MONTEREY, CA - With the PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo in Monterey just around the corner, AndNowUKnow has you covered for the greatest places to go and things to do in this beautiful beach destination. Whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor fun, a taste of the nightlife or just a nice place to unwind, there is something for everyone. Check out our top 5 things to do in Monterey.
1) 17 Mile Drive, 17 Mile Dr Pacific Grove, CA 93950
This scenic drive boasts amazing views of the dramatic Pacific coastline and famous coastal landmarks like Spanish Bay, Cypress Point Lookout and Carmel Bay. While you're there, make sure to stop at The Lone Cypress, one of California’s best-known landmarks. The drive runs through Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach.
2) The Outdoor Terrace at The Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
For a truly memorable experience while visiting Monterey, check out the outdoor terrace at The Inn at Spanish Bay. Relax by the warm fire pits with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while enjoying the signature sounds of the famous bagpiper that plays every evening as he follows the Scottish tradition of putting the golf course to sleep.
3) Sade’s Cocktails, Lincoln 3SE Ocean Ave, Carmel, CA 93921
For a fun night out, we highly recommend Sade’s Cocktails in Carmel. With no restaurant attached, this is Carmel’s only bar. What Sade’s lacks in square footage, it more than makes up for in good drinks and fun atmosphere. With a closing time of 2am, this bar is great for late night fun.
4) The Carmel Beach and Walkway, Ocean Ave and Scenic Rd, Carmel, CA 93921
The pristine white sandy beach at Carmel is a great place for a picnic, to fly a kite or catch the waves. While there, make sure to take a trip down the Scenic Road Walkway where you can walk between classic houses on one side and the beach and Carmel Bay on the other. There are plenty of benches along the way for you to relax and soak in the beautiful views.
5) Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
Located right at the edge of the ocean, the Monterey Bay Aquarium offers a window to the marine world and is a great place to bring your family. While it is home to sharks, jellies, and thousands of other marine animals and plants, the southern sea otters, penguins, and giant octopuses garner the most attention. This Monterey staple is one you shouldn’t miss.
IDAHO FALLS, ID – Sunrain Varieties LLC has completed a series of capital improvements in its Idaho Falls facilities.
Sunrain added two new greenhouses plus a 25,000 cwt. storage unit. These additions will increase mini tuber production by nearly 40%, according to a press release.
The company also added additional office space and on-site testing equipment. Its existing on-site farm was also upgraded by adding a state of the art irrigation system to the 140-acre plot.
The Idaho Falls facility is the centerpiece of Sunrain’s nationwide trial program that now spans 12 different states. In the program, the team of field agronomists makes sure that it is bringing in the best product to market by growing its own tissue cultures, plantlets and mini tubers in highly controlled environments.
Sunrain will hold a new product showcase and open house at the new facility on August 13th, 2014. If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact Rainey Carraballo at (208) 552-3096 ext. 1007 or e-mail [email protected].
ESSEN, GERMANY - News of the death of Aldi co-founder Karl Albrecht has sent shockwaves through the retail industry, as industry leaders mourn the passing of the man who built his mother's corner grocery store into a 5,000 chain global powerhouse.
In its tribute to him, Bloomberg painted the picture of a humble man who valued his privacy as highly as he valued the quality of the product he served on his stores' shelves.
‘‘Karl Albrecht preferred to avoid public attention and rejected any honors awarded to him, always pointing toward the successes achieved by his employees,’’ said Sarah Twyman, an Aldi spokeswoman. “He had a strong belief that everyone should be able to consume high-quality food and beverages at the lowest possible prices. He devoted his life to making this belief a reality.”
Albrecht's rise to global prominence was a long one filled with many hurdles he had to overcome along the way. Always an entrepreneur, the New York Times notes how a young Albrecht would walk with his brother, Theo Albrecht, through the streets of his boyhood home in Essen, Germany's Schonnebeck neighborhood selling fresh buns to help his family. The two brothers were drafted into the German army during WWII during which time Karl was captured by Russian troops on the Eastern front and held as a POW till the end of the war. When he and his brother returned from the war, they found that their mother's store had been miraculously spared from the Allied bombing raids. Together they decided to reopen it for business, and the rest they say is history.
Those who knew him best reflected on how the Aldi chain of stores were a reflection of the man who built them: simple, consumer-focused, and always, always growing. Unlike traditional retailers which often offer as many as 45,000 unique products, Aldi locations focused on at most 2,000, all packaged and displayed so as to make it possible to offer as low a price point as possible.
“Our only consideration when we are working out a product’s price is how cheaply we can sell it,” Karl Albrecht famously said.
Albrecht leaves behind a son, daughter, loving family, and a retail empire which will continue to shape the course of the industry for years to come. He will be missed.
AndNowUKnow would like to offer its heartfelt condolences to the Albrecht family for their terrible loss.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Procacci Brothers Sales Corporation turned the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market into a classroom last Friday, giving 24 university students from Cameroon a tour of its facilities and an insider's perspective of its produce operation. These students got the opportunity to tour the fully-refrigerated wholesale produce terminal, seeing its state-of-the-art food storage facilities and supply chain operation first hand.
“Every day here at Procacci Brothers we look for ways to more efficiently deliver great tasting food products to our customers,” said Executive Vice President George Binck. “It was a wonderful opportunity to share some of those learnings with our guests from Cameroon. There’s really no better place than the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market to observe the forefront of innovation and quality control in the US Produce Industry. Every farming operation, let alone every country, faces different challenges, but we know that they’re going to take some of the information that we shared with them and do great things for their country.”
The tour was a part of an educational exchange program between Saint Joseph's University and Cameroon’s National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM. Because agriculture employs over 70% of Cameroon’s working population and accounts for 42% of the country's GDP, the Cameroonian government considers the education of their next generation of agricultural leaders a top priority.
“Upon successful completion of the study tour and course, the Cameroonian students will have earned four credits toward an Advanced Graduate Certificate,” describes Dr. Stephen Porth, Associate Dean of the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University. “They will have the option to further their education at Saint Joseph's University by earning a Master’s of Business Administration.”
According to a press release, the 24 graduate students have a diverse educational background in fields such as as agriculture, law, accounting, economics, hospital administration and civil administration. As part of their educational program with Saint Joseph's they will be touring a variety of regionally located businesses over their 12-day stay in Philadelphia.
SALINAS, CA – Mann Packing is launching Arcadian Harvest Emerald® and Kalettes™ at the PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo this year in Monterey, CA. The company will be featuring its Salad Solutions program as well.
The Arcadian Harvest Emerald® is the first all green lettuce salad blend since chopped Romaine, according to a press release. It features a blend of two green leaves with a sweet crisp bite. Gina Nucci, Mann’s Director of Healthy Culinary Innovation, said that it is ideal for upscale salads.
“Our blends are comprised of carefully selected varieties, cut just once in the field, washed and packaged, to provide an array of lettuces that look and taste fresh from the garden,” Nucci said.
Mann’s will also be introducing Kalettes™ brand Kale sprouts. They are a new hybrid vegetable, a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts. They will be offered in a 2.5 pound size bag for foodservice.
Additionally, Mann’s will serve samples of Arcadian Harvest Emerald Ceasar spring rolls, a recipe created by Chef Lindsey Hull, according to a press release.
These items will all be on display at the PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo on Sunday, July 27 in Booth #139.
SALINAS, CA – Taylor Farms and Green Giant™ are partnering together to help consumers save big when they purchase select Green Giant Fresh cut value-added vegetable products this summer. As part of their national sales promotion, these produce giants will be issuing $0.55 Instant Redeemable Coupons for Green Giant's Broccoli Florets, Broccoli & Cauliflower Medley, Vegetable Medley, Stir Fry Blend, Broccoli Slaw, and Sugar Snap Peas lines of vegetables.
In addition, when shopping at participating retailers, customers will have the opportunity to scan QR codes on Green Giant produce displays to enter its Fresh National Sweepstakes. Interested participants also have the option of entering the sweepstakes from their home computers at Green Giant's website here.
“Green Giant™ Fresh is dedicated to providing healthy, quality products to customers each and every day at an exceptional value. With the launch of our coast to coast sweepstakes with Taylor Farms, we are giving American families a fun way to connect to our fresh products,” said Jennifer Fancher, Green Giant's Director of Marketing. "By combining the opportunity to win prizes along with building awareness around the Box Tops for Education™ program, we are encouraging healthy summer eating habits as well as creating a way for Moms with school aged children to capitalize on a product with Box Tops for Education™ being included in the offer."
The sweepstakes will extend through August 16th, 2014, after which winners will be notified on August 25th, 2014. The grandprize for the sweepstakes is a $250 gift card to the shopper's local grocery store.
The Instant Redeemable Coupon deal will last until August 1st, 2014.
According to a press release, the two companies plan on promoting their summer deals through social media pushes and email blasts throughout the summer.
MONTEREY, CA – With citrus on the rise in restaurants, Sunkist Growers plans on making a splash at this week’s PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo with cocktails and mock-tails that showcase fresh produce.
Sunkist will have over 40 varieties of fresh citrus on display this weekend. The company will offer samples of fresh mixology recipes that show off trending global influences and Meyer lemons, according to a press release.
“Lemon demand is stronger than ever, and specialty varieties like the Meyer lemon provide new, exciting flavors that consumers are embracing on items across the menu,” said Sunkist Advertising and Public Relations Manager, Joan Wickham. “At this year’s PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo, we are pleased to be sharing two fresh mixology recipes that highlight the versatility of Meyer lemons to trade.”
Sunkist Chef Robert Danhi will be at the Sunkist booth offering fresh cocktails and mock-tails with a Southeast Asian flair. The two offered drinks will be a Sunkist Meyer Lemon-Rose Summer Splash cocktail and a non-alcoholic Sunkist Lemonade with Chinese Dates and Star Anise.
Sunkist will also feature Sunkist Family Stories, a new multimedia storytelling project that tells the stories of the families that have made up the 120-year old cooperative.
“Diners are increasingly aware of and interested in the stories behind their food,” added Wickham. “As a 120-year old cooperative with a rich history in California and Arizona, Sunkist has many powerful narratives that speak to who we are as a company and supplier – and we are excited to share those stories with the foodservice trade with our Sunkist Family Stories program.”
Make sure to stop by Sunkist this weekend at booth 140 this weekend.
NORTH CAROLINA - R.J. Reynolds, the North Carolina-based tobacco company, was slapped with a record-breaking $23 billion verdict after a Florida jury found that the company was responsible for neglecting to inform the plaintiff’s now-deceased husband that smoking causes lung cancer and about the highly addictive properties of nicotine. Cynthia Robinson, the plaintiff in the suit, will be awarded more than $16 million in compensatory damages and $23 billion in punitive damages.
Christopher Chestnut, one of the attorneys representing Robinson, said, “The jury wanted to send a statement that tobacco cannot continue to lie to the American people and the American government about the addictiveness of and the deadly chemicals in their cigarettes.”
What does this astonishing settlement say about where a company’s social concern should lie – is it just about making a profit, or ensuring that its marketing isn’t misleading? What’s stopping juries from hitting companies with $30 or even $40 billion in damages, if their only objective is to send a message? Keep in mind that this substantial amount is being awarded to an individual.
Thanks to a 2006 ruling, it’s easier than ever for individuals to sue tobacco companies. Eight years ago, the Florida Supreme Court overturned a class action verdict after the jury in the Engle v. Liggett Group suit awarded damages of more than $145 billion to a group of people with smoking-related diseases and family members of deceased smokers, according to USA Today. Though the verdict was overturned, the state Supreme Court said that individual plaintiffs could file suits against tobacco companies using the jury’s unprecedented findings on the addictive, sometimes fatal characteristics of cigarettes. Lawsuits adding up to tens of millions of dollars in punitive damages against other tobacco companies soon followed the original class action lawsuit – all of which have been upheld by appeals courts, according to The Associated Press.
Robinson’s husband, Michael Johnson Sr., a longtime smoker, contracted and later died of lung cancer in 1996. Chestnut claimed that R.J. Reynolds “knew its product was addictive, but it didn’t market it correctly. The company lied and marked cigarettes as safe, yet they contained countless harmful chemicals.”
R.J. Reynolds has vowed to fight the verdict, claiming it “goes far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness, and is completely inconsistent with the evidence presented,” said J. Jeffery Raborn, company vice president and assistant general counsel. He added that the damages were “grossly excessive and impermissible under state and constitutional law.”
Since 1998, R.J. Reynolds, along with three other large tobacco companies in the U.S., have agreed to change their marketing practices to better inform consumers about the health risks of using their products and to compensate states for medical expenses of smoking-related illnesses, according to International Business Times.
Despite such efforts, Vince Willmore, spokesman for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, says the liability risk is still “far greater than Wall Street analysts would lead investors [to] believe.”
Whether or not this settlement establishes a legal precedent, what will this case say about a corporation’s liability? Consider the 79 lawsuits GM is facing for its faulty ignition switches – those suits seek up to $10 billion in damages. Can we expect to see more individuals tackle these mega companies in the future?
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more comments and opinions.
IRWINDALE, CA – Ready Pac Foods is expanding its fresh-cut solutions portfolio with Ready Pac® Baby Kale European Salad Blend.
“The Baby Kale European Salad Blend is a perfect fit for Ready Pac consumers who are ready to ‘up their game’ with superfoods, but need a little help navigating their options,” says Tristan Simpson, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Ready Pac.
Kale has made its way from unknown to mainstream through versatility and incorporation into everyday meal recipes. It is up 250% in dollar sales since last year, according to a press release. The International Dairy, Deli & Bakery Association’s 2013 issue of ‘What’s In Store’ states that 78% of consumers say nutrient-dense foods like kale have meaningful impact on health.
Simpson continued, “At Ready Pac, we view Kale the same way as we view our brand; complex and deeply nutritious…yet incredibly adaptable. We’re excited to see this product pique the interest of curious, health-driven consumers everywhere!”
The Baby Kale European Salad is available at Albertsons.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Brett Sill founded Morning Star Fresh Food Ministry in September 2013 with a simple cause in mind: bring fresh, local food to hungry Bakersfield families. While the reach of Morning Star has since expanded, its focus has not changed.
“I was crushed to find out our great city ranked #1 for food hardship in the nation! That means we have more families struggling to put food on the table than anywhere else,” Brett shares with Morning Star supporters on his website. “We are a non-profit, faith-based organization committed to feeding hungry children and families here in our very own community. These families range anywhere from fathers and mothers struggling to find work, working households fighting to make ends meet…to the disabled and the elderly.”
The mission of Morning Star is to “fight hunger and feed souls.” With $35 per month donations from countless supporters, Morning Star is able to package and deliver hundreds of family food boxes, each containing fresh meat and produce from local butchers and farms. Its list of suppliers has grown impressively since its founding, now including Country Sweet, Kirschenman Enterprises, Grimmway Farms, Bolthouse Farms, Pandol Brothers, King Pack, Big L Packers, Steve Co, Giumarra, Sunview Marketing, and John’s Quality Meats.
Those interested in contributing themselves can make a donation on Morning Star's website here.
Brett stresses that Morning Star does not just deliver food however. As a faith-based organization, Morning Star volunteers pray with the families receiving the food boxes and strive to use their faith to uplift their community.
Brett shares that his ultimate goal for Morning Star is to one day feed 1,000 Bakersfield families in need every month. From the looks of it, they're well on their way.