistency." For more information visit booth #437, contact David Byrne at 803.461.7980 or go online to www.GoTarpless.com. MAGNATION WATER TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFORM IRRIGATION WATER Magnation reduces irrigation by a mini- mum of 20 percent while enhancing soil moisture with zero added chemicals. Rainlike water is softer, more productive water, enabling farmers and greenhouse growers to produce healthier, greener plants with less water. Ask any farmer to describe the most effective water for growing vibrant, healthy crops and they'll likely answer you in one word: rain. As a rain drop falls, its molecules become small- er, more agitated and consequently more available to soil, seeds and plants. By emulating the physical forces that create this level of exceptional, struc- tured water quality, Magnation comes as close to natural rain water as possible for irrigation purposes. When irrigation water passes through the technologically engineered Magnation system, its molecular struc- ture is broken down into smaller, more bioavailable clusters, allowing a greater amount of oxygen and nutrients to infil- trate the soil and plant root systems. This softened, rainlike water more easily pen- etrates soil, spreading across a wider area of ground and helping soil and cellular structure retain moisture that stimulates soil nutrients and enhances plant growth, reducing irrigation requirements by 20 percent. Not only has Magnation demon- strated improved soil infiltration, per- meability, moisture retention and over- all soil health by reducing SARs and inputs up to 50 percent, it also helps to balance calcium and nitrogen for improved nutrient availability for soil and crops due to the softening and energizing effects created by the water systems. According to Lee Fintel, owner of Fintel Farms in Superior, Nebraska, "Our results have been remarkable. Where we installed the Magnation unit, the corn out-yielded our other irri- gated corn but used 30 percent less irrigation water. Not only was the corn yield 11 percent better than that fields previous best yield, there was also noticeably better uniformity across the sprinklers on the pivot and our pumping costs were lower." Improved Water Quality and Water Penetration In addition to reducing the amount of irrigation needed to grow healthy crops, Magnation also treats a variety of water quality issues including hard water. Magnation reduces the mineral scaling caused by calcium, magnesium and other minerals, eliminates hydro- gen sulfide odors (rotten egg smell), and reduces SARs (Sodium Adsorption Ratio). The treatment also addresses dissolved oxygen, boron toxicity, iron bacteria, nitrates, acidity (pH), and algae problems. Energized, rainlike water cre- ated by the Magnation treatment for irrigation and soil makes water work harder for you. Minerals and soil nutrients are more available for plant growth. Water treated by Magnation products is able to carry fertilizer better, makes plants grow faster and stronger, penetrates clay and makes soils more friable, pumps more easily, keeps nozzles cleaner, and enters plant pores more easily. Magnation-treated water saves you time, money and pumping energy and lowers the cost of fertilizers and treat- ment products. For more information, visit booth #476. After the show, call 888.820.0363, email at info@rainlikewater.com or go to www.rainlikewater.com.