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Global food supply grows increasingly homogeneous, study says
In the last 50 years, what’s on dinner plates has grown more similar the world over – with major consequences for human nutrition and global food security, researchers said Monday.
“Diversity enhances the health and function of complex biological systems,” the researchers wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. But, they said, the world of food has become homogeneous, to the point of suggesting a global standard food supply.
In the last half a century, “national per capita food supplies expanded in total quantities of food calories, protein, fat and weight,” they said. But at the same time, there has been “a decline in the total number of plant species upon which humans depend for food.”
More people are relying on “a short list of major food crops,” such as wheat, corn and soy, dairy and meat, the lead researcher, Colin Khoury, said in a news release. “These foods are critical for combating world hunger, but relying on a global diet of such limited diversity obligates us to bolster the nutritional quality of the major crops.”
Khoury and his colleagues used data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to look at the composition of food supplies in 152 countries from 1961 to 2009. The total supply has increased, with animal foods becoming “increasingly important in contribution to protein and oil crops dominating fat food supplies.”
That reliance on a few foods may also accelerate the rise in obesity, heart disease and diabetes, he said. And those diet-related diseases are growing even in countries with significant hunger problems.
“The literature is strong ... and it happened faster than people thought,” Khoury said.
“One of the worrying issues is that as we tend toward a homogeneous diet, the regionally important crops” such as sweet potatoes, yams, sorghum, oca and maca, are declining, Khoury said by phone from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Cali, Colombia.
Wheat is a major staple in 97.4% of countries, and rice in 90.8%; soy is significant to 74.3% of countries, the researchers said.
The lessening of diversity of food crops also makes the food supply more vulnerable to drought, insects or disease, Khoury said, adding that that was a lesson taught by the Irish potato famine of the 1840s.
In some parts of the world, Asia and Africa in particular, the diversity of food crops has grown, as staples such as wheat and potatoes have gained importance, the researchers said. But that has meant that many minor crops that had been important have lost ground.
Factors driving the changes include rising incomes in the developing world, leading to greater consumption of animal products, moves to urban areas where fast food is plentiful, and multinational food companies marketing their products, the researchers said.
The researchers called for educating about and promoting alternative cops and supporting crop diversity and conservation.
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The global tech community is kicking off the new year in Las Vegas with CES 2023, aka the Consumer Electronics Show hosted by the Consumer Technology Association.
This event invites companies from around the world to present their products and connect with each other. A whopping 174 countries will be represented at the 2023 showcase, and 41 tech categories will be covered.
Among all of these attendees are a few companies local to Philly, including Stel Life, PTZOptics, Novabot, Lutron, rpod, BLOK and Audacy. Technical.ly asked these companies’ leaders about their goals for the week and how they plan to navigate such a huge event. Here’s what some of them said.
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

domain: news


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US South timber prices during the third quarter of 2017 increased from the second quarter, with nearly all pulpwood and pine log products going up by more than +2 percent.
On a Southwide basis, pine pulpwood prices increased to $10.29/ton during 3Q2017 (+8.7 percent), and all three regions saw prices increase for this product. The East-South experienced the largest increase to $13.05/ton, or +12.8 percent, the Mid-South rose to $9.11/ton, an increase of +11.6 percent, and the West-South showed a smaller increase of +3.4 percent to $8.17/ton.
Hardwood pulpwood prices also increased, rising +4.5 percent during 3Q to $6.56/ton. The Mid-South region experienced the largest surge of +12.3 percent to $7.69/ton, the West-South climbed +9.0 percent to $8.34/ton, but the East-South slipped drastically by -12.2 percent to $4.02/ton.
Pine chip-n-saw prices rose to $17.63/ton, an increase of +2.8 percent Southwide. Both the Mid-South and East-South regions saw the minor increases, as prices rose 2.9 percent to $16.60/ton and +2.5 percent to $20.34/ton, respectively. However, the West-South region dropped to $13.07/ton, a -1.0 percent decrease.
Pine sawtimber, however, continued its slow downward trend, declining -1.0 percent to a Southwide average of $24.43/ton, with all regions demonstrating a minor drop in price. Mid-South pine sawtimber prices slid -3.8 percent to $22.84/ton, and East-South prices dipped -0.7 percent to $25.28/ton. Prices in the West-South dropped -0.3 percent to $25.59/ton.
US GDP continues to increase from quarter to quarter and will likely continue to rise in the near term. The Atlanta Federal Reserve recently projected that the US economy expanded at an annual rate of 2.9 percent in 3Q2017. Continued growth at this pace could affect demand for pulp and sawtimber in the coming months. Damage from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in the South is also adding to demand as rebuilding efforts continue. While demand for pine sawtimber is steady as 2017 draws to a close, there continues to be an oversupply of large logs available on the market.


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Today launched its eagerly awaited high-end SUV , the Alturas G4. From its imposing exteriors to its premium interiors, every detail in the Alturas G4 has been finely crafted.24 NOVEMBER, 2018 | India
Attractive launch price starting at Rs. 26.95 lacs for 2WD (ex-showroom) across India
November 24, 2018, Jaipur: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), a part of the US $20.7 billion Mahindra Group, today launched its eagerly awaited high-end SUV , the Alturas G4. From its imposing exteriors to its premium interiors, every detail in the Alturas G4 has been finely crafted. With advanced high-tech features and unmatched safety equipments, the Alturas G4 is all set to create a new benchmark in the high-end SUV segment. It will be available at Mahindra dealerships across India starting November 26, 2018 at an attractive launch price of Rs. 26.95 lacs (ex-showroom) for the 2WD variant.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd said, “The launch of the Alturas G4 is a significant moment in the automotive journey of Mahindra which will take the brand to the next level. With the Alturas G4, we have decided to adopt an endorsed brand strategy which will heighten brand desirability & aspiration. The product is the epitome of luxury in every sense. Therefore we believe the Alturas G4 aptly redefines royalty which is also its positioning.”
Rajan Wadhera, President – Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., mentioned, “The Alturas G4, with its excellent proposition of imposing design, exquisite interiors, state-of-the-art technology, exhilarating performance and unmatched safety, all at an attractive price point, is poised to redefine the high-end SUV segment. It is our most luxurious offering and comes with a host of technology & safety features such as the 3D Around View Camera system, Easy Access Mode, Ventilated Seats, many of which are not available in vehicles at a similar price range.”
The Alturas G4 would be exclusively available through separate high-end showrooms within the existing Mahindra ‘World of SUVs’ dealerships. These outlets will be equipped with ultra-modern digital technology to provide an enhanced and immersive high-end experience for customers. All Alturas G4 customers will have access to exclusive Relationship Managers to cater to their requirements, which is another segment first.
With the Alturas G4, Mahindra will also introduce a new premium loyalty program, Purple Club+. This will be a first-in-category loyalty program that will enable customers to earn and redeem points, based on engagements with the Mahindra brand.
About the Alturas G4
Bold & Imposing Design: Rugged front lines combined with a dynamic character line along the sides provide the commanding appearance of an authentic SUV. The Alturas G4 emerges as an absolute head-turner with its
Luxurious Tan and Black Interiors:
*Compared to high end SUVs between Rs. 26-35 lacs (ex-showroom price)
The Alturas G4’s powerful 2.2 litre 4-cylinder engine produces 133.1 kW (178 BHP) power and 420 Nm of torque. Performance is maximized by the cutting-edge electrical variable geometry turbocharger (E-VGT). The Advanced Compressor Wheel lowers noise and maximises efficiency.
It comes with the Mercedes-Benz 7-Speed automatic transmission and is available in both 2WD and 4WD variants
State-of-the-art Technology Features:
The Alturas G4 offers a unique package of safety features
Social Media Handles:
Please visit: https://www.alturasg4.com for more details and images.
Official Hashtag: #AlturasG4
Other Hashtags: #RoyaltyRedefined
The Mahindra Group is a USD 20.7 billion federation of companies that enables people to rise through innovative mobility solutions, driving rural prosperity, enhancing urban living, nurturing new businesses and fostering communities. It enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, information technology, financial services and vacation ownership in India and is the world’s largest tractor company, by volume. It also enjoys a strong presence in agribusiness, aerospace, commercial vehicles, components, defense, logistics, real estate, renewable energy, speedboats and steel, amongst other businesses. Headquartered in India, Mahindra employs over 2,40,000 people across 100 countries.
Learn more about Mahindra on www.mahindra.com / Twitter and Facebook: @MahindraRise
Media contact information
Vice President (Communications)
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Landline – + 91 22 28468510
Email – [email protected]
Be the first to know about the latest developments from MahindraSubscribe


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Hulu has launched a video games hub on Hulu.com which features HD trailers, gameplay videos and reviews. The hub launches on PC today and will be rolling out to all Hulu Plus enabled devices over the next few months. More information on the new hub can be found on the Hulu Blog.
Nintendo announces SNES Classic pre-loaded with an incredible list of bangers, including the never-released Star Fox 2
Nintendo reveals SNES mini loaded with classic RPGs and a ton of other incredible titles.
Finally Europe gets a decent special edition.
Arms’ first update delivers on promised spectator mode.
Hulu Games Hulu
Sony has announced new PlayStation Vita apps rolling out on the North American store today.
Sony has announced a line-up of PlayStation 4 apps that will be available through the PlayStation Store in North America, beginning November 15.


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For Burger King, the Goldman Sachs-owned chain that signed with CIW [the Coalition of Immokalee Workers] last May at the US capitol building (but only after months of protests, a blog scandal and allegedly spying on CIW's partner group, the Student/Farmworker Alliance) the penny-a-pound increase amounts to an estimated $250,000 dollars per year. To put that in perspective, Eric Schlosser's November 07 op-ed "Penny Foolish" pointed out that "[i]n 2006, the bonuses of the top 12 Goldman Sachs executives exceeded $200 million - more than twice as much money as all of the roughly 10,000 tomato pickers in southern Florida earned that year."
More recently, organic grocery chain Whole Foods came to an agreement with CIW. That Whole Foods was beat to the table by such cheap, decidedly un-organic eateries as Taco Bell, McDonalds and Burger King may seem ironic to those who snidely call the chain "Whole Paycheck" and may expect that those relatively high prices might translate not only to the food being organic, but also fair. This is, in part, why we're seeing from food advocates a shift away from "organic," a label that has not only been co-opted by huge corporations, but also speaks only to a food's impact on personal health (and to a much lesser extent, ecological health, but only in its initial production and not, say, its shipping) toward the more inclusive term, "sustainable," which is also being co-opted by industry but at least, in theory, speaks to other aspects of food production, including labor.
Now, CIW is after Chipotle, the growing chain that has built a reputation for social responsibility in the organic and local food arenas, and whose "Food with Integrity" campaign stands to take a major hit in the credibility department if they don't sit down with the Coalition. But that could prove difficult for Chipotle, which released a statement last month (before things got really crazy, even) warning share holders that the weak economy, coupled with rising food costs, would likely amount to lower profits than last year's.
No one knows what the future holds, but as our economic system hovers over the proverbial "rock bottom," it seems like a good time to revisit our policies, both national and personal, when it comes to the money we spend. What is the value of a tomato, and why? What (from fertilizers and pesticides to labor to transport) went into it, and does its price reflect those inputs? Or has a market driven by speculation and subsidies installed a false cap on that price, creating a decidedly unsustainable system that benefits CEOs over citizens, puts the squeeze on smaller businesses and leaves the laborers to pick up the slack?
Friday, October 31, 2008
Fair prices for tomato pickers
In May, we linked to the Miami Herald's coverage of the struggle between Florida tomato pickers, Burger King, and a dirty tricks company hired by the fast food giant. Earlier this month, the Green Fork's Leslie Hatfield provided an update on recent developments in an article and accompanying video for the Huffington Post.


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Inside his office high above L'Enfant Plaza, Postmaster General William J. Henderson juggles the present and the future. He estimates he will need to chop U.S. Postal Service costs by $1 billion this year to avoid red ink. But he also needs to find a strategy, at whatever cost, to expand the agency into the new world of e-mail and e-commerce.
He has a bundle of e-ideas. The Postal Service, for instance, could develop an electronic mailbox, giving American households an Internet address to match up with their physical address. If a home did not have a computer link to the Internet, the agency would print out the electronic messages, put the paper into an envelope and hand-deliver it.
The Postal Service could also set up an Internet auction site to help retailers dispose of surplus goods. Or even help Americans pay their bills electronically.
"We're in no different a position than every company in America . . . and that is to figure out what this new channel means to you," Henderson said. "How is it going to hurt you and how is it going to help you?"
But the Postal Service has come late to the Internet game and faces numerous hurdles: It is a classic bricks-and-mortar, labor-intensive business, fighting to control costs. It must live within constraints dictated by Congress and the federal bureaucracy. It operates against tough competition from private-sector delivery companies.
Perhaps more important, critics contend that the Postal Service is neither fast, flexible nor innovative--the chief characteristics of the Internet economy.
"You have to wonder if the days are not numbered," said Donna Hoffman, co-director of eLab, an electronic commerce research center at Vanderbilt University.
"I think they have real challenges," said Bill Whyman, an Internet strategist for the Legg Mason Precursor Group. "Just look at instant messaging. America Online's service delivers more messages than the U.S. Postal Service by 50 percent every day."
Historically, increases in mail volume have helped the agency cover its costs. But Postal Service projections show that first-class mail volume will decline at an average annual rate of 2.5 percent from 2003 to 2008. "Such a decline would be unprecedented in the service's history and would likely create financial and performance challenges," the General Accounting Office said in a recent report.
The Postal Service fears it could lose as much as $17 billion worth of first-class mail to e-commerce competition in coming years. That would represent a substantial loss for the agency, which takes in about $63 billion in revenue each year.
Banks and "bill presentment" companies, for example, are increasingly offering consumers online choices for paying monthly bills. For the Postal Service, that means less use of first-class stamps and the loss of easy-to-sort envelopes with pre-printed addresses and bar codes.
Henderson believes "the key to that erosion is going to be the consumer, not the company that bills you. You're not going to subscribe to an e-payment proposition company until it is cheaper and easier for you to use than to use the mail."
Still, Henderson knows the question is not when he loses a large share of first-class mail but at what speed. And so he is trying to prepare the Postal Service for the age of the Internet.
To move the Postal Service into e-commerce, Henderson has launched a reorganization of agency headquarters, naming a vice president for e-commerce, Bob Krause. Four postal officials--chief financial officer M. Richard Porras, treasurer and e-payments vice president Stephen M. Kearney, president for expedited packages services John Kelly and controller John H. Ward--join Krause as Henderson's e-braintrust.
Senior postal officials do not rule out the possibility of creating a subsidiary or splitting the Postal Service into two parts--one focused on traditional mail and the other on e-commerce--if it proves necessary to better compete against providers of Internet-based services. That step, though, would likely require congressional approval.
Top postal officials expect that any Internet-based ventures will require partnerships with the private sector in order to succeed. They have met with a number of companies, including America Online.
Some postal officials think the agency could serve as a go-between for consumers and companies if the public begins to migrate to the Internet as a way of paying bills. The Postal Service would help protect consumers from fraudulent schemes and provide a buffer against "data mining" aimed at invading a person's privacy, the officials said.
Officials also want to launch a nationwide experiment this spring that would let smaller companies send electronic documents to printers at various places across the country. By printing near the point of delivery, small companies would be able to obtain discounted mail rates.
But some of the Postal Service's best electronic bets probably involve old-fashioned delivery of packages. Last year, the agency struck up partnerships with the giant Internet bookseller Amazon.com, Eddiebauer.com and eToys.com to run cooperative advertising campaigns. Officials hope the campaign will lead consumers to choose the Postal Service as their preferred shipper, rather than UPS or Federal Express.
The Internet, Henderson said, is lowering profit margins on many products, and that, in turn, puts pressure on shippers. "You're not going to buy a CD for $7 and pay $9 for the shipping. . . . The Postal Service is positioned in the right spot for people who are shopping out of their homes and doing business out of their homes," he said.
Kelly, who oversees package services, expects that Internet retailers will increasingly look for new methods of dealing with returns--clothes and other items consumers order but later decide they do not want. To handle rejected merchandise, the Postal Service is studying whether it could run an auction site, perhaps in coordination with an Internet company, or a donation site that accepted goods for charity. The agency might even set up "an e-commerce drop point right in your neighborhood," Henderson said.
Henderson bets that the massive reach of the Postal Service--letter carriers deliver the mail to 130 million households six days a week--will give him an Internet edge.
"We are there. We can do it. No one can do it as inexpensively as we can and no one goes there, everywhere, every day," he said.
But skeptics see the Postal Service in retrenchment, not expansion, in the Internet era. Continued increases in first-class postage will drive more Americans toward e-mail and e-commerce transactions, they believe. The Postal Service also may find that its competitors have picked off the most profitable routes, leaving it with the most expensive low-volume, probably rural, routes.
"They are going to be left with a smaller portion of the pie, and they are going to be left with the least attractive market segments and customers," said Whyman of Legg Mason.
The Postal Service also faces political restraints, he noted. "The U.S. government is not going to compete with its own private sector. The post office to some extent will have its hands tied," he said.
But the post office survived the advent of the telegraph, telephone and fax and will likely come to terms with the Internet. Ulric Weil, a senior technology analyst at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc. in Arlington, does not think the Postal Service's future need be full of gloom.
"Not everybody has a computer with a modem. We have the great digital divide. . . . The 50 percent who do not have computers with modems still depend on first-class mail," Weil said.
Postal officials need to look to banks, which replaced tellers with automated cash-dispensing machines, and automakers, who turned to robotics, as models for the future, he said.
In particular, Weil said, the Postal Service cannot go on thinking it will maintain its work force of more than 800,000 people. Henderson, he said, "can't have all those people feeding off the trough. He can't support all those people, no matter what he does. . . . He has to downsize."
Henderson must start educating his unions, Congress and the Postal Rate Commission, which approves postage increases, "in the realities of the Internet age and lay the cards on the table," Weil said.
Despite an uncertain future, the Postal Service can draw on some strengths. It has racked up five consecutive years of profit. If ranked as a corporation, the Postal Service would place in the top 10 in terms of revenue and third in the number of employees.
Henderson sees the Internet as an opportunity, not an obstacle, for the Postal Service to meet its mandate of providing "universal service" to Americans, regardless of where they live. "This is just moving mail from hard copy to electronics. . . . It's just an extension of creating the universal service," he said.
New Deliveries From USPS
Here is a sampling of current or planned electronic products from the U.S. Postal Service:
PC Postage: Computerized postage that can be downloaded from a personal computer onto an envelope or label. The service, which began in August 1999, is provided through two companies, E-Stamp and Stamps.com; other companies also have requested certification to offer the product.
Digital Certificate: Provides proof that all parties in an electronic transaction are who they say they are. Offered at start of PC Postage.
Delivery Confirmation: Allows customers to verify delivery of parcels and priority mail by logging on to www.USPS.gov. Launched in March 1999.
Priority Mail: Describes postage rates at www.USPSPriorityMail.com for shippers and shoppers. Launched in August 1999.
Merchandise Return: Accessible through the Priority Mail site where postage-paid, plain-paper Priority Mail labels can be downloaded to return merchandise to participating online merchants. Also called Returns@ease. Started in October 1999.
Electronic Postmark: Verifies when an electronic message was sent. Scheduled to start this year.
PosteCS: Post Electronic Courier Service will serve as an international Internet-based service that provides privacy for electronic messages, receiver and sender authentication, and proof of delivery. To start this year.
Shipping Online: Offers electronic access to expedited services, such as creation of shipping labels, pickup schedules and delivery confirmation, that can be paid for with a credit card. To start early this year.
Mailing Online: Allows mailers to electronically transmit documents and mailing lists to the Postal Service, which will ensure that documents are printed, stuffed in envelopes and transported to the nearest post office for delivery. Expected to receive approval of the Postal Rate Commission for a three-year, nationwide test starting this year.
CAPTION: Postmaster General William J. Henderson has reorganized the U.S. Postal Service's headquarters to help ease it into Internet commerce ventures.


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The glue guns — sold under the names Sabre, Tool Tech and Wellson — have not been evaluated for safety against Canadian standards but bear unauthorized Canadian Underwriters Laboratories Inc. certification marks, the federal department said Tuesday.
About 2,000 Sabre Glue Guns were sold at Dollarama stores across Canada in 2012. The affected product has the model number WR-D11 and an electrical rating of 110V/60Hz/10W. A UL file number E343639 appears on the label on the glue gun and on the bottom-left corner of the package insert.
Health Canada said consumers should immediately stop using the Sabre glue gun and dispose of it following municipal waste guidelines.
In related recalls, consumers are also advised to stop using two Tool Tech mini glue guns, model numbers TY-G1001 and TY-G4001, bearing UPC number 7735443000935 or 7735443000942.
Almost 11,000 of the products, manufactured in China and imported by Royal International Corp. of St. Laurent, Que., were sold at dollar and discount stores across Canada from January 2010 to June 2013.
Two Wellson glue guns, made in China and imported by Wisdom Electronics Inc. of Toronto, are also being recalled.
About 28,500 model TY-G1001 glue guns (UPC 0-63252-37795-5) and 6,450 TY-G4001 glue guns (UPC 0-63252-37794-8) were sold at dollar, hardware and electronics stores across Canada between January 2011 and June 2013.
While there have been no reports of injuries related to use of these products, Health Canada said consumers should stop using the glue guns and return them to place of purchase or dispose of them.


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Summary: Apple announces iPhone; AppleTV (formerly iTV) ships February; AirPort Extreme Base Station upgraded; over two billion songs sold through iTunes.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs has climbed the stage to deliver his keynote at the Moscone Centre. We’ll be bringing you brief highlights from his speech as they emerge.
For a more in-depth view of proceedings, Apple is expected to release the entire presentation as a QuickTime movie for viewing online at some point after the keynote.
4:42pm: Apple’s online stores across all territories have been shut down; Apple boss Steve Jobs is expected to climb the stage to begin his presentation within 30 minutes.
5:10pm: Fashionably late, the keynote seems set to begin.
5:20pm: The Intel transition; new Get A Mac ad features PC enduring major surgery to upgrade to Vista; Jobs brings up the iPod.
5:23pm: Two billion songs sold through iTunes. iPod has 62 per cent market share.
5:25pm: Paramount joins Disney selling movies through iTunes.
5:29pm: Apple’s iTV device won’t be called iTV: it’s to be called Apple (logo) TV. It will be capable of storing 50 hours of 720dpi HD video on its 40GB hard drive and will be 802.11b, g and n wireless compatible. Offers USB 2, Ethernet, WiFi, HDMI connectivity. Streams content from up to five computers.
AppleTV will stream music, images, video and can access the QuickTime movie preview library.
5:40pm: Apple boss reveals $299 price tag. Device ships February.
5.44pm: iPhone, widescreen iPod and an internet communications device are to be launched today. And it’s an all-in-one device Jobs is presently calling the iPhone. User interface is highly advanced — Apple has been working on this “for years” Jobs explains.
New iPhone runs Mac OS X. And is touch-activated — no stylus — you just use your finger. 3.5in screen, 2-megapixel camera, just one button on the front.
iPhone runs “desktop class” applications. It syncs through iTunes (includes email accounts and other data).
6pm: iPhone has Bluetooth and WiFi. It’s quad band, GSM+EDGE phone. Mac and PC compatible. Laden, absolutely laden, with features — more depth on these later.
6:18pm: More news from inside the hall: iPhone has a full HTML browser — Safari; and supports Widgets, iChat, Mail, Google Maps. Jobs: “This is the first fully usable web browser on a mobile phone.”
Phone offers free IMAP mail from Yahoo! to device. Connects to any POP or IMAP mail account. Email in split or single page view.
Apologies for the break. We had some access problems. To recap:
iPhone has built-in speaker, iPod headphones and Bluetooth headset is available;
Yahoo co-founder launches new mobile Yahoo search on this phone;
Apple and Google have been working closely together on this project, Google CEO and Apple board member Dr Schmidt confirms. Not a merger, a meeting of minds.
The device will be available in two breeds: one 8GB ($599), the other 4GB ($499). Won’t ship in the US until June and “by the end of the year” in Europe. (One disappointed writer here, could be worse — it’s scheduled for 2008 in Asia).
6:54pm: Phone has five-hour battery life for talk, video and browsing and 16 hours of audio playback.
6:57pm: Exclusive Cingular relationship confirmed.
Jobs confirms company is aiming for 1 per cent of the mobile market (global) by 2008.
Jobs reveals that Apple Computer won’t be Apple Computer any more — it is now called Apple Incorporated. Move reflects Apple’s new found markets — iPhone and iPod.
Apple boss signs off by thanking everyone who worked on the project and their families.


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The networks typically love to air their best shows Sunday night. At that time of the weekend, they know you’re invariably flaked-out on the couch watching the telly meaning big audience ratings numbers for them and their advertisers.
Knowing that, Roy Morgan Research commissioned a study to find out how much Sunday night audiences spend on groceries during the week.
According to its research Aussies fork out a whopping $2 billion a week on their grocery shops which highlights the importance of ad spends particularly during these Sunday night programs.
Viewers of the average Sunday night episode of Seven’s My Kitchen Rules together spend an average $236 million a week on groceries – which is around three times more than viewers of either Nine’s Australia’s Got Talent ($81 million) or Ten’s I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here ($71 million), which also aired on Sunday nights in early 2016.
Seven’s mid-year season of House Rules reached $167 million worth of the week’s grocery expenditure on an average Sunday night, ahead of competitors The Voice ($143 million) and MasterChef ($120 million).
Total weekly grocery expenditure of Sunday night TV viewers
Last year’s closest Sunday night race for grocery dollars was from late August between Seven’s new Big Music Quiz and Nine’s twelfth season of The Block. Seven’s music show reached $147 million in weekly grocery spend per average episode – just nudging out the $145 million spent by Block viewers.
The Biggest Loser didn’t screen in 2016, but is scheduled to return to Ten in 2017. Its late-2015 Sunday night episodes reached $92 million in weekly grocery spend.
Australian Survivor reaches $85 million of grocery spend – more than the more widely watched Australia’s Got Talent ($81 million), thanks to its greater popularity among higher spending grocery buyers.
Reconfiguring viewership as an audience dollar value in the grocery market delivers the strongest boost to MasterChef. Its typical pool of Sunday night viewers is not only popular among grocery buyers, but they spend $18 more a week than the average Australian. MasterChef’s $120 million worth of ‘grocery market reach’ is 14 per cent bigger than its share of the population.
Other shows that are notably more valuable to grocery advertisers than their raw viewership results alone would suggest include I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!, The Voice, The Biggest Loser Australia, and even My Kitchen Rules.
Commenting on the study, Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine said: “Woolworths is the more common supermarket of choice nationally, and also among grocery buyers who watch My Kitchen Rules, House Rules, Big Music Quiz, The Voice, Australia’s Got Talent and I’m a Celebrity.
“However Coles has the lead among viewers of The Biggest Loser, Australian Survivor and MasterChef – all Network Ten shows, and all shows that are particularly popular among grocery buyers with bigger weekly supermarket budgets,” she said.
Australian fashion brand Witchery has partnered with B Corp GlamCorner as part of GlamCorner’s subscription box offering as the demand for everyday essentials soars. This partnership marks another milestone for the Australian fashion industry towards becoming more circular and introducing more paths to reduce textile waste. Customers nationally will be able to rent more of […]
The media, marketing and creative industries are being encouraged to host their own ‘Curry Club for COVID’ before 30th June to help meet the ambitious $100k target set by its organisers. Curry Club for COVID, which was conceived by long-time adtech executive Peter Bray, sales director at Impact, and is powered by industry social purpose organisation […]
The UnLtd Cup is returning for its tenth consecutive year, marking a decade of soccer shenanigans that’s raised nearly $500,000 for children’s mental health charity, KidsXpress. On July 22-23rd, 28 teams from across the industry will battle it out on the soccer field in the two-day tournament at Sydney University Sports and Fitness Centre, Darlington. […]
Australian-bred company Ultra Commerce has acquired New Zealand-based company Vesta eCommerce, a global software business providing leading product data management solutions. The recent acquisition is a significant move for the business, which is Australian born, owned, and headquartered, but has built out a global presence as it pursues rapid growth in the eCommerce market. Connecting […]
Canteen’s latest campaign features the combined talents of Director Luna Laure and creative agency Crater. The campaign strives to raise awareness for young people affected by cancer. The awareness campaign centres around Harry Barentson, who at 12 years of age found out his pregnant mum had cancer. The campaign aims to bring awareness to Canteen’s […]
In partnership with storytelling agency Enthral, AFL legend Kevin Sheedy has voiced a ‘Love Letter to Victoria’ using visuals to showcase the state’s natural beauty and culture. Victoria has been hit with the worst of the coronavirus pandemic compared with any other Aussie state, experiencing four lockdowns. Sheedy partnered with Ethral to share a love […]
Telstra’s lower-cost telco, Belong, has awarded its strategy and creative account to Howatson + White, and has reappointed OMD to its media buying account, after a competitive pitch process. Howatson + White will handle strategy, planning, creative and CRM, while former agency Clemenger will continue to have a relationship with Belong, managing PR and retail activation. […]


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Nissan Tiida hatchback soldiers on for 2012 despite all-new sedan counterpart
19 July 2011
Nissan has officially released pricing on the company's 2012 Tiida Hatchback.
Buyers looking for the functionality of a five-door can expect to pay $14,380 excluding destination charges for models equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission in S trim. Opting for a four-speed automatic gearbox will set you back an additional $1,000, while stepping up to SL trim with the company's Xtronic CVT will cost another $4,010. Of course, that stack of cash buys SL owners more than just the fuel-saving transmission. It also includes all of the equipment formerly stashed in the Premium Package as standard, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth hands-free calling and 16-inch aluminum wheels.
Keep in mind that aside from the new standard equipment, the 2012 hatch will soldier on much as it was in 2011. Nissan says that since most of the model's sales were five-doors, it wanted to debut an all-new sedan first.
Even so, the five-door prices mark a steep increase over the base Tiida Sedan, which starts at just $10,990 when equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed transmission. The hatchback Tiida is on sale right now, but shoppers looking to get their hands on the low-buck four-door will have to wait until later this year.


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STRONG reports on the US housing market and durable goods orders propelled stocks higher today, with the much-watched Dow index reaching its highest level in more than five years.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 175.24 (1.26 per cent) to 14,075.37, reaching its best finish since October 12, 2007.
The broad-based S&P 500 rose 19.05 (1.27 per cent) to 1515.99, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 32.61 (1.04 per cent) to 3162.26.
The gains came after reports showed US pending home sales rebounded sharply in January to the highest level in almost three years.
Also, durable goods orders in January, excluding volatile aircraft, surged 1.9 per cent, with gains particularly strong in capital goods, suggesting business confidence in the economy in upcoming months.
Hugh Johnson of Hugh Johnson Advisers, said markets were also cheered by comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi that suggested accomodative monetary policy would remain in force on both sides of the Atlantic for the foreseeable future.
The market has also begun to conclude that mandatory US spending cuts due to take effect on Saturday "does not mean the end of the world", Mr Johnson said. "The recognition is that the economy will continue to expand in 2013 and 2014."
All but one of the blue-chip companies in the Dow Jones index closed the day higher.
Among the biggest gainers were JPMorgan Chase, which rose 3.5 per cent after announcing it would trim 19,000 jobs by the end of 2014.
Also gaining was aerospace giant Boeing (up 2.3 per cent), industrial giant Caterpillar (up 2.6 per cent) and technology giant Microsoft (up 1.6 per cent).
Travel website Priceline.com picked up 2.8 per cent after reporting significantly higher profits than a year ago.
Upscale handbag maker Coach jumped 2.8 per cent on speculation that the company could be an acquisition target.
Target declined 1.5 per cent despite reporting earnings that bested analyst expectations. However, the market reacted to comments that the company faces "a highly promotional retail environment and continued consumer uncertainty".
Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year bond rose to 1.90 per cent from 1.88 per cent yesterday, while the 30-year rose to 3.10 per cent from 3.08 per cent.
Bond prices and yields move inversely.


text: Stocks getting smoked as rate fears grow on Wall Street. Plus, the Vice President Pence talks tough on China, just as a major report suggests China is spying on companies like Apple and Amazon. And, more bad news for Snap from Wall Street — it’s the call of the day. Plus, Tesla’s autopilot is all the rage, but Consumer Reports says Detroit is doing it better. Catch The Final Round at 3:30 ET p.m. with Myles Udland, columnist Rick Newman, and reporter Melody Hahm.


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With a new initiative, Google is working to “expand the information about food banks and pantries in Google Search and Maps” heading into the holidays and as challenges are “compounded by the COVID-19 crisis.”
Food banks have always been critical to making sure people have regular access to nutritious food, but the ongoing pandemic has drastically increased their role as a crucial lifeline in so many communities. With the need for their services doubling or even tripling in some areas, we want to make sure that the people who need them most can find them.
In addition to existing data, Google has incorporated information from nonprofit partners WhyHunger and Hunger Free America to “make sure people searching for food support can find what they need” in Maps and Search.
These changes are being made directly in Google Maps so food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens can focus on what matters most — getting people food.
Furthermore, Google wants to show locations that don’t yet have a website. The company previously used its Duplex technology to update business hours, as well as retail inventory, in an automated manner.
So over the last two months, we’ve worked to update this information in Search and Maps, making 85,000 plus calls to verify local food banks and pantries. These efforts will continue through the holidays.
Those that have an online presence can provide listing details like whether an appointment is needed, eligibility requirements, what languages are spoken, whether prepared meals are available, or if grocery delivery is offered. They can also note whether they take donations and volunteers.
More on Google Maps:
- Google Maps expanding grocery pickup tool to over 2,000 stores in the US
- Maps gets Material You bottom bar, but no Dynamic Color yet
- Google renames ‘My Business’ to ‘Business Profile,’ dedicated app will be replaced by Search/Maps
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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The plastics machinery shipments in North America continued to increase in the third quarter according to the statistics compiled and reported by the Plastics Industry Association’s (PLASTICS) Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES).
Kick-off for K 2019: Starting now, exhibitors from all over the world can register for the world’s No. 1 trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry – the relevant documents are all available. A high-quality print version of the exhibitor invitation has been sent to all participants in the prior event K 2016 and further interested parties.
For more than 15 years the globally known SIGMA Plastics Group has put its trust in recycling machines from NGR, the plastics recycling machine manufacturer from Upper Austria. In December, NGR’s machine number 1,000 was delivered to a Sigma plant New Jersey.
On 11. October 1952, 65 years ago to the day, Messe Düsseldorf opened the first K – the trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry that is still the leading event for this sector today. We are taking a look back at the year in which K began and invite you to accompany us as we return to what was both an eventful and momentous time.
On 1 and 2 February 2017, Arburg will be represented at the Pharmapack Europe 2017 in Paris (France) at Stand D81 in Hall 4. The experts will be available there for discussions with customers and prospects who want to find out more about the extensive range of machines and solutions for plastic part production in the medical technology and packaging sectors. These range from high-speed, high-performance machines and clean-room Allrounders in stainless steel versions to the Freeformer for additive manufacturing, as well as automation and complex turnkey solutions.
The international plastics and rubber industry presents itself in top shape. It benefits from a globally growing end-user market with high quality demands and stands for impressive innovative power across the entire value chain.
Messe Düsseldorf expands international portfolio of trade fairs for the plastics and rubber industry


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Siebel Systems shareholders will vote on 31 January on the company’s proposed acquisition by Oracle.
The shareholders meeting will take place at 11am US Pacific time, said Siebel, at a hotel near Siebel’s Californian headquarters.
The proposed $5.85bn (£3.45bn) takeover, which was announced last September, has already been approved by regulatory bodies in both the US and Europe.
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive emails regarding relevant topic offers from TechTarget and its partners. You can withdraw your consent at any time. Contact TechTarget at 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA.
Oracle wants to use Siebel to become the biggest supplier in customer relationship management (CRM) software.
Oracle is still busy integrating its PeopleSoft and JD Edwards business applications operationws, after buying them for over $10bn in the PeopleSoft takeover over a year ago.


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Park event Saturday
Posted: Friday, November 30, 2012 4:00 pm
The Messenger, November 30, 2012
The first-ever “Christmas in the Park,” sponsored by the Fulton Tourism Commission, will be staged Saturday from 5:30-8 p.m. at Pontotoc Park and the surrounding area in downtown Fulton.
The park will be aglow with lights and more than 30 Twin Cities businesses, organizations and individuals have registered to provide large-sized plywood Christmas cards which will be displayed in the park.
The annual Supper With Santa will be held at the Fulton Senior Citizens Center on Commercial Avenue, adjacent to Pontotoc Park, where children may visit with Santa and enjoy Wendy’s chili, hot dogs, cookies and drinks. Monetary or food donations will be accepted for Ken-Tenn Food Bank.
A Christmas bazaar will be held inside Pontotoc Community Center, with vendors to offer a variety of crafts, baked goods and gift items for sale. Several downtown Fulton merchants will also remain open from 5-8 p.m. Saturday as the event is under way at the park.
Richard Lewis of South Fulton will be present with his Christmas train and the Fulton High School choir will provide musical entertainment for “Christmas in the Park.”
For more information, call the Fulton Tourism Office at (270) 472-9000.


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Town Council approved a proposal Wednesday night from Development Committee chair, Blake Adams, to get a 3-D design done up for a four-unit strip mall along Main Street.
The proposed location is property the town acquired last year next to Home Hardware.
“I think we’re at the point now; I think the town’s waited a long time hoping somebody would come in and do that,” Adams responded when councillor Marvin Macdonald said he thought the plan was to have a private individual do the development.
Adams said business people have, in the past, expressed interest in bringing new services to the community but there was no existing infrastructure into which they could set up.
Adams said the cost for the design work will be free if the designer gets the project supply contract, otherwise $250. The town would receive a cost estimate for the mall project as part of the design phase.
MacDonald agreed the $250 could be a good investment.
Mayor Eric Gavin referred to the recent opening of a Dollar Store in Alberton as a good example of the value of having space available. In that case, the Dollar Store moved into a recently vacated storefront.
Adams said a Dollar store and some sort of clothing store would probably be good fits for a strip mall.
“If we had a location, that might be more attractive for serious individuals to pursue that,” he suggested.
He expressed hope that interest in strip mall space will be expressed before the town breaks ground on development.
Getting the design work done soon, he suggested, could have the town ready to take advantage of federal funding. He pointed to federal chatter about making more development dollars available, especially to communities.
“I’d like to have our ducks in order so, if additional funding does come available, then we’re ready to move ahead, if council chooses.”


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Food production measures outlined
Britain could grow more spices and chickpeas for curries as the climate changes as part of efforts to make the food system more sustainable, a Government report has suggested.
Significant amounts of energy could also be saved if more energy-efficient toasters were invented, according to the Green Food Project which looks at how to produce more food at the same time as protecting the environment.
The project examined how production and consumption could change in five areas - wheat, dairy, bread, curry and geographical areas - in the future.
A report for the Government last year predicted the world's population would hit nine billion by 2050, and food production would have to increase by 70% in the face of the rise in population, obesity and western meat and dairy-rich diets. It also estimated that between 30% and 50% of all food grown worldwide may be wasted.
The initial report from the Green Food Report, which brings together farmers, manufacturers, retailers, caterers, environmentalists and scientists, outlined measures to boost sustainable farming including improving research and development of innovative technology in the sector.
Farming minister Jim Paice said: "With our increasingly hungry world, every country must play its part to produce more food and improve the environment. Britain already punches above its weight, but we're a small island with limited space, so we've got to show leadership and play to our strengths more efficiently.
"We're not talking about setting Soviet-style targets but an overall approach in which the whole food chain pulls together. Whether it means embracing new farming technology or people wasting less, we've got to become more sustainable."
But WWF-UK said the project needed to be radical and ambitious and not just rehash existing initiatives, and raised concerns over a lack of specific targets and milestones.
The wildlife charity also warned it was a "fool's errand" to try to ramp up food production without addressing underlying issues such as waste and diets, and said manufacturers and retailers should play a key role in boosting sustainable diets.
Mark Driscoll, head of WWF-UK's food programme, said: "We support the collaborative approach taken by the Green Food Project as a - very small - first step. However, what's really important is the need to take action so we move towards a more equitable and sustainable food system which addresses the twin global challenges of sustainability and hunger."


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Tucked away in the valleys or sprawled across the hillsides, mom-and-pop entrepreneurs raise cattle or goats, grow grapes, make wine and craft artisan cheese following traditions that are centuries-old but have largely taken root in Western North Carolina in just the past decade. They’re a new crop of entrepreneurs pursuing second careers, seeking meaningful post-retirement work or simply fine-tuning what they love to do most.
And the crop is growing: The number of WNC Wine Trail participants has doubled since the tours started five years ago. And the WNC Cheese Trail, launched in 2012 by a handful of area cheesemakers, now features 12 member creameries, most of which offer tours and activities for visitors.
Xpress talked to local wine and cheese leaders to learn more.
Rebirth by vineyard
For many owners of Western North Carolina wineries, it’s just the right time, says Peter Fland, president of French Broad Vignerons, a service and support organization for WNC wine- and cidermakers and their products. “They reach a point in their lives — they’re finished with what they were doing, [or] they want a change in what they are doing, and [a vineyard] seems like an adventure,”
He mentions Parker-Binns Vineyard in the foothills near Tryon, South Creek Winery in Nebo and Silver Fork Vineyard and Winery in Morganton. “Parker-Binns started when Bob [Binns] was close to 73, and that was [his] third career,” says Fland, a New Jersey transplant who has his own small vineyard in Marshall.
Binns and his wife, Karen Parker-Binns, “are having a great time running that place, and now the second generation, [their children], are coming on to run [it], which is a really great thing,” says Fland.
A corporate escape fueled the evolution of Silver Fork, meanwhile. “We came down looking for a place to rent, and we found the previous owner selling … 2 ½ acres, just the grapes and the house,” says Jennifer Foulides. She runs with her husband, Ed.
“We were in corporate America before this, in New York,” says Jennifer, formerly a global account director for JP Morgan Chase. Ed had worked with Bear Stearns in the stock trade, she says. “It all starts to wear on you — the traffic, the work,” says Jennifer.
“We’d see people 10 years our senior just looking really haggard and worn out, and we just didn’t want the rest of our lives to look like that. We made great money, we had a great bank account, but [we had] really nothing else to show for it.”
Ready for change, the couple bought Silver Fork from Larry Kehoe, who first started growing grapes on the land in the early 1990s. “We have a hard time keeping up with him,” says Jennifer, noting that Kehoe still helps out. “He had a vineyard in Michigan, but when he came here, the agriculture center said that the only thing that would grow [in the area] was muscadine. But [Kehoe] thought this [area] was very similar climate and altitude to [the] Bourdeaux region and thought that the vinifera varietals of France would do well here.”
Kehoe had planted merlot, cabernet and chardonnay vines but was selling his grapes rather than making wine on-site, Jennifer says. When the Foulideses bought his small plot, there was no more than a modest house and an acre of vines. They took Silver Fork to the next level, and now, sitting on the patio for the winery on any given Saturday evening, visitors can sip a glass of the Foulideses’ wine on a large covered patio and listen to a live band, all while enjoying the foothills and a now-5-acre vineyard.
“I had no experience making wine. I drank a lot of wine,” Jennifer jokes. “I went to school for chemical engineering, so I knew the chemistry aspect of winemaking, but growing the grapes and seeing what goes into it has given me a whole new appreciation for what goes into a bottle of wine,” she says.
“Now we’re working harder, physically harder, even. But at least it is ours. So now we have something we can share with everyone, we have wine that we love, and we have our dogs, so we really got all three things we could possibly want.”
Meanwhile, South Creek Winery likewise took root. “Our story starts in 2010. [My husband,] Jim, and I had corporate jobs,” says co-owner Mary Rowley. Her husband had worked as quality director, and she was a pricing analyst. But a pending transfer was going to have them working apart in different states. “We saw the opportunity at that point to leave our corporate jobs and take on something that would be more of a lifestyle,” says Mary.
The couple bought South Creek, a vineyard that came with a rustic home that had been built in 1906.
Time for fine wine
Like that old house, vineyards take patience, says Fland. It can take up to five years to produce a harvest good enough to make a drinkable vintage, he says. South Creek’s original owner, Larry Boldon, planted vines 15 years ago but didn’t bottle his first batch of South Creek until eight years later, Fland says.
But in WNC, there’s a time for fine wine.
“One thing that I’ve learned is that the wine industry in North Carolina has been born again and killed three different times,” says Fland, “The last time was in the mid- to late-1940s, and all these people who had just crawled back into business were shut down or turned to growing tobacco. And it’s really only been within the past 30 years that things have begun to grow statewide,” he says.
“The wineries are successful, the wine is good, but the wine out here just is not very well-known,” Fland continues. “I was at a restaurant in Asheville, and I asked the server, ‘Why aren’t you carrying North Carolina wines?’ And he looked at me and said, ‘Oh, they’re really not very good.’ … Having served on the judging panels for the wine festivals, I know the wines that have come out of that, and they’re great. The problem is, they just aren’t known.”
Now’s the time to try WNC wines and get to know them, say both Fland and Bob Bowles, co-founder of the Asheville Food & Wine Festival. “When we put the wine trail together about five years ago, there were only about 17 wineries involved in Western North Carolina. Now there are around 34 wineries listed, and that’s not even including the Yadkin Valley,” says Bowles.
In a unique partnership, the French Broad Vignerons supplies the wine judges for the annual Asheville Food & Wine Festival, Fland explains.
“North Carolina Wines are …” Bowles pauses, contemplative. “I won’t say ‘mature,’ but I will say ‘maturing.’ I tasted a lot of North Carolina wines three or four years ago. … A lot of the vines have been in the ground seven to 10 years now, so the vines are just reaching through the top layers of the soil, and really starting to mature in terms of the minerals that they are bringing into the wines.”
The evolution got a boost more than more than 15 years ago. In 1999, a settlement with major tobacco producers in North Carolina seeded the Golden LEAF Foundation, which, among several initiatives, helps tobacco farmers transition to other avenues of agriculture.
“The Golden LEAF grant [program] was actually put in place to give money to tobacco farmers to help change their crop from tobacco to [other crops, including] vines,” says Jennifer Foulides. “Especially in the Yadkin area, a lot of those were tobacco farms, and now they’re vineyards.”
Grant recipients also got help transitioning to organic farming, specialty crops and other agricultural endeavors — including cattle, sheep or goats. The latter helped build another industry, one that pairs quite well with wine.
The growth of the wine industry in the state has helped cheesemakers too, says Katie Moore, owner of the Cheese Store of Asheville and a co-organizer of the WNC Cheese Trail. “I mean, cheese goes with everything, but particularly wine, so if the wine industry is growing, why wouldn’t the cheese industry grow as well?”
She could be right. In the past few decades, artisanal cheesemakers keep popping up. “From just the perspective of Western North Carolina, this scene has really grown a lot in the last 10 to 20 years,” says Rachel English Brown, who helps promote the WNC Cheese Trail. Her family runs English Farmstead Cheese.
“The very first farmstead cheesemaker was in Western North Carolina — Yellow Branch in Robbinsville, [owned by Karen Mickler and Bruce DeGroot]. They started making cheese in the ’80s, and for a really long time, they were the only ones.”
Back in 1986, when Yellow Branch opened, there were only two noncorporate cheesemakers in the state, both of which closed shortly thereafter. Now there are 38, according to data from the N.C. Department of Agriculture. About 17 of those are in Western North Carolina, and 12 of them are members of the WNC Cheese Trail.
“Bruce and Karen … have been really good in supporting new cheesemakers,” adds Brown. “A lot of cheesemakers around here look to them because they’ve been doing it for a really long time, and they’ve helped to move the artisan cheese scene along.”
“We didn’t realize we were on the cusp of a movement. We were just making cheese,” says Mickler, laughing. When she and DeGroot moved to North Carolina from Iowa, they bought a small 10-acre farm. Their intent was to use the space as a studio for her pottery and his carpentry, which they still do. But after getting a few chickens for eggs, the couple decided to get a cow for milk. They named her Rosebud.
“We quickly had too much milk for just two people, so we started making cheese,” she recalls. “Then that cow had a calf, and before we knew it, we had more cheese than we could possibly eat.”
For years, the couple milked their two cows and produced around 2,500 pounds per year. About 15 years ago, Bruce had to make the decision to either shut down the creamery so he could focus on carpentry as his livelihood or expand the cheesemaking business. He chose to expand.
These days, DeGroot milks seven cows and produces as much as 7,000 pounds of cheese per year. “He does it full time now, and it gives us a livelihood,” says Mickler, who also runs Yellow Branch Pottery.
Post-expansion, you can find Yellow Branch cheese at such local groceries and restaurants as Earth Fare, the French Broad Food Co-op, Early Girl Eatery, Homegrown and Rhubarb — as well as an ever-expanding roster of local cheeses and cheesemakers. In fact, the industry has grown so much in Asheville that it has inspired its own springtime event, the Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest.
“My goal was to sell 500 tickets and get 500 people there, but we sold 1,500 tickets,” says Katie Moore, who helped organize the event. The festival featured over 20 cheesemakers and nearly a dozen other artisans who make crackers, jams, pickles and breads.
“I think that people are becoming more aware of the importance of supporting an industry that is in your neighborhood or using a product that is local. For example, a local cheesemaker has to get milk from somewhere, that farmer has to get grain from somewhere to feed those animals, and there are all these components to making that cheese,” she says.
“What we tried to emphasize with Cheese Fest is that it isn’t just about that cheese, it’s about all those components that go along with it,” says Moore.
“So I think when people start to think about the cheese industry as a part of that larger picture of the local economy, it’s easy to say, ‘I want to support this!’ People won’t just support something that is locally made, but they will support something that is good and locally made.”
You might think that small-business owners would feel threatened by the growth, but Mickler says, “Everyone wins when an industry is strong, and an industry is only as strong as the people that are in it.”
She continues, “I’m a potter in a state where there are a lot of potters, but that just makes my work stronger. We are a network of like-minded individuals, and maybe that’s because we’re in a craft. You know, we’ve always looked at our cheesemaking as more of a craft, and we’ve approached cheese that way, rather than the industrial side of it.”
So for these artisanal producers of cheese or wine, you may not find many of their products in your local grocery store. Instead, you have to travel the back roads through rural communities, neighborhoods and small towns. Many of them welcome visitors with tasting rooms and tours. And really, that seems to be the best way to truly appreciate WNC’s wineries and creameries, from their front porches, the cattle in the pasture, the wind swaying the vines on the hill. After all, there is no better way to get to know your state than to see it, smell it, touch it and taste the fruits of its labor.
So when Mickler talks about cheese, she sums up a sentiment most craftspeople share: “We love what we were doing,” she says. “Learning about cheese, and how to market it, and meeting other people who make it and that community — it really added a dimension to our lives.”


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Ford builds a Fusion hybrid cop car to save money while catching bad guys
Ford has developed a way to help cities fight crime and fight rising costs at the same time. The automaker is unveiling a new “pursuit-rated hybrid police car” to cut down on the cost of gasoline.
Ford unveiled the all-new Police Responder Hybrid Sedan in both Los Angeles and New York. The new Responder is based on the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Like other Ford police vehicles, the Responder has a reinforced chassis and suspension to survive the grueling police demands.
Ford is investing nearly $5 billion into its electrification plans. It is promising to introduce 13 new electric vehicles globally within the next five years, including hybrid versions of its popular Ford F-150 and Mustang. It is also promising a self-driving hybrid and a small SUV with an estimated range of 300 miles. Ford says that millennials are particularly interested in electrification. Supposedly up to 50 percent of millennials are interested in buying an electric car.
Ford claims each new Responder could save cities nearly $4000 per year, in gasoline costs, compared to its popular Police Interceptor model, based on the Ford Taurus. According to Ford, the pursuit rating means that “the car is certified by police agencies to be tough enough to handle police pursuits for longer periods at different speeds and over obstacles such as curbs and flooded intersections.”
Ford already sells the most police vehicles of any automaker in the U.S. It has a 63 percent market share with models based on the Taurus and the Ford Explorer.
The new Responder Hybrid Sedan will be tested by the Los Angeles police. Charlie Beck, Chief of the LAPD, says in a statement, “Our mission to create safe and healthy communities in Los Angeles is achieved through sustainable approaches in community policing, and that includes embracing new technologies. Patrol vehicles are a police officer’s office, and we expect them to not only be economically and environmentally efficient, but also an effective tool for fighting crime in major metropolitan areas.”
The new Responder is powered by a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor that runs on an advanced lithium-ion battery. The car will run on battery power up to 60 MPH and then the engine will kick in to provide added power for higher speeds.
Ford says the new Responder can be ordered this spring and will be delivered next summer. They are not releasing pricing.
Ford recently announced plans to boost electrification of vehicles in the Chinese market. Ford says that by 2025, 70 percent of the vehicles it sells in China will be electrified.


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28th October 2015
How healthy is the high street really?
The Week have published an interesting article asking how healthy is the high street really?
This article reports on store closures falling to their lowest level in five years (albeit still at a rate of 14 a day in the first half of this year!), September retail sales 1.3 per cent higher than in August and spending at online retailers slowing.
That’s not to say that High Street retailers can afford to rest on their laurels. According to the article:
But the British high street is adapting to this. New shop openings “were more likely to be leisure or service-based,” Mark Hudson, retail partner at PwC told The Guardian. While traditional high street stalwarts such as clothing shops, pubs and banks are retreating, they are being replaced by health food stores, coffee shops and takeaways.


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Bitcoin, the world’s most famous digital currency, is a versatile asset. From remittance to wealth storage, it has a string of uses and has been adopted by tech-savvy enthusiasts the world over. Online casinos have been swift to jump on the bitcoin bandwagon and add it as a deposit, withdrawal and betting option. But what are the benefits of betting with bitcoin and do these outweigh the benefit to be gained from simply holding onto the cryptocurrency and watching it appreciate in value?
Bitcoin vs flat currency
It’s not secret that bitcoin is on a roll, as a string of new adopters flood in, bringing in new money which has seen the currency rise by 600% since the start of 2017. Coinbase, one of the world’s largest bitcoin brokers, has surpassed 13 million customers and is adding more at a rate of 100,000 a day. In November, the price of one bitcoin passed $8,000, a far cry from a few years ago when coins could be snapped up for just a few dollars. Bitcoin would appear to be tailor-made for gambling. It’s discreet, if not entirely anonymous, and isn’t subject to chargebacks and other issues that affect payment methods such as credit card and PayPal.
With bitcoin, there’s also no need to store personal information such as credit card number on third party websites. Bitcoin lets you gamble in peace without anyone poking their nose into your business, which explains why it’s become such a popular option in countries where online gambling is a grey area – reported by casino sites like Casinopedia.org, a resource focused on reporting online casino play, trends and developments. As experienced casino players will attest, withdrawing winnings can be an interminable pain, with some sites taking days to process credit card payments in particular. By the time you’ve factored in public holidays, weekends and all the other excuses that are used to drag things out, it’s possible to wait a fortnight to receive what’s rightfully yours. Casinos that accept bitcoin, on the other hand, will typically release funds with 24-48 hours, whereupon they’ll show up in your wallet in under an hour.
To bet or not to bet?
The case for using bitcoin online would appear to be a compelling one, but there’s an overarching reason why many cryptocurrency holders have yet to gamble with their digital cash – appreciation. No, not their appreciation for bitcoin, but rather bitcoin’s astronomical appreciation. If you’re holding an asset which could potentially be worth 10, 20 or even 30% more the following week, why would you risk wagering it? In times when the bitcoin price is rocketing, as tends to happen several times a year, casino deposits in BTC diminish.
Experienced gamblers who are confident of their abilities would do well to consider the flipside to this: when you win with bitcoin, you win big. The casino won’t pay you any more than if you’d deposited with card or ewallet, but those precious bitcoins – or fractions of a bitcoin more likely – are extra precious. In the short time it takes to cash out and receive your winnings, you might find that those coins are already worth more than when you first fed them into the casino. For its privacy-enhancing features alone, bitcoin is worth the bet. But for gamblers with the patience to slowly build their bankroll, bitcoin offers a means to start with a little and turn it into a whole lot.


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The United Nations is partnering with MTN, Vodacom, Orange and Airtel on a mobile data platform that delivers coronavirus-related information around Africa.
Bharti Airtel, India’s second biggest wireless carrier, is delaying a planned initial public offering of its Africa unit due to the turmoil in emerging-market stocks, people with knowledge of the matter said.
Fast-growing African-focused tower operator IHS Holding has won another deal to operate towers on behalf of a mobile operator, this time involving 1 100 sites from Bharti Airtel in Zambia and Rwanda. The latest deal expands IHS’s tower footprint in Africa to 21 000. Operators typically sell
The business logic is clear; only the timing remains to be settled. Everything in telecommunications, including voice, will soon be data. In a world where everything is data, there will be two types of companies. And they will not be mobile operators. There will be content companies and there will be data
Kenya has become the third African country after Zambia and Tanzania to get the Facebook-led Internet.org application, giving Airtel customers in that country zero-rated access to a range of services, including Facebook, Wikipedia, Daily Nation, SuperSport and BBC News. Speaking at the opening keynote


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According to the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the USC Center for Public Relations at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, PR spend will increase over the next five years. Focused on client-side marketers, the report says that the increase is due to that fact that PR is a discipline and clearly evolving and becoming more important to marketers.
The evolution has been interesting to observe locally. PR seemingly lost its footing, playing second-fiddle to digital marketing. Clients actually chose the latter over PR spend, which not only confused me, but eventually just plain annoyed me. Not only because there is no logic to that decision, but really because it was just plain stupid.
Of course the irony is the fact that ANA says that PRs rise has been fueled by the rise of digital communications and has “put PR front and centre”. I think this should have happened a long time ago, and if ANA is predicting the next five years internationally, the convergence of PR and marketing in South Africa could take even longer.
But it’s good news, none the less, that PR is finally being recognised by marketers. More than 50% of the survey respondents said it will undoubtedly become more closely aligned with marketing with almost 20% saying it will become a subset.
The survey also predicts a possible loss for PR agencies as clients’ skill up in-house. Now this might be the case across the seas, but I think that locally we will continue to see growth in smaller, boutique agencies, that can very ably assist clients to achieve business goals. The larger, more global agencies potentially face pressure as they fail to connect on a closer, more personal basis with clients, and also struggle to find and retain quality PR consultants. Boutique agencies are largely run by PR professionals with almost 30 years of experience, and these same people are active and working with clients on a one-to-one basis. This value is almost immeasurable in my opinion.
So, as digital trends continue to dominate, make sure you either pull your PR closer in line with your marketing or find yourself a solid agency to work closely with and get ahead of the curve, instead of behind it.


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Around the World in 24 Dishes
We’re excited to launch an inspiring food initiative to help broaden children’s minds and encourage them to try new tastes.
‘Around the World in 24 dishes’ begins this week for children in Prep School. Each Thursday we will be serving a selection of themed dishes from a range of countries. The children will be given a small passport style booklet in which they will collect stickers for every ‘country’ they visit.
We set sail from the UK on Thursday 13th September, visiting such countries as Brazil, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and Australia, to name just a few.
We look forward to encouraging the pupils to try foods they’ve not had the chance to eat before and we hope they take delight in sharing their experiences with you at home.
Published on: 10th September 2018


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BEFORE YOU GO...
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Starbucks and McDonald’s are among 19 businesses that will test China’s new digital currency in the country’s Xiong’An district. According to a news outlet, the Reformation and Development Commission of the Xiong’An district in Hebei province called a meeting on Wednesday regarding the rollout of a pilot for China’s digital yuan initiative.
LATEST: Starbucks and McDonald’s are reportedly among 19 restaurants and retail shops that will be involved in testing China’s central bank digital currency.
Via @WolfieZhao https://t.co/NlqLTvCT8R
— CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) April 23, 2020
The move depicts China’s attempts to examine the e-currency project, while the state bank is already developing wallet applications for the digital yuan, also referred to as DC/EP.
The meeting was attended by government officials, the country’s key commercial banks, Ant Financial, Tencent as well as 19 restaurants, entertainment, and retail stores that will examine the currency. McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, and JD Supermarkets in the locality are among some of the renowned businesses participating. It is not yet confirmed when the test would likely start or how long it will last.
According to earlier reports, the Agricultural Bank of China has already launched a test user interface for a DC/EP wallet that marks the methods of digital yuan transactions. The test application also depicted that the test was being carried out in the cities of Chengdu, Suzhou, Shenzhen, and the new district, Xiong’An.
Regarding the ongoing testing efforts, the People’s Bank of China emphasized: “It does not mean the digital yuan has been launched officially.”


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Marketers in Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean have been increasingly turning to social networks Facebook and Twitter in an attempt to start “conversations” and “relationships” with consumers. According to research firm Forrester, they might be wasting their time and money doing so.
“You don’t really have a social relationship with your customers,” analyst Nate Elliott wrote in a new report titled “Social relationship Strategies That Work.”
After years of pushing brands’ reach lower with one hand (and opening marketers’ wallets with the other) Facebook has finally announced the end of organic social marketing on its site.
In a Friday night blog post the social giant warned brands that “Beginning in January 2015, people will see less of this type of content [promotional page posts] in their News Feeds,” and admitted that brands that post promotional content “will see a significant decrease in distribution.”
It’s not as if marketers could count on much organic reach or engagement anyway. Ogilvy reported that in February 2014 large brands’ Facebook posts reached just 2% of their fans (a number that was falling by .5% per month). And earlier this year a Forrester study showed that on average, only .07% of top brands’ Facebook fans interact with each of their posts. But Facebook’s latest announcement will certainly make matters worse.
What should marketers do now? Two of the most important things brands can do are:
- Add social relationship tools to your own site. Forrester’s 2015 social predictions emphasize the renewed importance of branded communities, and for good reason. A recent Forrester survey shows that US online adults who want to stay in touch with your brand are almost three times as likely to visit your site as to engage you on Facebook. Most companies still don’t offer branded communities — but smart marketers are already finding success building social relationship tools into their own sites. A great way to do this is to create a micro-site for example, Sony Playstation got 4.5 million visits to its social microsite GreatnessAwaits.com; people stayed for 4 minutes per visit, and this effort helped Playstation outsell Xbox by a huge margin. B2B marketers like Analog Devices and Tyler Technologiessuccessfully focus their social efforts on branded communities as well.
- Stop making Facebook the center of your relationship marketing efforts. That same survey shows that US online adults who want to stay in touch with your brand are almost twice as likely to sign up for your emails as to interact with you on Facebook. Plus your emails get delivered more than 90% of the time, while your Facebook posts get delivered 2% of the time — and no one’s looking over your shoulder telling you what you can and can’t say in your emails. If you have to choose between adding a subscriber to you email list or gaining a new Facebook fan, go for email every time.
- Start creating branded content. People socialise around great content. The one thing all successful internet/social brands have in common is that they have great branded content. Not that they had a lot of ads. You can start small by creating branded visuals such as infographics, micrographics, videos, case studies and micro-sites. Start telling your story. Start sharing your customer’s stories.
WANT TO START CREATING BRANDED CONTENT? LET’S CHAT.
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Portions of this post appeared originally on Forrester


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In the world of hair color, there are few trends that are truly low maintenance. But a surge in the popularity of ombré hair is proof that versatile can be fashionable.
“Anyone can have an ombré hair color,” says Nicole David of Salon NV.
The stylist, herself an ombré-colored blonde, started seeing a rise in requests for the grades of color about two years ago with clients asking for hair like Whitney Port. The fashion forward blonde of MTV fame has gone ombré as of late along with stars like Rachel Bilson and Jessica Biel.
“The thing about ombré hair that’s so great, once you have it, if the darker color on top is close to your natural color it’s very low maintenance,” David says.
The key to perfectly done ombré hair is, strangely enough, in the comb.
“There’s a technique of backcombing the hair to make the ends light,” David says.
For ombré hair that’s chic, the color should melt from one color to another from root to tip. And for color, it’s anything goes.
“There’s a lot of different variations on color. You have blondes and some more natural and some dramatic and then redheads. You can go with any color as long as you go from dark to medium to light color,” David says.
Six months ago David started the ombré technique on client Ashley Arnold, who modeled her do for IND, and has been keeping it up ever since.
“It’s very versatile,” David says. “It’s very low maintenance but also fashionable and that’s rare.”
Frank’s Casing Crew, now doing business as Frank’s International, will make its final appearance on ABiz’s list of the Top 50 Privately Held Companies in Acadiana this year, and once again it will likely be at the top with more than $1 billion in annual revenues. The 75-year-old company specializing in tubular fabrication and installation services to the oil and gas industry plans to offer shares of its stock to the public for the first time.
The defeat, or rather highjacking of House Bill 420 in the final days of this year's Legislative Session, say Reps. Vincent Pierre and Terry Landry, is the result of the propaganda spread by one unidentified local media outlet and an unnamed former state Representative, but nothing to do with the original legislation's lack of checks, balances or details.
He’s a singer. A songwriter. A piano man. A family man. He’s even got his own Wikipedia entry. He’s David Egan. And he knows ancient secrets about the monolithic stones of Stonehenge that he’s not willing to share.


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Tag: UK Banks
Only 51% of UK bank employees recommend their institutions' international payments services, according to a revealing survey commissioned by Wise. The findings underscore the pressing need for banks to revamp their cross-border payments solutions if they hope to stay competitive against dedicated international payment providers.
The FCA has unveiled actions under the Consumer Duty rules, outlining a 14-point plan aimed at enhancing cash savings interest rates.
In a revealing new study by Tink, Europe's premier open banking platform, an estimated 40% of UK residents expressed interest in utilising banking tools to monitor their environmental footprint, however, only 24% of banks currently offer such capabilities.


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Ford and the Kentucky Derby: A Match Made in Horse(power) Heaven
It’s almost time for the 146th running of the most exciting two minutes in sports, but this time around, the Kentucky Derby has a new partner – Ford. That’s right, this match made in horse(power) heaven is official, as Ford and the Kentucky Derby have entered a multiyear sponsorship deal. So, let’s bust out of the gate and find out all we can about this new partnership.
2020 Ford Super Duty Named Featured Vehicle of the 146th Running of the Kentucky Derby
Is there a better featured vehicle for the most important horse race of the year than the pickup truck that features best-in-class horsepower? We don’t think there is, which is why we profusely applaud the decision to have the 2020 Ford Super Duty be the featured truck of the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby. But that’s not the only exciting aspect of this Ford-Kentucky Derby partnership.
“With Louisville Assembly Plant and Kentucky Truck Plant practically in the backyard of Churchill Downs, Ford’s participation in this uniquely American tradition is long overdue. The Kentucky Derby is the longest-running sporting event in the United States, and one of the most iconic celebrations of the year. While our workhorse trucks naturally play a huge role supporting the many aspects of the equine and racing industries, our legendary sports car is named Mustang and our much-anticipated off-roading icon is Bronco. Ford products capture the freedom synonymous with the relationship between a winning horse and jockey.”Matt Van Dyke, Ford Marketing Director
“Ford is such a big part of the Louisville community that this new partnership is a natural fit. Ford vehicles power so much of our operations at Churchill Downs and many of our breeders rely on Ford Super Duty trucks to transport their precious cargo.”Kevin Flanery, Churchill Downs Racetrack President


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The Travel and Meetings Society incubator committee has chosen the first six participants for its startup program, confirmed committee co-founder and co-lead Hansini Sharma. The program was announced in March and applications opened in April.
Half of the companies selected are in the corporate travel space. Those with ties to the industry include Troop, which helps meeting planners select optimized event locations; Tousca, which connects travel buyers with ground transportation providers in South Africa; and BTPAutomation, which automates corporate hotel sourcing.
The other three are Visxa, which connects individuals with immigration, residence and citizenship lawyers; Certified Africa, which handles cultural trips to Africa; and Scurry Club, which is a members-only travel club for trips in India.
“The companies are diverse and in different stages of development,” said Sharma, who also is Acquis Consulting Group’s corporate travel practice lead. “There’s a mix of leisure and…


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A British couple on lockdown in Spain have been keeping themselves entertained by wearing a different fancy dress costume for every day of quarantine.
Pete and Jo Cleary are originally from Harwell, Oxfordshire, but moved to the Costa Blanca 18 months ago after retiring from their jobs with the fire and rescue service.
The couple were enjoying a new, more relaxed chapter of their lives, until the coronavirus pandemic hit and they were forced into lockdown.
Spain has issued some of the tightest restrictions in Europe, meaning the couple could only leave their home to buy food or seek medical care.
So, looking for ways to pass the time and raise the spirits of their loved ones back home in the UK, the Clearys decided to dress up in a different costume for every day of lockdown – and share pictures and videos of their efforts online.
Their amazing costume parade has seen the couple dress as everything from bungling burglars and gormless gardeners to French fashionistas and deep-sea divers.
As well as entertaining their friends and family in the UK, the couple have been thrilled to hear they’ve also raised the spirits of their fellow ex pats.
“Where we live in Spain has quite an elderly community,” Jo, 48, explained.
“We know a lot of people who are isolating alone, both here and back in the UK, who have been telling us that they look forward to our pictures every day and to seeing what we’ve come up with.”
The couple have always been fancy dress fans, often going to themed diner parties and enjoying a Spanish-themed party before leaving the UK for Spain.
And though they didn’t intend to bring their collection of fancy dress outfits with them to Spain, somehow a box of costumes made it into their new home, something they became grateful about when the country was put into lockdown on March 14.
“It would have been so easy to spiral downwards and start to dwell on the fact that our friends and families were so far away, in another country, where we couldn’t get to them,” Jo says.
“But, instead of giving into panic, we wanted something to take our mind off it all.”
After setting themselves a list of DIY jobs, the couple hit upon the idea of wearing a different fancy dress costume for each day of lockdown.
So, on March 16, a couple of days after the restrictions were announced, Jo and Pete donned their first costumes, dressing up as punk rockers in black leather and Mohawk wigs.
The next day was St Patrick’s Day, so they donned novelty hats, shirts and glasses they had picked up at previous years’ celebrations.
And, before long, they had gathered an army of fans who were waiting to see what kooky costume each new day would bring.
Their outfits to date have included jungle explorers, cyclists, pizza delivery drivers, surfers, pirates, a zombie bride and groom, and tourists visiting London.
Being unable to go out and source new props has also meant being extremely resourceful.
“Pete is very artistic, so he makes lots of props. He made a fake pizza box out of some cardboard we had lying around for when we were delivery drivers,” Jo explains.
“He’s made a beard out of a paintbrush and fake teeth out of card, too.”
She added: “The best so far has to be when he dressed as Worzel Gummidge and made himself a fake nose and hair out of an old mop. Everybody loved that one.
Not only does their quirky challenge put a smile on their faces, but it also helps them stick to a routine at such an uncertain time.
“It helps us to focus our days,” Pete continues. “We’ll get up, put on our costume for the day and do our photos and video. Sometimes that can take a good while. As we’re still learning the ukulele we never get it right in one take.
“Then, we’ll edit everything and upload it by lunchtime, before spending the afternoon planning the next day, and getting all our props ready.”
Jo and Pete say the main benefit of their hilarious costumes is being able to spread joy to those struggling with the lockdown.
“Everyone thinks we’re bonkers, but the feedback we’ve got is that people are really looking forward to our pictures each day,” Pete says.
“It’s lovely to be able to give people a laugh, and we’ve had so much fun doing this. It’s our way of entertaining those who need it from a distance.”
But the daily dress-ups have come with certain drawbacks.
“It’s been really nice to make people laugh, and help in our own little way,” Pete, 54, said.
“The only downside, from our point of view, is that we’ve both got spots from all the make-up and rashes from the fake beards.”
Additional reporting PA Real Life.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Gannett Co. GCI, -0.72% said Wednesday it expects to achieve the second-quarter First Call consensus estimate for earnings of $1.31 a share. However, the company said per-share earnings could be impacted by a penny or two depending on business conditions for the remainder of the period. During its mid-year media review, Gannett said that results for its domestic community newspapers and its broadcasting segment were positive, while its operations in the United Kingdom continue to experience soft advertising demand. McLean, Va.-based Gannett said ad revenue growth at the domestic newspapers was trending upward although advertising revenue across the country has been mixed. Additionally, Craig Moon, president and publisher of USA Today, said he expects positive ad revenue growth in the second quarter. USA Today.com's advertising revenue was up nearly 16% year-to-date and its May online audience was up more than 10%, the company said.
Gannett expects to achieve second-quarter EPS of $1.31


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Scantech Graphics & Displays Featured in Digital Output Magazine
Scantech Graphics & Displays, is honored to be featured in the November 2015 issue of Digital Output Magazine, in which we were able to expose the new opportunities and benefits of the high-quality flatbed printing technology.
It has been five years since we decided to incorporate a flatbed into our workflow as an alternative to a traditional large format graphics printing and our customers have never been more satisfied with the quality.
Click here to read the entire feature and learn more about our flatbed printing services.
Scantech Graphics, located in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood of San Diego, has what you need to make it all happen.


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Los Angeles Times (January 1st, 2022).- An export powerhouse that provides much of America’s vegetables, the Mexican produce industry in recent years has followed up on some promised reforms aimed at preventing the abuse of farmworkers. But a recent move by the Biden administration accusing two large Mexican agribusinesses of forced labor abuses has brought fresh scrutiny of the industry.
The administration is blocking all tomato shipments from the agribusinesses based in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, under a “withhold release order” handed down in late October by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
According to a Times investigation, the businesses — Agropecuarios Tom and Horticola Tom — have shipped in the last year millions of pounds of tomatoes to U.S.-based distributors that supply supermarkets across the country, including Walmart and Albertsons.
The two targeted agribusinesses have withheld wages and subjected workers to abusive working and living conditions, among other violations, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“The hope is that this brings greater awareness of horrible conditions that these workers are subjected to,” Ana Hinojosa, executive director of the agency’s forced labor division, said in an interview.
The unprecedented move by the administration blocks only a small portion of Mexican tomato exports in an industry with hundreds of producers but signals a more aggressive approach toward labor rights enforcement against U.S. trading partners. This summer the administration also slapped trade restrictions on a Chinese manufacturer of silica-based products accused of forced labor abuses against ethnic Uyghur workers.
Conditions for Mexican farmworkers appear to have improved substantially in recent years, according to agribusiness executives, labor organizers, industry trade groups and supply chain oversight groups, in part due to a 2014 Los Angeles Times investigation that led to a dramatic increase in the use of independent organizations that enforce labor standards, such as Fair Trade USA.


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CMA CGM, the top ocean shipping supplier for Walmart, announced that it has ordered 12 methanol-powered container ships, pulling ahead of Maersk with the most orders for zero-emission ships. In June of last year, the company announced that it had ordered six ships with dual-fuel methanol engines as part of its climate strategy.
Walmart was revealed to be the worst ocean shipping polluter in 2021, with Target and Home Depot also in the top three.The companies represented the first, second and third largest shares, respectively, of both climate-harming emissions and air pollution from shipping imports. IKEA, Target and Amazon have made commitments to move their goods on ships by 2040, but Walmart has made no such commitment.
Walmart told Canary Media earlier this year that it is working to reduce or avoid 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the global value chain by 2030. “Reducing emissions from ocean carriers is a priority for Walmart, and we work closely with logistics partners, NGOs and suppliers across the retail industry to scale up more sustainable approaches to transporting products,” a representative said by email to Canary Media.
Statements from the Ship It Zero Coalition:
“We appreciate CMA CGM’s commitment to protecting port communities and taking steps to address climate change with this latest announcement of 12 zero-emission ships, but to truly protect the climate, this major shipper must move off of LNG ships,” said Eric Leveridge, Corporate Climate Campaigner, Pacific Environment. “We have no time to waste. Ocean shipping companies and retailers must move towards zero-emissions now. We call on CMA-CGM’s client Walmart to use its power to move the industry and commit to putting its goods on 100% zero-emission ocean ships by 2030.”
“While we applaud CMA CGM’s new investments in cleaner ships, we continue to have concerns with the company’s investments in dozens of fossil gas-powered newbuilds, including liquefied fossil gas (LNG), ” said Gary Cook, Global Climate Campaigns Director, Stand.earth. “CMA CGM also ordered four LNG-powered cargo ships at the same time, which are 70-82% worse for the climate than ships powered with heavy fuel oil. If CMA CGM wants to be a climate champion, it must follow Maersk’s lead, canceling its LNG newbuild orders and shift investment toward wholly zero-emission fuels and vessels.”


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Greendale Mall to remain open under new ownership
A lack of information immediately following the $11.8 million purchase by the mall's mortgage holder led to speculation about whether the mall would be converted to another use, but Burlington-based KeyPoint Partners, a company representing the owners and managing the building, noted in a press release that the Greendale Mall is Worcester's only enclosed mall, and expressed hope that old and new customers would visit the space.
KPP provided a list of reasons to be optimistic about the mall's future, chief among them news that the largest tenant, Best Buy, renewed its lease. Repairs are underway for the interior and exterior of the building, according to the release, landscaping enhancements have started and signage problems are being evaluated. The mall also updated their website and social media pages.
In addition to Best Buy, the mall features Big Lots, DSW, TJ Maxx and World Gym, in addition to a number of smaller tenants, some of which are local businesses. KPP is looking for more merchants, they said.