North Dakota
It takes a lot to become a legend. It takes a personality, a vision, a lifetime of heroic
deeds and great accomplishments that transcend time. North Dakota is no stranger to
legends. The list of trailblazers and pioneers who have left their mark on this state is as long and diverse as anywhere: Custer, Sitting Bull and Theodore Roosevelt. Lewis
and Clark, and their guide, Sakakawea, are immortalized at the Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan near Washburn.
General George Armstrong Custer commanded Fort Abraham Lincoln near present-day Mandan. From there, he took the 7th Cavalry west to Montana for a show down with chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse in 1876. Indian tribes celebrate their heritage each September in Bismarck with the United Tribes International Powwow. The celebration features drummers and dancers from around the world. Theodore Roosevelt credited his stay in North Dakota with helping him become the 26th president. Roosevelt’s life is immortalized in the two units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, connected by the 145-milelong Maah Daah Hey Trail. The North Dakota Heritage Center on the Capitol Grounds in Bismarck takes visitors from the first settlers to present day, and we still celebrate our diverse cultures with events like Norsk Hostfest at Minot.
Source: Visit USA
United Natural Foods extends distribution partnership with Whole Foods Market
United Natural Foods has extended its primary wholesale grocery distribution relationship with Whole Foods Market by entering into a new primary distribution agreement.
The term of the primary distribution agreement between the parties now runs until September 25, 2025, compared to the prior agreement which was set to expire in September, 2020.
United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes more than 85,000 products to more than 40,000 customer locations throughout the United States and Canada. The Company serves a wide variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Forbes Magazine in 2014 as one of “America’s Best Managed Companies,” ranked by Fortune in 2012 as one of its “Most Admired American Companies,” and chosen by Food Logistics Magazine as one of its 2013 Top 20 Green Providers.
Article published in Company’s Press Release on Nov 3, 2015
Cost Plus World Market to open in Houston Heights, Texas
Cost Plus World Market to open its store in Houston Heights, Texas. This is the latest store for the specialty retailer in the Houston market.
The new store is located in Yale Street Market at 195 Yale Street, and will have all the great merchandise for which World Market® is known.
The new Cost Plus World Market store opens just in time for the holidays to take care of one’s home entertaining needs, starting with Thanksgiving cooking essentials, seasonal imported foods and beverages available. And, for those getting a head start on Christmas, the store offers unique home décor, gift giving ideas, tabletop serving pieces, kitchen bakeware, and more, all at affordable prices.
To start the Houston Heights store’s grand opening celebrations, a ribbon cutting with city officials and members of the local chamber of commerce on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 9:00 am officially marks the opening of the store. The first 100 shoppers through the door from Thursday, November 19 through Sunday, November 22, 2015, will receive a free reusable World Market tote bag and can enjoy live entertainment, food and beverage sampling and more throughout the weekend. In addition, the store will host a twice-daily raffle prize of a $250 World Market gift card throughout the grand opening weekend.
Article published in Retail Business Review on Nov 12, 2015
Walmart removes “Made in USA” label from online products
Walmart has removed “Made in USA” labelling from its ecommerce site after Federal Trade Commission probe revealed that the products advertised as manufactured in the US were actually not made in the country.
The FTC did not go ahead with the charges on Walmart as the latter had dropped the “Made in USA” tags from its products on the website.
The FTC had taken up a probe voluntarily in order to prevent consumers from being deceived into believing that the products carrying “Made in USA” label on its website were actually made in the US, reported The Financial Times.
After coming under heavy fire over its business practices, two years ago Walmart had pledged to buy $250bn of US-made products over the next decade in an effort to improve its reputation, reported Fortune.
The FTC investigation on Wamart’s product labeling began in June after it received a tip that the more than 100 products had carried false “Made in USA” label, which misled consumers.
According to the regulator, some of the products did not provide information about product origins and had ambiguous warnings, The Financial Times reported.
FTC was able to strengthen its probe after it found a sandwich bag that was made in Thailand and a toy car that was assembled in the US with a few imported parts from China.
However, FTC has acknowledged the steps taken by Walmart as remedial measures. These measures comprised removal of the “Made in USA” label from all its products online and US-origin claims in product descriptions online, and introduction of steps to remove US-origin claims from advertising materials, The Financial Times reported.
Article published in Retail Business Review on Nov, 2015
Agrotechnology Committee
Agrotechnology Committee
Mission Statement
To act as a catalyst among producers, industry and government; to help form a national strategy and facilitate reforms across the agro-industry value chain; to enhance competitiveness and to develop a framework for local products to penetrate world markets, especially the U.S. market.
Key Issues
Economic development and increased employment through a stronger agrofood sector.
Enhanced access of local agrofood products to world markets.
Know-how transfer to ensure local producers are kept abreast of developments in the sector.
Rational allocation of resources to ensure optimal effectiveness in production and marketing of products.
Communication among stakeholders to ensure positions are part of the public dialogue.
Key Messages
Greece must design and implement a coherent and up-to-date national strategy for promoting its food products internationally.
Greece can improve the effectiveness of the sector through a more efficient allocation of resources and EU grants.
Greece can reap further benefits from synergies between the agrofood sector and other industries, esp. tourism.
Key Events
Agrotechnology Conference | An annual event held at the American Farm School in Thessaloniki that provides a forum for high level discussion among key stakeholders. In 2015, the 4th Conference was held, with more than 200 delegates,.
Meetings throughout the year with officials to discuss current issues, submit proposals and advocate on behalf of the agrofood industry.
Committee Members
Argiriou Notis, Researcher, THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY – HELLAS
Bezergiannis Stella, Principal Researcher, THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY – HELLAS
Chriss Dimitrios, Chief Operating Officer, TUVUNU S.A.
Constantinos Constantinidis, Managing Director, PELOPAC
Efthymiadis Thymis, Vice President, REDESTOS – Efthymiadis Agrotechnology Group
Karagiorgos Nikolaos, President, KARAGIORGOS COTTON INDUSTRY
Katsaros Georgios, Managing Director, KATSAROS E. S.A.
Kouimtzis Athanasios, General Manager, KOUIMTZIS S.A.
Koukakis Athanasios, Managing Director, FARMA KOUKAKI
Michailides Ekaterini, Legal Representative, EVYP LLP.
Nakas Ioannis, Purchasing Manager, GREENFOOD
Tsaftaris Athanasios, Dean, AMERICAN FARM SCHOOL
Vergos Evangelos, Dean, AMERICAN FARM SCHOOL
Committee Coordinator: Nikos Tsavdaroglou
