Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/694815
P r o d u ce S h o w D a i l y 2 1 M o n d a y, J u n e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 like the local farmer who grows the sweet corn they love to eat every summer, the brewmaster who creates their favorite craft beer, and the artisan chocolatier who makes truffles look like works of art. Many consumers, especially Millennials, take a lot of pride in supporting trades- men from their own communities and the goods that are tied to their region's her- itage. They're excited to learn about local fruits and vegetables, and they want to embrace and enjoy peak season produce. This increased interest in hyper-local, artisanal small-batch products is an important factor for stores to consider as they think about the products they carry and the ways they merchandise their spaces. Trend 2: Vegetables are Taking Center Stage on Consumers' Plates Vegetables are versatile, nutritious and flavorful, and they're becoming the centerpiece of meals. Consumers and chefs alike are getting creative in the ways they prepare and serve vegetable- centric dishes – from grilled cauli- flower steaks to zucchini, asparagus and beet "noodles" – and they are using more parts of the plant, from root to leaf, when possible. Because more peo- ple are subbing vegetables for meats in meals, there is an increase in demand for vegetables that offer high-impact antioxidants, protein, vitamins and iron. Agricultural researchers and R o binso n Fresh (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) nutritionists believe that indigenous vegetables have a richer nutritional profile, which could be the reason why indigenous vegetables from Africa, Asia and the Middle East – as well as those regions' hot, spicy and smoky flavors – are all gaining popularity on restaurant menus. The ghost pepper is a perfect example of hot vegetables that are growing in popularity. Indigenous varieties that are more drought- and pest-resistant are even more prominent, like spider plant, cowpea and amaranth. As these items and flavors start claim- ing more real estate on restaurant plates, we'll see more options like these become increasingly important – and, perhaps, mainstream items – to retail consumers, too. Trend 3: Convenience is King Convenience comes in many forms, and it reigns supreme in consumers' eyes. From products that make it easier to pre- pare meals – like salad kits, prepared components that can be tailored to taste at home, and pre-washed, pre-chopped vegetables – to experience-driven con- veniences – in-store restaurants, coffee shops and classes from nutritionists and chefs, for example – supermarkets are increasingly focused on making food shopping easier and more enjoyable for customers. Retailer-delivered meal kits, community supported agriculture (CSA) boxes and other meal-in-a-box services are also gaining in popularity. For more information, visit booth #2038. ProTech is only available from Pro Mach brands. ProTech Remote Monitoring levels the playing field between small to medium sized companies and larger ones in terms of providing all sizes of organizations with the ability to opti- mize machine performance based on OEE data. ProTech reporting supports the continuous improvement and greater competitiveness of the packag- ing line. Remote Service has the poten- tial to reduce service times when a machine is down from days, in the case when a technician has to be dispatched to the packaging line, to a matter of hours or minutes. Remote tech support has the poten- tial to reduce service times when a machine is down from days, in the case when a technician has to be dispatched to the packaging line, to a matter of hours or minutes. Pro Mach's Engineering Council estimates that more than half of onsite service calls have the potential to be handled remotely. When onsite serv- ice is required, the service technician arrives at the customer's facility better Matrix (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) prepared due to the diagnostic knowl- edge supplied from ProTech. This results in faster resolution of the issues. Remote tech support can also help with downloading software updates, machine audits, optimizing material usage and a host of other issues that impact quality, cost and productivity as by the customer through the administration tools built into ProTech. Apps aren't just for mobile phones and tablets – ProTech offers condition monitoring apps. Suppose a packaging machine uti- lizes compressed air, one of the most expensive sources of energy in a plant. That plant can request a ProTech applica- tion to monitor the condition of the pneu- matic system and alert personnel when a costly leak occurs. This app could pay for itself very quickly, as even minor leaks can lead to thousands of dollars of wast- ed cost over the course of a year. It's as simple as connecting an Ethernet cable. Visit Matrix at booth #2408. For more information, call 262.268.8300 or visit www.matrixpm.com. injury. It's also hazardous to property and guests. We invite your readers to see how these issues can be effectively addressed with the C3 System by visiting www.c3llc.com. PSD: There are several ways to retrieve shopping carts. What makes your solu- tion unique? JG: Before the C3 Safety Rope, there were two main tools to help employees manage shopping carts: "cart straps" and "mechanized cart pushers." We blow them both out of the parking lot! The C3 Shopping Cart Safety Rope is superior to a standard cart strap, or "shag strap," as it's often called, due to its unique ergonomic benefits. Once attached, the C3 Safety Rope is "hands free." In addi- tion, maneuvering eight to 10 standard shopping carts with the C3 Safety Rope is safer and generally requires less force than five without. PSD: You also mentioned electric cart pushers. JG: Right! The C3 Safety Rope is a bet- ter choice than mechanized cart retrieval due to its cost-effectiveness and superior safety features. For most parking lots and store entrances, the C3 Safety Rope is actually more efficient than a cart pusher C 3 L L C (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) and a fraction of the cost; at $33.00 retail for the C3 ST Safety Rope, several can be purchased for less than the cost of one replacement remote control for an elec- tric cart pusher. You'll also never block traffic, have to replace batteries, or acci- dentally run over your own foot while using the C3 Safety Rope. PSD: What are some general challenges facing our readers that you feel your solution addresses? JG: Operators are constantly told that they must "do more with less." But what a tired and frustrating cliché! The only way is to provide your employees the necessary training and tools for success. PSD: You believe that simple and intu- itive tools are always the best. JG: Always. Guests want their shop- ping experience to be easier, safer and faster, all while spending less money. Successful operators look for solu- tions based on the same principles. The patented C3 System is an elegant, safe and cost-effective solution to the challenges inherent to shopping cart management. We proudly make our products in the U.S.A., and we're pas- sionate about adding value for our clients. Visit www.c3llc.com to order or write to info@c3llc.com for more information. TOURING FLORIDA'S BEST-KEPT SECRET Agriculture is a $120 billion industry in Florida, making it the second leading industry in the state behind tourism. The fact that tourism is the largest industry in the state won't surprise anyone, but the reality that agriculture is so close behind in the nation's third most popu- lous state does tend to garner curious looks. With so much land devoted to agricultural production, it's hard to imagine that the vast majority of Florida's visitors and residents never perceive the agriculture that surrounds them. The chief advantage to agricultural production in Florida is the same benefit that makes the state so popular to its many visitors and residents. Mild tem- peratures during the fall, winter and spring are what sets Florida agriculture apart from the rest of the United States, and Florida's farmers have benefited from that commercial advantage for centuries. Citrus production began in 1565, and the signature crop remains the anchor of Florida agriculture to this day. As most of the crop tends to be located in central Florida south of Orlando and Tampa, the citrus groves become active in October and remain busy until the last of the late season varieties are picked in early June. Tomatoes are grown from the southernmost region near Miami to the Georgia border, creating a season that generally lasts from October until June. Immokalee and the Tampa Bay area rep- resent the largest production areas by acreage. Bell pepper production takes place in the southern half of the state with much of the crop being located in Palm Beach County, Tampa Bay and Immokalee near the Gulf Coast. One third of all U.S. grown bell peppers are from Florida. Florida cabbage and broccoli production occurs throughout the late winter and early spring, and is concentrated most heavily in the St. Augustine area along the St. Johns River. Growing areas throughout the Florida peninsula provide an early winter crop, making Florida cabbage available for six months of the year. The Hastings area produces the largest con- centration of potatoes between February and June, with additional concentrated production areas near the Gulf in south- west Florida and central Florida between Lakes Okeechobee and Kissimmee. Sweet corn production takes place in the lush, fertile soils of the Everglades Agricultural Area, a region on the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee, which cre- ates a warming effect during the winter. No tour of Florida agriculture would be complete without the traditional stop for strawberries in Plant City, the winter strawberry capital of the world. The fields just east of Tampa are active from December until April. Finally, the tropical breezes that blow across the south Florida beaches work their way through the Redlands area of Homestead, creating a perfect place to grow Florida avocados and other tropical favorites. Florida may be known for its beach- es and tourist attractions, but its growers and farms are the true heart of the state's economy. For more information, go to www.fresh fromflorida.com.