The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) and their partners at Riskpulse are hosting daily “Storm Mode” briefings this week led by their Chief Meteorologist, Jon Davis, and Chief Science Officer, Mark Russo. They are sharing their analysis regarding projected impacts on business operations and supply chains. These calls are at 10:00 AM Eastern Daily. Registration is available by clicking here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2419944137948722443.

In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is hosting Cross Sector Business and Infrastructure Calls for Tropical Storms Laura and Marco. The frequency of these calls will be daily from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm EST, for the remainder of this week. The next calls will take place on August 26, August 27 and August 28. The conference dial-in and pin access code is noted below; the line will be open 10 minutes prior to the call:

Participant Dial-In:  800-857-6546

Participant PIN: 3085444

The NBEOC Dashboard is also available at https://fema.connectsolutions.com/nbeoc

Beginning September 15, 2020, Food Shippers of America will be opening registration for its 66th Annual Conference to be held February 28 - March 2, 2021 at the JW Marriott in Palm Desert, California

A staggered voucher invitation release schedule, starting with Shippers/Receivers, will be used to facilitate a metered flow of registrations for the Food Shippers team to process.

Please note that attendance will initially be limited (anticipating 800-900 attendees) due to State of California COVID-19 related requirements, and each category of attendee will be proportionally capped. As we get closer to the actual conference date, and if the State relaxes its COVID-19 restrictions, we will add additional registration openings for each attendee type.

Please contact Paul Newbourne, Executive Director, if you have any questions at ExecutiveDirector@FoodShippersofAmerica.org or 847-302-1496.

Food Shippers of America has implemented the following change to its membership dues structure effective July 1, 2020.

Membership in the Food Shippers of America trade association is limited to individuals engaged in the business of shipping or receiving food and related productions in the Food and Beverage industry where an individual is someone who conducts business on behalf of a company who has, or maintains, physical ownership of these products within the supply chain.

Check out our LinkedIn page for up-to-date conference schedules and event updates, the latest in food and beverage industry news, and a host of other great information! Click below for immediate access to our page.

Geneva, Illinois – July 23, 2020. The Food Shippers of America trade association recently provided $60,000 in financial aid to several key U.S.-based relief organizations. The following organizations were the recipients of these contributions:

Our Summer 2020 issue of Food Shippers of America magazine is also available in digital format, with a host of articles featuring industry thought leaders on topics ranging from TMS implementation and cost saving to innovative transformations and strategic planning within the supply chain. In addition, Transport Futures Noël Perry looks at the U.S. economic forecast in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click here for immediate access. 

Previous issues of Food Shippers of America may be found in our association website archives, or by clicking here.

Food Shippers of America is looking for FSA Member Companies to profile in upcoming issues of the bi-annual Food Shippers of America magazine.

Tell us what your New Normal looks like. Perhaps how your company jump-started its own recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, or the best practices your team has developed to ensure continued resiliency and adaptability moving forward. We offer a unique opportunity for FSA Member Companies to share with our readers their company's goals and successes, visions and innovations. 

If you would like your FSA Member Company profile to appear in our print and digital publications, please contact Food Shippers at media_advisor@foodshippersofamerica.org.

Who Is Eligible for FSA Membership?

Thank you to all our members for your continued support. 

Food Business News
Seattle-based Darigold, Inc. announced new senior management and other c-suite additions as well as additional warehousing closer to Seattle and Tacoma ports and a new ingredient facility to be announced in 2021.

Penguin Random House, the world’s largest publisher of general-interest paperback books, has completed the WERC Facility Assessment & Certification program and received the WERC Best Practices Certification.

The company’s Crawfordsville, IN distribution center completed the Warehousing Education and Research Council’s Facility Assessment & Certification Program this past spring, which confirms that the warehouse facility meets or exceeds established industry standards for operation.

Transport Topics
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended its emergency declaration Hours-of-Service rules to September 14 for motor carriers hauling coronavirus-related relief efforts.

Progressive Grocer
In the push to produce foods to feed a burgeoning planet in a healthy and sustainable way, Consumer Package Goods companies are looking to gene-editing plants in a way that happens naturally. Enter Durham, North Carolina-based Pairwise, which has manipulated berries, stone fruits and leafy greens to remove pits, seeds and bitter or pungent flavorings to make them more enticing.

FreightWaves
Noted research firm Tracxn, has named FreightWaves to the "Emerging Startups of Data-as-a-Service" (DaaS) category of its Emerging Awards series, dubbing the data forum and 10 other companies from around the world as "soonicorns" (Soon to be a Unicorns).

Progressive Railroading
With the installation of a mile of slow-speed track in the Chicago terminal, Amtrak announced  earlier this month that it had completed implementing Positive Train Control (PTC) on all Amtrak-owned or controlled track.

Supply Chain Dive
In response to an increase in demand for cold storage, grocery e-commerce, and changing consumer food trends, Lineage Logistics has acquired an additional 10 cold storage facilities with a combined 153 million cubic feet of capacity spanning 24 locations across the U.S.

JOC
A scarcity of warehouse workers, mostly in facilities that unload import containers before smaller shipments are sent onward, is causing a rash of containers to pile up at U.S. ports.

For a free trial offer, or to subscribe to the Journal of Commerce, please click here.

Supermarket News
A two-year alliance has been signed between the North American Meat Institute and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to address issues related to Meat Institute members, shareholders, and the general public to protect workers and address challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

By sharing tools & resources around the world – Canada, Mexico, and countries in S. America and Asia – SmartWay is leading the way in global collaboration. Find resources here: www.epa.gov/smartway/modeling-global-programs-after-smartway

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is making its monthly magazine, 3PL Perspectives, available to all FSA members and suppliers. Please click here for a view of TIA's July issue. 

For more information about any articles appearing in 3PL Perspectives, contact Chris Burroughs at burroughs@tianet.org

Food Logistics
In a report released last week, Food Logistics' TABS Analytic Annual Food and Beverage Consumables Study found that online grocery transactions had risen only 15% YoY for large retailers like Amazon and Walmart, while smaller e-commerce retailers like Fresh Direct and PeaPod found a surge in new customers and a 140% increase in transactions.

JOC
LTL carriers reported higher volumes in July and early August, mostly due to restocking and burgeoning online sales. The volume is so high, some carriers are using pricing to leverage the type and amount of freight being excepted.

For a free trial offer, or to subscribe to the Journal of Commerce, please click here.

FreightWaves
As part of its on-going sustainability initiative, Anheuser-Busch is converting nearly 200 of its trucks—about 30% of its entire fleet—to renewable natural gas (RNG) or biomethane fuels. This follows an order for 800 hydrogen fuel-cell trucks from Nikola Motors and 40 electric Class 8 from Tesla Motor.