Recently Advanced Farm Bill Could Have Wide-reaching Impact on Produce & Floral Industries
The national conversation surrounding the 2018 Farm Bill, advanced in the Senate on June 28th by an 86-11 vote, will likely revolve around the highly political topics as the bill continues through the legislative process. Topics such as SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which could see a congressional war over work requirements to receive […]
FDA Provides an Update on the new Produce Safety Rule
As the full, national rollout of the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA)—a sweeping reform of food safety laws designed to better prevent issues as opposed to simply responding to them—continues, some of the larger regulatory pieces are taking their time in being implemented. One of these pieces, and arguably one of the most impactful […]
2018 E. Coli Outbreak can be Learning Opportunity for Leafy Greens Industry
The worst E. Coli outbreak in over a decade has affected a widespread swathe of the country—reaching as far as Alaska—but seems to have originated from just one location: Yuma County in southwest Arizona. According to public health officials with the FDA, the outbreak has sickened 197 people in 35 states, with five tragically having […]
As Companies Continue to Alter Their Processes to Adhere to FSMA, Some Remain Skeptics
Originally passed in 2010, it took the next six years to develop the full breadth of the act. The FSMA was legislation driven by the Food & Drug Administration with the goal of having companies be better equipped to prevent food-borne illness as opposed to just reacting to contamination. On January 26, 2018, the industry […]
5 Quick Food Safety Tips for Commercial Kitchens
Refrigeration is essential for food safety in commercial kitchens where large quantities of perishable food is stored, such as in cafeterias and restaurants. The FDA and USDA set strict guidelines, but a few simple steps can help keep commercial kitchens organized and prevent waste. 1. Always use old stock first. it’s called the first in, […]
4 Reasons to Think About Your HVACR System More Seriously
Commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment is one of those behind-the-scenes essentials that most owner-operators depend on but don’t think much about. Walk-in coolers and freezers can be large, intimidating behemoths that might account for the largest portion of a facility’s electricity consumption.Compressors, evaporator fans, and defrost heaters require a certain level of technical know-how to […]
4 “Check Engine” Warnings for Your HVACR System
As a company, we’ve observed and analyzed roughly 40,000 refrigeration systems over the past 20 years. In that time, we’ve seen the same pain points, and have heard the same complaints over and over. And each comes from one starting point: a lack of awareness by our customers about their equipment’s operation. This could mean […]
3 Things to Consider in New Construction of Cold Storage Facilities
For processors, distributors, wholesalers, and suppliers, there is a dizzying amount of choices for the construction of a new cold storage facility. But they shouldn’t necessarily pick the first, or the cheapest, option they have. Below, according to an article in the Produce Processing publication, are three things that should be considered before anything is built. Research. It’s […]
3 Solenoid Valve Issues That Can Derail Your HVACR’s Energy Efficiency
When it comes to the relationship between good performance, energy usage, and commercial/industrial refrigeration, there are many components we need to be cognizant of to ensure harmonious operation. In many cases, we know if and when the refrigeration system is running but do we know how well it’s running? Like with our post about compressor short cycling, today’s topic focuses on an […]
Is HVAC/Refrigeration Automation the Next Big Thing for IoT?
As we throttle toward the end of this decade and into the future, the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to become more and more ubiquitous in our daily lives. On smaller scales, we see it in our homes with products that now merge thermostats with home security, or allow us to order items from Amazon […]