Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Grand Prize Winners Announced in Truckload Carriers Association/Overdrive Magazine/TruckersNews.com Driver of the Year Contests

Owner-Operator of the Year: Gary Buchs, who is leased to Landstar System, Inc. and Company Driver of the Year: Murray Manuliak of Bison Transport win prestigious contest NASHVILLE, Tenn. – At the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) annual awards banquet tonight, the organization and its partners Overdrive Magazine and TruckersNews.com, announced the winners of the 2016 Driver of the Year Contests. The Owner Operator of the Year is Gary Buchs of Colfax, Illinois, who is leased to Landstar System, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida. The Company Driver of the Year is Murray Manuliak of Brandon, Manitoba, who drives for Bison Transport of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Both drivers received a $25,000 cash prize for their achievements. To view photos from the event, click here. The prestigious annual contests, sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Cummins Inc. of Columbus, Indiana, recognize the top owner operators and company drivers in the U.S. and Canada who provide reliable and safe truck transportation in moving the nation's goods. The overall winners are selected from the finalists based on safe driving, efforts to enhance the public image of the trucking industry, and positive contributions to the winners’ local communities. For the owner operator candidates, business-owner skills are also judged. Russell Stubbs, TCA’s 2016-17 Chairman, said, “The lifeblood of the trucking industry is its drivers. They work tirelessly day in and day out, but often only get noticed when something goes wrong. In recognizing safe, dedicated drivers like Murray and Gary, we hope to shine a light on the great things our drivers do every single mile.” Manuliak has been a professional truck driver for 25 years, accruing over 3.1 million consecutive accident-free miles. He serves as an in-cab instructor in Bison’s Driver Finishing Program, which has allowed him to share his experience with the next generation of truck drivers. “Murray is well-spoken and has a strong voice within our organization, making sure our business is a leader in safety,” said Rob Penner, president and CEO of Bison Transport. “He is a role model for all professional drivers to follow.” Manuliak has also had success in truck driving competitions. In his first year driving in the Provincial Truck Driving Championships, he won Rookie of the Year honors and helped Bison to win Team of the Year, and he has earned 1st place in the Super B category as well as represented Team Manitoba in the National Truck Driving Championship, where he earned 3rd place. Gary Buchs, the Owner Operator of the Year winner, has driven 2.3 million consecutive accident-free miles over the last 27 years, earning him numerous awards including Landstar’s 10-year Safe Driving Award, 10 Landstar Star of Quality Awards, and the 2015 TravelCenters of America Citizen Driver Award. “Gary’s commitment to the safety and education of others speaks to his ability to represent our industry in a positive light,” said Jim Gattoni, president and CEO of Landstar. “He would make an outstanding ambassador to the public, projecting an image that is worthy of the industry’s safe, honorable, customer-driven professionals who deliver the goods that touch our lives every day.” In addition to his work behind the wheel, Buchs dedicates his time to helping others and staying active. He spends at least one week per year assisting victims of major wind or flood damage, and donates produce from his farmstead to local food pantries. Buchs is an avid runner who completed the Chicago Marathon in 2015. He attributes his good health to maintaining a balanced life. “When I make balance a priority, when I get home, I can park the truck and fully turn my mind and body to those other important aspects of my life,” he said. Brad Holthaus, vice president of trucking media sales at Randall-Reilly, the company that produces Overdrive Magazine and TruckersNews.com, said, “Gary and Murray represent professional truck drivers who are skilled at moving an 18-wheeler from point A to point B—their safety records are in the top 2% of all truck drivers—but beyond their driving skills, they represent kind, caring citizens who are dedicated to helping others. As deft as they are at driving, they are even better men.” Each of the runner-ups in both categories received checks for $2,500: Philip Keith of Long Beach, Mississippi, who is leased to WEL Companies, Inc. of De Pere, Wisconsin; Kevin Kocmich of Litchfield, Minnesota, who is leased to Diamond Transportation System, Inc. of Racine, Wisconsin; David McGowan of Marinette, Wisconsin, who drives for WEL Companies; and William Poteet of Lakeland, Florida, who drives for Saddle Creek Transportation, Inc. of Lakeland, Florida. For further information on the competition, please visit www.truckload.org/Driver-of-the-Year and follow TCA on Facebook—www.truckload.org/Facebook—and Twitter—www.truckload.org/Twitter. You can also learn about this year’s Annual Convention on both social media sites with the hashtag #2017TCA.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Waffle day celebrated

To conduct the NationalToday.com International Waffle Day Survey, the researchers at National Today [www.nationaltoday.com]—America's favorite online destination to commemorate quirky and fun holidays—asked 1,000 Americans about their favorite breakfast foods. *** NATIONALTODAY.COM INTERNATIONAL WAFFLE DAY SURVEY ***(survey of 1,000 Americans, conducted on March 20, 2017) >> THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS LOVE MAPLE SYRUP ON THEIR WAFFLES 62% of Americans say that maple syrup is their favorite waffle topping. That's more than 6x the second-place winner—butter, which is the favorite waffle topping of just 10% of Americans. >> BUT GIVEN THE CHOICE, MOST AMERICANS WILL TAKE BUTTER, TOO Although most Americans would choose maple syrup over butter if they were forced to choose only one topping, 65% of Americans love butter on their waffles. The good news? Most of us don't have to choose—we can have both. >> RANKING OF THE TOP 10 WAFFLE TOPPINGS #1: Maple Syrup (62%) #2: Butter (10%) #3: Fresh Fruit (8%) #4: Peanut butter (4%) #5: Fruit sauce (4%) #6: Nutella (4%) #7: Chocolate syrup (3%) #8: Honey (2%) #9: Jelly/jam (2%) #10: Apple butter (2%) To learn more about International Waffle Day, you can visit [http://nationaltoday.com/world/international-waffle-day]. While there, you can also read about other fun holidays, including National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day [http://nationaltoday.com/us/national-peanut-butter-jelly-day/]and National Beer Day [http://nationaltoday.com/us/national-beer-day/].

Friday, March 10, 2017

Reese’s Crunchy Cookie Cup to launch

HERSHEY, Pa., March 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After rumors swirled on social media last week, Reese’s brand confirmed today that it is launching a new product – Reese’s Crunchy Cookie Cup. It’s a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup stuffed with crunchy, chocolate cookie bits. The confirmation brings an end to the online #Cupspiracy that started two weeks earlier, driving excitement and anticipation for the newest item. “You could say this combination is ‘cuptivating,’” said Ryan Riess, Senior Brand Manager, Reese’s Brand. “Reese’s fanatics are one-of-a-kind. They have a love and devotion to the brand that is unlike anything I have ever seen, and have been buzzing at the potential thought of a new innovation from the brand. We’re excited to finally let the secret out of the bag and end the #Cupspiracy - announcing the new Reese’s Crunchy Cookie Cup. You could say we crushed it!” The new product will be available on shelves nationwide starting in May in both standard two-cup size 1.4-oz. (SRP $1.09) and king two-cup Big Cup size 2.68-oz. (SRP $1.79). • Official Product Name: Reese’s Crunchy Cookie Cup • Size: Standard two-cup size 1.4-oz. (SRP $1.09), and in king two-cup Big Cup size 2.68-oz. (SRP $1.79). • Availability: The product will be available on shelves nationwide starting in May • Image: https://share.agencyroad.com/message/nFROJGx4prTRKAGJsITGmU (Expires March 18)

McAlister's celebrating like the Irish

McAlister’s is celebrating like the Irish with two fun and festive offerings: • Wear Green, Get Green – Participating McAlister’s locations are offering free Green Tea to all guests wearing green on March 17 • Reuben Spud – The Reuben Spud is an oven-baked spud topped with corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island and Swiss. Your own Pot(ato) of gold! The limited time only, Irish-inspired Reuben Spud can be found at participating McAlister’s locations from March 13-17

DeLauro Calls for Single Food Safety Agency after Connecticut Resident Dies from Listeria-Contaminated Cheese

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding news that a Connecticut resident has died in connection with a multi-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes tied to cheese. The Listeria outbreak comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is also investigating a nationwide outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7, more commonly known as E. coli. “News that a Connecticut resident has died and more people across the country have become sick after consuming Listeria-contaminated cheese is both tragic and troubling. More than 100 years after we enacted the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and more than 6 years after we enacted the Food Safety Modernization Act, Americans should not be dying from the food they eat. President Trump should take outbreaks of foodborne illnesses seriously and should immediately fill the vacancies at the FDA, as well as rescind the federal hiring freeze. When American lives are at stake, we cannot afford any lapses in food safety oversight. “Congress should also enact the Safe Food Act, which I plan to reintroduce in the coming months, in order to streamline inspections, enforcement, and labeling into a single food safety agency. Through this legislation, we can enable consumers, like those affected by the current cheese and SoyNut Butter outbreaks, to turn to a single point of contact when they are impacted by foodborne illnesses. A single agency could also enhance the food safety efforts of food companies by helping them identify potential issues sooner and avoid major problems later.”