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Black and white photograph. Shary's largest canal. Image shows canal with rip-rap, used to prevent erosion. Horses and farmer are visible the in background.
John H. Shary Collection, UTRGV Digital Library, The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley
.JPG, 1 Photograph, 66 KB

domain: geography


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It hasn’t been the smoothest ride through nonconference play, but Northeastern (4-7) is still afloat after a brutal stretch in which they only conjured up one double-digit win — a 66-46 victory over Georgia State.
The Huskies just flat out haven’t put together a complete 40 minutes of play in any of their games so far, and it needs to change.
But after closing out their 11-game nonconference slate with a 73-70 win over 7-4 Davidson (hey, they only lost to No. 1 Purdue by 8!), there are signs of life that head coach Bill Coen should be able to work his magic and build upon.
In order to succeed in the restructured CAA (hello Stony Brook, NC A&T, Monmouth and Hampton), here are five things that the Huskies absolutely have to do.
1. A solid, everyday starting point guard needs to emerge
Coen is a guard whisperer. He just plucks kids out of seemingly nowhere and turns them into stars. Over the years, Tyson Walker, Vasa Pusica, Jordan Roland, TJ Williams, and David Walker have come through and the Huskies have run the offense almost entirely through them.
Through 11 games this season, no comparable players have risen to the top. Between junior Glen McClintock and freshmen Chase Cormier, Rashad King, and Masai Troutman, the point guard race seems wide open.
When Coen signed the three freshmen guards, it was clear he was making a statement to take the road of recruiting versus the shiny allure of the transfer portal. But now they must show up for conference play.
If you want to compare the four options, there’s pluses and minuses for each. McClintock looks much better off the ball as a catch-and-shoot option. Cormier has the most assists of all of them, but is shooting just 30.8 percent from the floor. Troutman is explosive but much more of a slasher than distributor. And King had a great start against Davidson (seven boards, five assists), but hasn’t scored more than five points.
So maybe Coen didn’t find the next Tyson Walker in this year’s freshman class, but a serviceable option must be in there somewhere.
2. Feed Jahmyl Telfort whenever you can
Telfort looks like the scoring threat he was poised to be after his breakout rookie campaign in 2020-21, where he averaged 11.8 points per game. Now in his junior season, he’s at 16 points per game and has been the Huskies’ best offensive threat, getting to the hoop any way he can.
Last year his three-point percentage fell to 24.8% , however it’s up to 35.7% this season on a little under four attempts per game. His shot selection has also clearly improved, as he’s now up to 48.9% and has made an effort to get shots up from the paint, like this winner in the Huskies’ victory over Davidson.
Telfort has also been great off the ball so far and has shown he can find gaps in the defense for easier buckets. In this one, he seals off his defender and takes a beautiful entry pass from senior forward Chris Doherty for two.
He’s got five 20-point games and should be the go-to guy going forward. Just feed it to him!
3. Limit turnovers and respond better to pressure
Coen always says that around 10-12 turnovers is not a bad thing; it shows you take chances and aren’t too scared to run your offense the right way. He certainly makes a point.
But, uh, being the 314th-ranked team in assist-turnover ratio in Division I just looks careless.
The Huskies have to limit turnovers and respond when their opponent brings pressure. In the London Classic semifinal game against Manhattan (ranked 335 in NET), the Huskies were up by seven with over six minutes to play. The Jaspers pressed and forced some bad turnovers and quick, ill-advised shots that broke up any momentum Northeastern might have had. The Huskies ended up winning in overtime, but it was ugly.
And against Davidson, the Huskies opened with the best four minutes of the year – they were going up 16-9 on a solid A-10 team before the Wildcats pressed and forced the Huskies to cough up the ball again. Northeastern was able to close out a tough victory on the road in their best win of the year, but man was it a grind.
4. Keep Chris Doherty healthy for the tournament
This man is simply a beast. He’s one of the best rebounders in the CAA and is phenomenal on the offensive glass. Last year he played almost a full season and averaged over three offensive boards a game. This year is a different story as he’s only seen six games of action.
Doherty’s health has always been somewhat of an issue, but if he’s managed well and junior Alexander Nwagha can help fill in some minutes, Doherty should hold up and help this team make a deep tournament run.
Doherty’s scoring can also change a game. In the last three contests, Doherty has averaged 12.7 points and seven rebounds. If he can emerge and give 20-25 solid minutes a night, the Huskies will benefit greatly. Just look at plays like this, where he absolutely bulldozes his way to the paint:
Doherty can dance with the best bigs in the conference and run through them if he can stay on the floor. Besides his injuries, Doherty has had trouble with fouls. Against UIC, he fouled out of the game after only playing 20 minutes, and he had to walk on eggshells in the win over Davidson as he played with four fouls for the last four minutes of the game.
Maybe then his minutes can go up even more, and that would certainly benefit the Huskies.
5. Beat the newbies
There are four new faces in the conference, and none of them have seen the full wrath of Bill Coen just yet. NC A&T (282 NET), Stony Brook (331 NET), Hampton (342 NET), and Monmouth (358 NET) are all statistically worse than the Huskies so far this year.In order to grab a higher seed in the 13-team conference tournament in March, Northeastern has to find some wins here.
This is the best the CAA has looked in a couple of years. Charleston (53 NET) has two quadrant 1 wins and has won 11 in a row. UNCW (73 NET) has won nine straight and has a quad 1 win. Towson (155 NET) is deep again, and Hofstra (125 NET) is always a threat.
Those are probably the top four seeds unless a team like Northeastern, Delaware, or Drexel can make a move up. Hopefully a difficult nonconference schedule with some adversity — a Coen classic — has hardened Northeastern, but they need to take care of their new friends before playing with the big boys.
The Huskies will start their journey to Washington, D.C. on Thursday night at home in a matchup with NC A&T.
WRBB will return to on-air coverage of Huskies’ basketball for their matchup against Stony Brook on Dec. 31. Eamonn Ryan and Khalin Kapoor have the call from Matthews Arena, with tipoff scheduled for noon.

domain: sports


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Effects of Controlled Atmosphere on the Storage Quality and Aroma Compounds of Lemon Fruits Using the Designed Automatic Control Apparatus
‘Eureka’ lemon fruits were stored under four controlled atmosphere- (CA-) combinations at 8°C for 20 days to investigate the effects on weight loss (WL), total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C (VC), total phenolic content (TPC), sodium carbonate-soluble pectin (SSP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and volatile compounds. Results showed that the contents of TSS, TA, VC, and SSP in the stored fruits reduced during the storage period, while the WL and MDA increased. Fruit stored under CA2-combination (6 % O2+8 % CO2) showed the lower contents of WL and MDA and the higher content of TSS, TA, TPC, and VC than that of other treated fruits. The main volatile compounds present in the lemons were terpenoids, aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. In addition, both the terpenoid and aldehyde content are substantially higher in lemons exposed to CA2 conditions. In contrast, the alcohols and esters displayed elevated levels in the regular air (RA) stored fruit. In conclusion, CA with the suitable conditions proves to be better than RA as a storage regimen to keep the quality of lemons. These results indicated that the application of 6% O2+8% CO2 CA conditions could maintain the quality of ‘Eureka’ lemon fruit during the storage time of 20 days and should be the optimal storage environment for postharvest Eureka lemons.
The lemon fruits used in this study is classified as Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f, which is the third most important Citrus species after orange and mandarin. Lemons contain many high levels of both organic acids and health-promoting phytochemicals such as amines, vitamins, dietary fiber, lavonoids, and limonoids [1–3]. Moreover, citrus fruit is nonclimacteric fruit, with persistently low respiration and ethylene production rates . However, peel pitting and peteca spots can occur on the lemons during storage [4, 5]. These disorders cause physiological and biochemical changes and eventually lead to fruit quality deterioration, such as VC loss, water loss, and decay during storage and transportation and cause massive commercial revenue losses [4, 5]. In recent years, the demand to develop appropriate operational techniques has increased significantly .
Among alternative treatments, the use of controlled atmosphere (CA) treatment has been extensively researched and the technology is commercially applied to several products, such as litchi fruits [7, 8], pomegranate , and apples [9, 10]. The technique of CA can provide different concentrations of gas, such as low O2 and high CO2 levels, which are always used with the appropriate temperature and relative humidity (RH) for fruits storage [6, 7]. Matityahu et al. (2016) had investigated the quality of different cultivars of pomegranate stored under CA (2 kPa O2 + 5 kPa CO2), wherein fruit quality of husks and aril juice was compared to that of fruit stored in air . They also indicated that CA storage treatment was found to reduce the husk scald and decay development, albeit the RA could better maintain the anthocyanin level and preventing off-flavor development in aril juice . Moreover, as reported by Martins and Resende (2015), the treatments of different CA combinations, such as 1% O2 and 12% CO2 and 3% O2 and 12% CO2, were found to minimize mass loss and fruit ripening . Increased CO2 concentrations and reduced O2 levels in the storage atmosphere could reduce the respiration rate, delay the senescence, and thus extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, but might also induce adverse effects if the levels are either too high or too low .
Although MA packages can achieve a beneficial atmosphere at relatively lower cost compared to CA storage, their ability to create and maintain the optimum atmosphere conditions is limited due to the relatively narrow range and characteristic of gas permeability for plastic packaging materials [15, 16]. In CA storage apparatus, sophisticated mechanisms of O2 removal, CO2 production, and CO2 removal have been applied to control the atmosphere within a narrow target range at optimal storage temperature . The fresh produce container system equipped with a gas diffusion tube can provide an automatically controlled environment with specifically measured O2 and CO2 concentrations and maintain the quality of spinach in a modified atmosphere environment at both constant and varying temperatures . Although CA controlled environments are regularly applied to various fruits and vegetables, limited studies had been reported to employ the automatic CA equipment for keeping the storage quality of lemon fruit.
Therefore, the aim in this works was to investigate the influences of different concentrations of O2 and CO2 on the quality attributes of ‘Eureka’ lemon fruits using the designed automatic CA control apparatus. First, the intelligent CA apparatus was introduced in order to provide the reference for other researchers. Then, the quality indexes including WL, TSS, TA, VC, TPC, SSP, MDA, and volatile compounds of lemon fruits under four CA combinations at 8°C for 20 days were evaluated.
2. Materials and Methods
Fruits belonging to lemon cv. Eureka were obtained from commercial growers from Anyue, a city in Sichuan province, China. The fruits were immediately transported on paved roads from the collection site to the laboratory in a ventilated vehicle. Sodium hydroxide, oxalic acid, sodium bicarbonate, 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA), sulphuric acid (H2SO4), absolute ethyl alcohol, trichloroacetic acid (TDA), trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (CDTA), glacial acetic acid, 2,6-dichloroindophenol indophenol sodium salt, and L-ascorbic acid were purchased from the Chengdu Kelon Chemical Reagent Factory (Chengdu, China).
2.2. Storage Conditions and Treatments
A total of 240 lemons were divided into four CA treatment groups: CA1=4 % O2+5 % CO2, CA2=6 % O2+8 % CO2, CA3 = 8 % O2+11 % CO2, and CA4=10 % O2+14 % CO2. A random selection of 60 lemons, uniform in size and appearance, were stored in an RA (21 % O2+0.03 % CO2) environment. Fruits subject to all treatments were stored for 20 days at 8°C and 85 %~90 % RH. Changes in the sample groups were documented every five days. Firstly, for each treatment, three fruits per replicate were peeled. The peel and pulp were immediately frozen with liquid nitrogen, freeze-dried, pulverized, and stored at –80°C until it was subsequently used to determine the TPC. Secondly, the same three fruits in each treatment were used to measure the WL, while four additional fruits were randomly selected to detect the TSS, TA, VC, and MDA content, respectively.
2.3. Determination of WL and TSS
An analytical balance was employed to monitor the individual weight of each lemon during their time in storage. The WL of each lemon was determined by utilizing a method identified by previous research . In addition, the WL was calculated using the following equation and was expressed as a percentage.
W represents the WL (%), = initial fruit weight before storage (g), and = final fruit weight after storage (g). The TSS were determined by using a method established in a similar study  with slight modifications. Lemon juice was extracted with an electric juicer and filtered through four cotton cloths until no juice remained. This process was followed by determining the TSS at an ambient temperature of 25 ± 1°C by using an automatic refraction meter (A610, Hanon Equipment Co., Jinan, China).
2.4. Determination of TA and VC
The TA was determined according to the method described in previous research  with slight modifications. Fresh fruit pulp was homogenized in a blender and filtered. A 10 mL volume of the extracted juice was diluted in distilled water to reach a quantity of 100 mL. The solution was transferred into a 250 mL beaker and placed over a magnetic stirrer to provide continuous motion to the sample solution. The juice was then titrated using standardized 0.1 mol/L NaOH at the phenolphthalein endpoint (pH = 8.2 ± 0.1). The TA was expressed as a percentage of the citric acid. The VC was determined by the 2, 6-dichloroindophenol titrimetric method as described in similar research . The fruit pulp was homogenized in a Waring blender and filtered using a muslin cloth. Then, 5 mL of the clear juice was diluted to 50 mL using a met-phosphoric acid-acetic acid solution. A 7 mL quantity of this mixture was titrated against a standard indophenol solution. All extractions and titrations were performed in triplicate and the results were expressed in μg ascorbic acid mL−1 pulp juice.
2.5. Pectin Extraction and Determination
Lemon peel and pulp were extracted using water to reduce the free sugar content before pectin was obtained . Pectin was acquired from the water-extracted peel at optimal conditions of pH=1.8 and 85°C, for 30 min, and precipitated with isopropanol, according to a method reported in a previous study . Furthermore, the supernatants obtained from the CDTA and Na2CO3 treatments were combined as SSP . The sample was allowed to decompose entirely in 96 % H2SO4 containing disodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7·10H2O), followed by transformation into furfural derivatives. These secondary components reacted with the 3-phenylphenol to form a chromogenic product absorption at 530 nm. Galacturonic acid solutions (10-100 μg/mL) were used as a standard calibration curve.
2.6. Determination of TPC
An adapted Folin-Ciocalteu method  was used for the determination of the TPC in the lemon peel extracts. A fresh 3.0 g sample of fruit tissue was homogenized with 30 mL of 60 % ethanol and centrifuged at 15000 g for 5 min at 4°C. A 10 mL supernatants were diluted with 40 mL of 60 % ethanol for the next measurement. A 0.125 mL quantity of the diluted extract was mixed with 0.625 mL of distilled water, followed by the addition of 0.125 mL of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. After 3 min, 1.25 mL of 7 % Na2CO3 and 1 mL of distilled water were added to the mixture. The solution was allowed a reaction time of 90 min in a darkened environment, followed by the measurement of the absorbance at 760 nm employing a spectrophotometer (UV726, T6, PG General, Beijing, China). A standard curve for gallic acid was used to quantify the TPC. The results were expressed as gallic acid equivalents per kg of fresh weight (FW) (mg·kg−1).
2.7. Determination of MDA
The MDA content was determined according to the method reported by Xing et al.  with slight modifications. Tissue (0.2 g) from the fruit slices were homogenized with 3 mL of 10 % TDA and centrifuged for 10 min at 10000 g. This process was followed by mixing 2 mL of the supernatant with 2 mL of 6.7 g/L TBA (previously dissolved in 10 %). The obtained reaction solution was heat-treated for 30 min at 95°C, rapidly cooled in an ice bath and centrifuged at 10000 g for 10 min to clarify the precipitation. The absorbance of the supernatant was measured at 450 nm, 532 nm, and 600 nm, respectively, by using a spectrophotometer (UV/VIS756-PC, T6, PG General, Beijing, China). The result was expressed as μmol/g. FW.
where is volume of the extract solution (mL), is volume of the extract solution contained in the reaction mixture solution (mL), and FW is mass of fresh sample (g).
2.8. Determination of Volatile Compounds by GC-MS
2.8.1. Volatile Compounds Quantification
A qualitative analysis of the volatile compounds was performed using a GC-MS system (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) consisting of a gas chromatograph (7890 A) in conjunction with a quadrupole mass spectrometer (MSD 5975 C), as described by relevant research  with slight modifications. Initially, 2 g of whole fruit pulp was weighed and placed in a 10 mL vial, followed by the addition of 4 mL water. The mixture was thoroughly vortexed to ensure homogeneity agitated at 400 rpm and 60°C for 30 min before extraction occurred. Subsequently, a 65 μm DVB/PDMS SPME fiber (Supelco, Bellefonte, PA, USA) was exposed to the sorption surface above the liquid level for 10 min to perform the analyses. The fiber was introduced into the GC injector where desorption was conducted at 250°C for 5 min, followed by the initiation and collection of data. An HP-5-MS fused silica capillary column (30 m×0.250 mm inside diameter, 0.25 μm film thickness; Agilent, USA) was used to separate the volatiles. The temperature of the injector, GC-MS interface, and ion source was at 250°C, 280°C, and 230°C, respectively. Analyses were performed using helium as a carrier gas at a column flow of 1.0 mL/min, and the electron impact ionization was 70 eV. The following oven temperature program was used: the initial temperature of 40°C was incrementally increased by 3°C min−1 to 150°C, followed by progressive temperature augmentation of 5°C min−1 to 300°C, where it was maintained for 3 min. The data was collected at a scanning range of 35-350. The analytical process to obtain the volatile compounds from the lemons was repeated three times. The proportion of each compound was estimated dividing its mean area by the total area of the chromatogram and expressed as percentages.
2.8.2. Volatile Compound Identification
The volatile compounds were identified by a GC–MS QP2010plus (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan), as described by Wang et al.  with some modifications to the method. Initially, 2 g of lemon peel (previously thawed at ambient temperature), 1 g of NaCl, and 1 μL of cyclohexanone standard solution (0.95 mg) were transferred to a SPME extraction bottle (20 mL) and preheated in a water bath at 40°C for 15 min before the extraction process occurred. Subsequently, a DVB/CAR/PDMS fiber (Supelco, 50/30 μm×20 mm) was exposed to the headspace above the liquid surface for 45 min at 40°C. To quantify the volatile compounds, the same described GC and MS chromatographic conditions were adopted. The mass spectra of each compound were compared with those available in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library and by comparing the linear retention index (LRI) with those available in existing scientific literature.
2.9. Statistical Analyses
The experimental data were analyzed by SPSS/PC version 23.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA) with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The results were reported as the mean ± SD and the differences were recognized as significant (p<0.05).
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Design Introduction of the Intelligent CA Apparatus
The CA equipment plays the crucial role for the storage of postharvested agriculture products. However, only few works were carried out on the improvement and design of the CA apparatus. In this study, the working principle and process of CA equipment used in this investigation are introduced in detail, as shown in Figures 1(a)–1(c), which might provide the reference for other researchers to develop the upgraded version of similar apparatus and for the investigation on the storage quality of other fresh fruits and vegetables. The configuration and control charts of CA equipment used in this work are provided and shown in Figures 1(a)–1(c). The model of an intelligent CA device used an automatic control system based on a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). This device could detect and analyze the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the air, to regulate the gas composition within the CA chamber. As shown in Figure 1(a), the nitrogen in the air was modified to more than 99.5 % purity through an air compressor before it entered the CA chamber. Moreover, 99.9 % pure carbon dioxide was introduced to the chamber, followed by the addition of oxygen after purification and moisture removal. Subsequently, the automatic program was initialized to control the gas composition of oxygen and carbon dioxide to achieve the desired parameters (Figure 1(a)). Therefore, this device was successful in automatically removing the ethylene and controlling the RH.
As shown in Figure 1(b), the control chart consisted of six parts, including the sensors, the analog module, the PLC, the valve assembly, the relay, and six machines. The sensors comprise the nitrogen sensor, the oxygen sensor, the carbon dioxide sensor, the ethylene sensor, the temperature sensor, and the humidity sensor. Furthermore, the six machines refer to the nitrogen generator, the oxygenator, the humidifier, the ozone sterilizer, the CO2 source, and the ethylene removal machine. In this study, the lemon fruits were stored in a CA environment within 48 h of harvest, and both the CO2 and N2 in the CA chamber were obtained from the air compressor and membrane generator. The gas composition of the storage chamber was analyzed at 10 min intervals and adjusted when necessary. Generally, the level of O2 fluctuated between 4 % and 10 %, while the CO2 level was between 5 % and 14%, and that of RH was between 80% and 95%. Moreover, the CA storage regimes ranged from 5 d to 20 d. As shown in Figure 1(c), four CA chambers with a volume of 1 m3 were used to store the lemons and kept closed. A sensor was installed into each CA chamber to monitor the respective concentrations of O2 and CO2.
3.2. The Effects of CA and RA on the WL, TSS, and TA of the Lemons
During the storage, the effect of CA and RA on the WL, TSS, and TA of the lemons was monitored (Figures 2(a)–2(c)). The WL index of the lemons exhibited rising tendencies with prolonged storage time (Figure 2(a)). The differences in the results obtained from the RA conditions were significant from day ten of the storage to the end of the experiment. At the conclusion of the storage time, the WL of fruit subject to RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were 3.52 %, 2.84 %, 2.14 %, 2.27 %, and 2.49 %, respectively. Exposing lemons to CA conditions significantly reduced the WL index. Moreover, CA2 with 6 % O2 +8 % CO2 exhibited a substantially lower WL index compared to other treatments (Figure 2(a)). On the one hand, the WL of all the samples increased with time, which was due to the matter consuming. Similar result was also found by other researchers. As reported by Ali et al. , fruit weight loss increased gradually with the extension of storage time. Moreover, according to the investigation of Selcuk and Erkan , the WL of ‘Istanbul’ medlar fruit under modified and palliflex controlled atmosphere storage progressively increased with storage time and was linear for all treatments. On the other hand, the results obtained in this investigation also indicated that CA could maintain the weight of lemons more effectively than RA. Similar results were previously reported by some researchers [7, 25]. Selcuk and Erkan  reported that the WL of medlar fruit stored in MAP and CA was lower than that of an RA-stored sample. Ali et al.  also found that, among different CA combinations, litchi fruit stored under 1 % O2+5 % CO2 maintained substantially about 2.71-fold less weight loss during 35 days of storage . Ali et al.  and Mendya et al.  demonstrated that the water is the main component found in fruits and vegetables, and the reduction of its loss from the commodity is the most critical requirement for maintenance of postharvest quality attributes. Moreover, the water loss of more than 4-6% (of the total fresh weight) results in visible wilting or wrinkling of the surface of most commodities [27, 28]. Respiration and transpiration are the main causes of weight loss in stored fruit and vegetables, which might induce the matter consuming [29, 30]. This is because that the stomata transpiration and direct evaporation through epidermal cell might induce the migration of the water from the fruit to the surrounding environment . More importantly, weight loss was also significantly affected by storage conditions . The low temperature, low content of O2, and high content of CO2 effectively inhibit the water migration and keep the final quality of stored fruits. As reported by Zhang et al. , the higher content of free water at strawberries cores retained better quality during storage. The weight loss of the control Ottomanit figs was extremely high, even though RH in the cold room was above 90%, probably reflecting the effects of advanced ripening and spoilage . The reason for lower weight loss in CA-stored fruit can also be attributed to the slower ripening rate and respiration rate . The suitable concentrations of O2 and CO2 in CA system might maintain the internal atmosphere of the fruit and are beneficial to the storage of lemon and have a greater effect on prolonging its storage period. Further studies focusing on the water migration, softening, and respiration rate of lemon during storage are necessary to investigate.
To further study the impact of storage conditions on the quality of lemons, the parameters commonly used to evaluate taste were measured, i.e., TA and TSS. As shown in Figure 2(b), when the storage time was increased, the TSS in fresh lemons displayed a decline in all relevant samples. At the end of the storage period, the lemons that were subject to a CA environment exhibited significantly higher TSS content than that in the RA-stored fruit. Additionally, the TSS in fruit treated with RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were 6.88 %, 7.00 %, 7.34 %, 7.19 %, and 7.08 %, respectively, while the marked retention of the TSS was obtained under the CA2 treatment at 6 % O2 + 8 % CO2. Similarly, Ali et al.  found that the soluble solid content (SSC) in litchi fruit continuously decreased during a 35-day storage period regardless of the treatment applied, while the highest retention level of the SSC was obtained during the CA treatment at 1 % O2 + 5 % CO2. In addition, similar results were obtained by Tian et al. , who reported the SSC decreased with prolonged storage time, and the CA was more effective than MAP (modified atmosphere packing) and RA treatments in maintaining the SSC of the fruits. Thus the CA-stored fruits maintained a higher TSS content that might be attributed to the suppressed senescence caused by the CA treatment [34, 35]. Furthermore, CA treatment could reduce the metabolic activity of the fruits that retarded the polysaccharide degradation reactions . The CA consisting of reduced O2 and elevated CO2 concentrations inhibited the respiration rate and sugar depletion in the samples, thus maintaining the higher TSS level than RA treatment .
TA is commonly used to demonstrate the ripening stage of the fruits as well as evaluate the fruit taste which is represented mainly by the balance between sweetness and acidity . The data analysis showed that the TA of fresh lemon juice decreased with prolonged storage time in all stored samples (Figure 2(c)). At the end of the storage period, the lemons subject to a CA environment exhibited higher TA content than that of the RA-stored fruit. The TA of fruit treated with RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were at 4.09 %, 4.30 %, 4.64 %, 4.57 %, and 4.26 %, respectively, while the marked retention of the TA was obtained from the CA2 treatment at 6 % O2 + 8 % CO2 (Figure 2(c)). Similarly, Ali et al.  found that the TA levels in litchi fruit significantly decreased during storage. Additionally, the fruit subject to 1 % O2 +5 % CO2 CA conditions maintained the highest TA content at the end of the experiment. Matityahu et al.  also reported the TA in pomegranates declined during storage. The reason for high TA in CA-stored fruit could also be attributed to the slower ripening rate and reduced respiration rate . The concentration of O2 and CO2 played the crucial role in inducing the slower ripening rate of pear samples . This result might also be due to the reduced decarboxylation of organic acids including citric acid and malic acid in fruit exposed to low O2 and high CO2 levels during storage , which are always used as the substrates for the enzymatic reactions of respiration . The decrease of TA is also associated with cellular activity, in which organic acids serve as substrates that enter the Krebs cycle to gain energy for repairing the aging cells and membranes .
3.3. Effects of CA and RA on VC and TPC Levels in Lemons during Storage
Results regarding the impact of CA and RA conditions on VC and TPC levels are shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b). As shown in Figure 3(a), during the period of storage, the VC content of the lemons gradually decreased irrespective of the treatments. However, averaged over the control, CA-stored fruit showed significantly higher VC content during the 20-day storage period. At the end of the storage time, the lemons subject to CA maintained higher VC content than that in the RA-stored fruit. The VC content of the fruit treated with RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were 20.17, 21.89, 25.34, 24.02, and 21.15 mg/g, respectively, while the marked retention of the VC was obtained during CA2 treatment at 6 % O2 + 8 % CO2 (Figure 3(a)). Similarly, studies performed by Selcuk and Erkan  suggested that a decreasing trend was present in the ascorbic acid levels of all stored medlar fruit throughout the 60-day storage period. Tian et al.  also found that the VC content of sweet cherries decreased with prolonged storage time and fruits subject to 5 % O2 + 10 % CO2 showed higher VC content than that in the MAP-stored and 70 % O2 + 0 % CO2 stored samples after 60 days of storage. The decrease of ascorbic acid under prolonged storage conditions might be due to the utilization of different organic acids during fruit respiration or their likely conversion to the sugars . Higher retention of VC was observed in litchi fruit kept at CA1 (3% O2 +7% CO2) than the fruit in CA2 (17% O2 +6% CO2), and this was attributed to reduced enzymatic oxidation in an environment presenting low O2 and high CO2 conditions . The ascorbic acid content reduced with advancement in fruit maturity, and the CA-stored samples exhibited higher retention of VC during 20 days storage period than the fruit in RA. However, this result might be attributed to the inhibited respiration rate and the reduced oxidation of various organic acids [7, 10].
The health benefits of lemons are related, at least in part, to its TPC. As shown in Figure 3(b), the TPC of the lemons increased in all treated samples during the first 5 days, followed by a gradual decrease over a prolonged storage period. On day 20, the lemons stored in CA maintained higher TPC than the RA-stored fruit. The TPC of fruit treated with RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were 0.71, 0.81, 0.84, 0.83, and 0.75μg/g, respectively, while the marked retention of the TPC was obtained during the CA2 treatment at 6 % O2 + 8 % CO2 (Figure 3(b)). Similarly, Ali et al.  found that the TPC was significantly decreased during a 35-day storage period of litchi fruit. On day 35, the fruit subject to 1 % O2 +5 % CO2 CA conditions maintained the highest TPC level. Tian et al.  also found that the TPC of litchi fruits stored under CA conditions decreased to 42.0-43.8 μg/g after 14 days. The reduction of TPC in stored lemon fruits can be attributed to the change in enzyme activity and the removal of astringency during the ripen process resulting in phenolic degradation [25, 42]. The high TPC level in the CA-stored samples might be due to the result of inhibited oxidation and decreased membrane leakage. The impaired membrane integrity ultimately might induce the peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) to combine with the content .
3.4. The Effects of CA and RA on the SSP Content of Lemons during Storage
The changes to the cell wall structures, especially pectin components are mostly correlated with the textural softening of fruit . The SSP content in the lemon peel tissue gradually decreased with prolonged storage time irrespective of which treatments were applied (Figure 4(a)). On day 20, the SSP in the lemon peel treated with RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were 5.68, 6.13, 6.94, 5.61, and 5.31 g/kg, respectively, while the marked retention of the SSP was obtained during the CA2 treatment at 6 % O2 + 8 % CO2. Considering the SSP content of the pulp, a similar trend was observed, where a gradual decrease was evident in conjunction with an extended storage period (Figure 4(b)). Therefore, after 20 days of storage, the SSP in the lemon pulp treated with RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were 1.70, 1.83, 1.93, 1.54, and 1.47 g/kg, respectively, while the marked retention of the SSP in lemon pulp was obtained during the CA2 treatment at 6 % O2 + 8 % CO2 (Figure 4(b)).
Results indicated that the SSP content in the lemon peel tissue of all the samples decreased with prolonged storage time. This might be due to the change of water-insoluble protopectins into water-soluble pectins during the storage period, which could also induce the loss of fruit firmness [33, 43]. As demonstrated by Yang et al. , in the early storage time, the pectin consisted of linear single fractions, long chains, branch structure, short chains, and polymers might not be depolymerized by those pectinolytic enzymes [29, 43]. Furthermore, with extending the storage time, the degradation of pectin chain widths occurred, which was a natural senescence process of fruits as pectinolytic enzymes in fruits continued to degrade pectin [43, 44]. As indicated by Liu et al. , a larger number of branched structures and fractions with multiple branching structures were found in the untreated samples. Net-like structures were no longer observed at the end of storage . On the other hand, the highest retention of the SSP was observed in the samples with CA2 treatment (6 % O2 + 8 % CO2). Similar results were obtained by previous studies [46, 47]. Yang et al.  found that the gradual degradation of SSP was observed in yellow peaches when exposed to prolonged storage time under CA conditions. Huyskens-Keil et al.  reported that after a 21-day storage period, the insoluble pectin content in mature Pepino fruits decreased, while the levels of water-soluble pectin (WSP) was partially prevented from increasing by the continuous and varying CA treatments. The reduction of pectin might be associated with various enzyme activities, such as pectin-methylesterase and polygalacturonase . High CO2 concentrations were helpful in reducing softening in ripe Pepinos; this result could mainly be ascribed to the inhibition of the conversion of protopectin to soluble pectin by the suppression of degrading cell wall enzyme activity . CA conditions can impede the degradation of the connections between chelate-soluble pectin molecules (CSP), causing a higher retention level of pectin as evident from the CA1 (2% O2 +10% CO2) and CA2 (5% O2 +5% CO2) treatments . The fruit subject to CA2 treatment at 6 % O2 +8 % CO2 showed higher level of SSP that might be the result of the degradation of SSP molecules that were inhibited by concentrations containing lower O2 and higher CO2 levels . The suitable CA treatment could inhibit the degradation of pectin chains by inhibiting the respiration and metabolism rate of fruits, thus reducing the activity of pectin degrading enzyme . Moreover, the SSP chain width and nanostructural morphologies could also influence the fruit firmness . On the other hand, the different CA conditions might also affect the solubilisation and depolymerization processes of CSP and the depolymerized and degraded processes of WSP side chains during fruit softening . These functions could also induce the network structure of pectin . However, the relationship between the changes in SSP content, the firmness of fruits during storage, the optional parameters, and technologies is still unclear and should be also considered. More importantly, the influencing mechanism of CA conditions on the pectin degradation in lemon fruits is also important. Further research works are necessarily conducted in order to understand these issues.
3.5. The Effects of CA and RA on the MDA in Lemons during Storage
MDA is the product of lipid peroxidation and is often used as direct indicators of membrane injury and cellular oxidative damage . As shown in Figure 5, the continuously growing trends of MDA content were observed both in control and CA treated lemon fruit. On day 20, the MDA contents in lemon fruit treated with RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were 0.78, 0.73, 0.61, 0.67, and 0.88 μmol/g, respectively. Additionally, the fruit that were subject to CA2 (6 % O2 +8 % CO2) conditions displayed a lower MDA (0.61 μmol/g) content than those exposed to other storage conditions. This result was 0.17 μmol/g lower than that obtained from the RA-stored sample. Given the various CA combinations, fruit stored in CA2 conditions exhibited a substantially lower MDA content during a 20-day storage period.
Similar results were previously reported by some researchers [7, 10]. Ali et al.  reported that the MDA content in all stored litchi fruit samples increased during a 35-day storage period. However, the fruits kept in 1 % O2 +5 % CO2 conditions displayed a lower MDA content (60 %) than the samples subject to other treatments. Studies performed by Mditshwa et al.  suggested that the MDA content in all stored apples (cv. Granny Smith) increased with prolonged storage time, which was caused by elevated lipid peroxidation. These results indicated that the MDA content is a significant lipid peroxidized product, which reflects the actual extent of membrane-lipid-peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) [7, 22]. Increased production of ROS leads to enhanced lipid peroxidation, causing membrane deterioration . The lower MDA production in CA1, CA2, and CA3 stored fruit can be attributed to reduced ROS accumulation, therefore, inhibiting membrane peroxidation . However, the CA4-stored sample had higher MDA content than those subject to other CA treatments. This might be associated with the high oxygen atmospheres that promote a higher level of lipid oxidation .
3.6. Multivariate Analysis-PCA
A PCA was conducted to obtain a broader view of the biochemical changes taking place in CA and RA-stored fruit. PCA scores and loadings are shown in Figure 6. Clear separation was observed demonstrating the effects of the storage conditions on the volatile components in Eureka lemons. The first three results account for 84.07 % (F1 = 45.95 %; F2 = 24.03 %; F3=14.09 %) of the total variance and clearly separated fruit stored in CA and RA environments, exhibiting two distinct clusters. Figure 6(a) (scores plot) shows that the CA1 treated group had similar properties to the CA2 group, and the CA3 treated group had similar properties to the CA4 group. However, the control (CK) group had distinct properties from the other groups. Figure 6(b) (loading graph) provides a comprehensive view of the relationships among the volatiles measured in this experiment. According to Liu et al. , the classification of factor loadings is considered strong, moderate, and weak when corresponding to loading values of 0.75, 0.75-0.50, and 0.50-0.30, respectively. As shown in Figure 6(a), all volatile components were positively correlated with PC1 (45.95 %). Therefore, the scores can be interpreted by factor loadings, with PC1 positively associated with terpenoids. Consequently, terpenoids have a greater impact on the volatile components of lemons. Terpinolene, (Z)-α-Bergamotene, β-Santalene, β-Caryophllene, Citronellal, Decanal, and Geranyl-propionate were considered as the main volatile compounds in lemons.
3.7. The Effects of CA and RA on the Aroma Compound Analysis of Lemons during Storage
A total of 40 volatile compounds were identified by the GC/MS in RA, and CA-stored lemons, and were grouped according to the following chemical classes (Table 1): terpenoids (20 compounds identified), alcohols (9), esters (4), and aldehydes (7). These components were detected in all samples following the conclusion of the storage period, regardless of the maturity levels of the fruits. In all samples, the terpenoids (935.7-1029.74 μg/g) followed by aldehydes (68.39-116.4 μg/g) were the main components. Terpenes and aldehydes were considered instrumental in the aroma and flavor of orange juice . The results corresponded with those previously reported, wherein the terpenoids were described as the principal group present in herbivore-induced plant volatiles .
On day 20 of the storage process, fruits that were kept in a CA2 environment exhibited elevated levels of total terpenoids and aldehydes, while displaying a lower ester amount in comparison to other storage conditions (Table 1). However, fruit that were exposed to RA contained more moderate levels of terpenoids and aldehydes, while the esters and alcohols were significantly higher (Table 1). At the end of the storage period, the terpenoid content in lemons treated with RA, CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 were 935.70, 1009.60, 1029.74, 984.17, and 963.56μg/g, respectively. Furthermore, fruit subject to CA2 (6% O2 +8% CO2) treatment displayed higher terpenoid content than samples subject to other treatments. A major terpenoid compound in lemons is limonene (723.36-741.60 μg/g), followed by γ-Terpinene (115.56-132.00 μg/g) (Table 1). The similar results were obtained by Zhong et al. , who reported that d-limonene was far higher than the other free volatile compound and was usually a main compound in lemon, and γ-Terpinene was the second major compound in Eureka lemon. Terpenoids accounted for the highest concentrations, about 10-, 25-, and 50-fold higher than those of aldehydes, alcohols, and esters, respectively (Table 1). Aldehydes are crucial ester-precursors, since they represent the first step in volatile compound formation . Low levels of esters and alcohols were observed in CA-stored samples, indicating that these compounds were negatively affected by the CA environment.
Recently there are some related reports involving the impact of a CA on the volatile compounds in fruit [6, 54, 55]. Considering ‘Royal Gala’ apples, research indicated that the emission of straight-chain esters decreased when exposed to extremely low O2 (0.5 kPa), which is related to the aroma . However, studies performed by Matityahu et al.  suggested that the levels of ethanol, ethyl acetate, and acetaldehyde in pomegranates increased significantly during a 5-month storage period. Moreover, these volatiles appeared to be higher in a CA environment than when exposed to RA. Additionally, Defilippi et al.  reported that, depending on the specific compound, the levels of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and ethyl acetate were 3 to 12 times higher in CA-stored fruit than samples subject to RA. The difference between the research conducted for this paper and similar studies may be due to variations in determination assays and specific fruit cultivars. Results indicated that the CA-stored lemons are characterized by higher terpenoids and aldehydes, while the alcohols and esters remained at lower levels. This is an indication that treatment with a CA can effectively maintain the terpenoids and aldehydes, while negatively impacting the release of esters and alcohols. The CA treatment suppressed the production of ethylene and the rate of respiration. Therefore, since the biosynthesis of the volatile compounds is closely related to the ethylene presence and respiratory activity, the CA-stored fruits contained lower levels of esters and alcohols . In addition, a CA environment characterized by low O2 levels and high CO2 levels successfully inhibited ethylene biosynthesis and activity. This process is crucial for ester forming enzymes to function correctly. Therefore, fruit stored in CA conditions displayed lower ester levels . Although CA treatment negatively affects the ester and alcohol content in lemons, the fact that it efficiently maintains terpenoids, aldehydes, and other vital properties during long-term storage allows for a high-quality product that is acceptable to consumers [54, 56].
The suitable condition of CA system can provide the excellent control on the quality loss of stored fruits. In this works, CA storage of lemon under CA2 (6 % O2+8 % CO2) substantially maintained TSS, TA, VC, SSP, and TPC reduced WL and MDA contents. In regard to volatile compounds of lemon, the main volatile compounds consisted of terpenoids, aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. The CA-stored fruits contained lower levels of alcohols and esters, while displaying high retention of terpenoids and aldehydes. Results in this works indicated that the treatment of CA2 (6 % O2+8 % CO2) might provide the optimal storage conditions for the storage of ‘Eureka’ lemon. Furthermore, the water migration and respiration rate can influence the fruit quality, especially in the longer storage period. The influencing mechanism of CA conditions on the pectin degradation in lemon fruits is also important. Further research works are necessary to conducted in order to understand these issues.
The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
Yuan Ma and Shaohua Li should be regarded as co-first authors.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
Yuan Ma and Shaohua Li contributed to the work equally.
This work was supported by the Chunhui Program Research Project from Ministry of Education of China (Z2017063), Science and Technology Support Program of Sichuan (2019NZZJ0028, 2018NZ0090, and 2016FZ0019), Science and Technology Support Program of Yibin (2018ZSF002), Chengdu Science and Technology Project-key Research and Development Program (2018-YF05-00213-SN), Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory Open Fund Project (GR-2018-E-01), Project of Innovation Team Construction Program of Sichuan Education Department (15TD0017), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31501547), and Key Laboratory Open Research Fund of Grain and Oil Processing and Food Safety of Sichuan (szjj2016-024), and Project of Graduate student Innovation Foundation of Xihua University (ycjj2018026). This project is also supported partially by Liying Zhu, from Hangzhou Yishi Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310000, China.
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domain: literature


text:
This book covers the Vietnam War from the Australian and New Zealand point of view. Not scared of the controversial issues, it covers the background to the war, the stories of the diggers themselves, and looks at the aftermath. It benefits enormously from having an Australian narrator, and Peter Byrne does a fantastic job. The description of the terrifying battle at Long Tan is worth the cost on its own and once finished, left me with enormous respect for the ANZACs and their approach to soldiering. Highly recommended.
Do look past the title, because it doesn't really do the book justice. "Bonnie Sue" was the call sign of Marine helicopter squadron HMM-265. This book actually covers quite a bit of the US Marines' involvement in Vietnam, from the viewpoint of the helicopter crews who flew them into battle. Very comprehensive and truly edge-of-the-seat stuff in places, the only reason it didn't get 5 stars from me is my slight annoyance with the narrator who had to repeat details and over-emphasise certain names and places (although this is probably a fault of the original book). Otherwise, a great listen.
This is a comprehensive account of the war based on primary sources, with lots of detail. The personalities shine through in the coverage, which is primarily concerned with military affairs and battles (although the socio-political backdrop is addressed more than some critics have said). I have given 5 stars overall for these three volumes that make up the whole. But only four for performance, as the narrator is often dreary and jaded and has a clipped accent like the character Hannibal Lector in the Silence of the Lambs. I must admit that I would be jaded after reading this amount of text aloud, so maybe the producers should have broken it up with alternating readers, one with a north-east Yankee accent and one with a southern accent. Or someone who sounds like Shelby Foote did, the author now deceased, who had a mild educated southern lilt (interviews with him are on You Tube). But overall, this book is magnificent and well balanced and accessible. And the audio version is fair, and well worth the effort. I came to some new conclusions about Lincoln, the South, and the United States. A note on the medium: It is hard to take it all in unless you concentrate, but often you don't do that when listening to a book. So you have to re-play parts over and over again if something takes your attention away (like a 13 year old daughter asking for a lift or a wife coming home while you are preparing supper - both of whom complained, fairly, about the narrator's drone). Or you can only listen while painting a room or at the gym or in the car on your own. Or you can buy the books, which, if they include maps, would also prevent you having to look out relevant maps on the internet - but must weigh a ton!

domain: library


text:
Battered by an abusive boyfriend, woman regains her strength with the help of two programs
GREEN BAY — When Lucera Morales went down, she went down hard.
Think Humpty Dumpty hard, falling off the wall hard.
Domestic abuse is like that. Destructive to the body, and maybe even more destructive to the mind and spirit. But this is a happy-ending tale, one in which all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men — in this case, played by the Salvation Army and a program called the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing — were able to score a win.
“Before I met the girls’ father, I was outgoing, I could stand up for myself,” said Morales, 25. “But when he started hitting me, he took all that from me … I was broken, scared of the world, scared of everybody.
“But they have this super beautiful program to help. I don’t hurt anymore. I’m safe.”
Morales' ex had all the tricks. Sure, he knew how to hit, just how and when to yell, but where he really excelled was the psychological games; he had her believing his network of friends was so large, so widespread that she wouldn’t be able to move, leave him, do anything, really, without him finding out what she was up to and where she had gone.
One night, a few years ago, the cops came and took him away for questioning over an unrelated matter, and that’s when Morales made her move. Pregnant with what would be her third child, she scooped up the other two girls and made a break for a domestic abuse center in Oshkosh.
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Sure enough, the ex tracked her down. But she made another break, this time coming to Green Bay, this time moving into the Golden House. Only then did she learn that his network wasn’t so large after all. She had room to breathe. But she still was broken.
“She wouldn’t talk to anyone,” said Kim Kennedy, her caseworker with the Salvation Army. “She was a good mom, but she’d come in, not say a word to anybody. She kept to herself.”
'Green Bay’s best-kept secret'
You should see her now. Sitting down with a newspaper reporter she’s never met before, in an apartment of her very own, she could chat away about her life’s story, her hopes of getting a promotion at her job at AK Pizza Crust, her ambition of going back to school, maybe getting into social work so she can help others like she’s been helped. She can talk about how she got a standing ovation from the speech she gave at the Salvation Army annual dinner, how she’s actually on speaking terms with her girls’ father — yes, the guy who used to beat her still gets to see his girls, so she still has to see him periodically. But, now, he suddenly finds himself dealing with a woman who can stand up to him, who won’t take any of his crap.
“She’s blossomed into a very strong person,” Kennedy said.
The Salvation Army provided her with the kind of counseling the Salvation Army provides: The budget counseling, the rent management lessons, the assertiveness classes, where “you deal with self, healthy boundaries, domestic violence, in a group setting,” Kennedy said.
And they hooked her up with the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, which put her and her girls, Ana, Bella and Lily into an apartment of their own.
The Salvation Army, of course, you’ve heard about, but you may not be familiar with the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, which is understandable. It’s only been around for 26 years.
“It’s Green Bay’s best-kept secret,” said Dave Pietenpol, the program’s executive director and its only full-time employee.
Started in 1992 by four area churches and the Salvation Army, EPH now is run by 21 area churches. For the most part, congregations from those churches have raised the funds to keep the program running, which is why you probably never heard of it.
EPH owns nine duplexes — including the one Morales rents — and two homes in Green Bay and Allouez. It uses them to provide transitional housing for previously homeless families.
Transitional housing is considered “post-emergency.” If families suddenly become homeless and are living in a car or under a bridge, they typically would make their way to Freedom House or the Golden House or the House of Hope. But those are meant to be short-term solutions. They have limited space, and they’d like to move people along to make room for others in emergency circumstances.
That’s where EPH comes in, as the bridge between homelessness and independence.
But, of course, the problem of homelessness seems only to get worse, so it doesn’t work out quite that way.
“Last year, more than half of our families came right off the street,” Pietenpol said. “We’ve taken quite a few from their cars.”
More homes needed
In either case, EPH makes transitional homes available to get them out of an emergency shelter and into something with a bit more longevity and stability. And for about the last five years, EPH also has offered what it calls long-term supportive housing, which lasts as long as its clients need.
People who become homeless often have jobs but can’t earn enough to pay rent, so EPH puts them into homes and charges them what they can afford, anything from nothing at all to market-level rent.
“Transitional housing is free, but the long-term support addresses the gap, the lack of affordable properties, and people begin paying as they can afford,” Pietenpol said. “The average rent in Green Bay is something like $850 a month, and some of these people just aren’t making enough to be able to afford that.”
That’s basically what Morales has been doing. Her apartment would normally be about $850 a month, and she started out paying just a portion of that, but she’s now up to $500. If she gets the promotion she’s striving for at work, she fully expects her rent to go up. But if something bad happens and she suddenly can't pay, she won't find herself out on the street.
EPH will let their clients buy the homes where they’re staying, and they often can provide furnishings, appliances and things like lawn mowers to make that possible. Pietenpol’s office is in a building in downtown Green Bay, where the hallways are crammed with tables, lamps, sofas, anything the clients might need.
With homelessness on the increase, with people staying longer and with some even buying the places where they’re staying, EPH could use more space.
That’s why it launched a capital campaign in 2016.
“We do fundraising, and then we buy a home,” Pietenpol said. “We have no debt. We raise the funds, then we purchase.”
EPH has set itself the goal of acquiring 10 additional homes. Through the capital campaign, it raised $1.5 million, mostly from its member churches, none of which would be sorry to see you jump in and help.
Go to its website at www.ephgb.org to find out how.

domain: sociology


text: United Airlines Holdings Inc. /zigman2/quotes/205037281/composite UAL -2.28% shares inched higher late Tuesday after the airline beat Wall Street's adjusted profit expectations in its fourth quarter. United said it earned $641 million, or $2.53 a share, in the quarter, compared with $461 million, or $1.69 a share, in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted for one-time items, United earned $676 million, or $2.67 a share, in the quarter, compared with $2.40 a share a year ago. Revenue reached $10.9 billion, compared with $10.5 billion a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected United to report adjusted earnings of $2.65 a share on sales of $10.9 billion. The stock ended the regular trading day down 4.4%.

domain: news


text:
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“Melissa is very puncture and courteous. She asks questions about my dog's route and care. I feel very comfortable hiring her back for house sitting. I am lucky to find Melissa on Rover.”
“Grace has a way with dogs and puppies. Since a young age, she has been dog-sitting dogs and puppies of many breeds and ages. Her loving nature makes her a natural caretaker.”
About: Hi My name is Youngsun but feel free to call me Kim! I have been living in San Diego for 9years now and I recently moved to Fullerton for school. I am a home girl who does arts. I’ve always had pets like dogs,cats,hamsters,rabbits,birds,guinea pigs,and hedgehogs. I am a huge animal lover and I really enjoy cuddling, walking,or anything I could do to play with them. Feel free to visit my instagram kim0_0423! My dog,pei is a 4 years old female dog who is independent,calm,moderate,timid and scared of strangers. She is friendly to other dogs but she likes to mind her own business and she would play if she wanted to. She is scared of new environment and people so she barks at strangers, especially men so it would need some time to be closer but she is usually good with other dogs. For how I update you is that, I love taking photos of dog because why not! they are so cute. I collect all of the photo for the day and update it to you whenever I can but just one time. I try not to bother you but if I do have a question and concerns, I always make sure you know what we did, how are they doing,and what happened. I try to communicate well:) I will try my best to learn and stick to your pet's daily schedule to make sure your dog feel safe and happy with me! For timid dogs, I try to leave them alone in the beginning and slowly try to get closer because I totally understand they take extra time to be used to new place. For the dogs love cuddles, I would cuddle them as much I could and I would love to hug them and sleep together! For daily walk,potty breaks, I give them quick potty breaks in the morning so they can pee and poo. I would walk few minutes. I go another potty breaks afternoon between 2-4pm and I would go another one before before bed and walk. I may not be a professional sitter but I will take care of your dog with love. I totally understand how it might feel like a pet owner who had to leave their loves for a while so I will try my best for your dog and you to feel safe and loved as much as possible. In that way, I will post daily updates on my instagram and have a good communication between us. If you don't want your dog to be on social media, I can send it through the messages. Furthermore, I think it is important to build trust between you and I. I will try my best by learning about your dog,habits,daily schedule,diet and other stuff too. I will try to follow the instructions if you have. Also,I have a fence that can separate two dogs if its need. If I see any signs that they might fight, I will just separate them in case so no one hurts.
“Destiny was Great! She came by every day exactly as scheduled to take Hendricks on a 1hr walk. She is so good with Hendricks, super friendly and easy to work with.”
“Hyesun tool such great care of Beau! She even gave him water with ice, and took care to bring an umbrella for him when it was hot out side ! She treated Beau like his own dog :)”
About: I have owned cats and dogs my entire life. Recently lost my English bulldog and would love to have another 4-pawed friend to love on. I can walk, bathe, nap with, or hang with your pet! I have a huge yard and lots of indoor space your pet can enjoy My routine is flexible as I work from home and i am able to get in and out of the house when needed. I can make sure to work around your pup’s needs. I don’t have any animals living in my home currently. I have a yard with grass to roam around, a pool, and plenty of indoor space.
“Desiree is as friendly and caring towards my pets as she would be her own. She has experience with her own dogs in the past and my dogs recently. I highly recommend her.”
“Great walk. Odin spent the rest of the day relaxing because he got his exercise. Malorie is really good at handling pets. Will book again in the future”
“Julia is super dedicated to the animals she cares for. Both her own pets (a dog, a cat and two birds) and any other pets or animals she comes across get the same level of love and care. She is great at doing her own research to learn the best nutrition and facts about any animal she comes across. She used to work in a pet store and she would take days to thoroughly clean the cages of the animals. Julia is super motivated to give your pet the care they deserve!”
“Emily was great! Was very attentive when we did our meet and greet beforehand, was very sweet with Marshmallow, and communicated amazingly! Very pleased with their service! Would absolutely recommend.”
“Kristen has done a wonderful job with our pup Charlie! It's so comforting to know that Charlie is in good hands. Her daily pictures and texts about each walk are great too!”
“Very attentive and thorough. Was very prompt and kept me in the loop. I was very satisfied with Alissah’s work!”
About: I have taken care of dogs and cats since I was 20. My friends have relied on me to watch their fur babies while they were out of town and provide walks, feed. I’m currently available part time anything after 4pm Monday-Friday due to having a full time job and availability all weekend at anytime of the day. I would definitely make sure your fun babies is safe and has all its needs such as walks, food, water and their bed ready. Making sure they have company and play time with them.

domain: pet


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We investigate the quality of dependent and self-critical depressive experiences in a hospitalized sample of depressed (n = 17), depressed borderline (n = 29), and borderline non-depressed inpatients (n = 10). Subjects were administered structured diagnostic interviews for axis I and axis II along with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised Depression Scale (SCL-90-R-DS) and the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ). As predicted, there were no differences between the three groups in overall level of impairment or severity of depression. Phenomenologically, however, depressive experiences were quite different. Subjects with borderline personality disorder, with and without a diagnosed depressive disorder, scored higher than subjects with depression only on the measure of anaclitic neediness. Further analyses revealed that anaclitic neediness was significantly associated with interpersonal distress, self-destructive behaviors, and impulsivity. Findings suggest the importance of considering phenomenological aspects of depression in borderline pathology.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Psychiatry and Mental health

domain: medical


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Revenue chief speaks on IR35
The Inland Revenue has issued a formal response to the Mail on Sunday article about controversial IR35, written by This Is Money writer Jo Thornhill.
In a letter to the paper's editor, chairman of the board of the Revenue, Nick Montagu, said: 'It is misleading for Jo Thornhill to suggest that there is any remaining uncertainty over IR35. The High Court has confirmed unequivocally that it is valid in law, and people must now comply with the obligations which it imposes.'
Click here to read the Mail on Sunday article.
Yet despite Montagu's comments, as far as most contract workers are concerned the IR35 issue is far from over or clarified.
What do you think about IR35 and the Inland Revenue's comments? Send us an email and let us know your views.
The Professional Contractors Group (PCG), which brought the case against the Revenue says IR35 may stand in law but this doesn't mean its rules or administration are any clearer for self employed workers to understand.
And in fact Montagu, at the Revenue, did admit in his letter that the guidelines on IR35 might need rewriting: 'We will be looking at whether we need to improve the guidance which we give the public and our own people, in the light of the judge's remarks,' he said.
For Gareth Williams, deputy chairman at the PCG, this proves - as the High Court judge also concluded - that in it's present state IR35 is too confusing.
'I'm pleased that the Revenue recognises that its guidelines need changing,' says Williams, 'But the very fact that we don't know what they're going to produce or when, in itself creates uncertainty for contract workers.'
The PCG is determined not to let the case drop. It has appealed the High Court's decision and must now wait to hear from the Court of Appeal as to where the case will go next, either the House of Lords or the European Court.
Williams says: 'Appealing the ruling could take another two years but we feel it is important to do this on a point of principle. Our members are far from happy, there is still a great deal of confusion and complex legal technicalities surrounding IR35.'
Read Nick Montagu's statement in full at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk
Read more about controversial IR35
Don't miss the IR35 deadline
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When the peaceful world of Avalon (contained on the roots of a supernaturally big tree) begins to suffer mysterious droughts and darkness, the heir of Merlin is the only one who can save it. But is 17-year old Tamwyn the heir, or is he the child of the dark prophecy, who is destined to destroy Avalon? Loosely tied to the author’s Lost Years of Merlin series. Sequels: Shadows on the Stars, The Eternal Flame.
Clary witnesses a murder in a New York City nightclub--and the body disappears into thin air! It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing to show that a boy has died. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into their world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .Full of snappy dialogue like an episode of Buffy. Sequels: City of Ashes, City of Glass.
Sick in bed with cancer, Lucien discovers he can journey to a place in a parallel world that resembles medieval Venice, Italy, while he sleeps. He becomes caught up in the political intrigues surrounding the Duchessa who rules the city. In each volume, new characters from our modern world learn how to “stravagate” and join Lucien in his adventures.
Sequels: City of Stars, City of Flowers, City of Secrets
After his little sister Hannah becomes mortally ill, ten-year-old Joe follows a shadowy figure to the war-torn land of Asphodel, a mysterious and dangerous world of dying children, where he entrusts himself to a devious blind guide, faces ruthless killing machines, and discovers a shocking truth about himself.
Sequel to Dragon Slippers continues the fairy-tale adventures of Creel, an orphan who escaped coldhearted relatives and, with the help of new dragon friends, found a new life as a talented seamstress in the city. Creel grows restless with her sewing business and jumps at another opportunity for magical adventure when her country is threatened by a war led by an evil dragon.


Plans to redevelop Sudbury’s bus station and the surrounding area are progressing after a bid for a key building was accepted.
Babergh District Council’s long-term efforts to develop the Hamilton Road quarter – consisting of Great Eastern Road, Hamilton Road and Sudbury Bus Station – were boosted after a bid, believed to be around £290,000, was accepted for Navigation House in Great Eastern Road.
The building, which houses Seekars Garage, Netta’s Dry Cleaners and Sirens dress shop, is central to the council’s plans due to its location.
A council spokeswoman said: “We have made a full and final offer which was accepted and we are presently in the process of transacting the sale.”
District councillor Simon Barrett declined to comment on specific details of the bid.
“I can’t say anything until such time as it goes through,” he said.
“Clearly the site forms part of the strategic thinking of the Hamilton Road quarter project and, at some point in time, when it needs to be redeveloped, it is better for the council to assemble the properties.”
Netta Cooke, who set up Netta’s Dry Cleaners in the building 15 years ago, said that for sale boards went up in mid-November, which led some customers to believe she was closing.
“As far as the landlord is aware, the council is going to keep us here, but I have had no communication,” she said.
“It is business as usual and, now that our future is assured, we will be revamping the shop. We can now put some investment into it.”
Joe Seaman, owner of Seekars Garage, said: “We have been told we will be given the opportunity to rent the business from the council, but it is very early days.”


The RX65 Blue is the same as the original RX65 but instead of the standard red display the RX65 Blue has a Ultra-Bright Blue LED Display. The RX65 Bel Radar Detector has the most advanced Varactor tuned antenna to detect the new digital X, K, Ka radar guns including the new POP 3 K and Ka bands. The Bel RX65 also has voice alerts and Ku band for European use-as well as many more existing features, such as:
Bel RX65 Blue Features:
New "POP Alert" detection scheme: the Bel Pro RX65 Blue provides the fastest response to this latest Ka speed measurement device
New Threat Display: the Bel Pro RX65 Blue tracks multiple radar signals and their relative signal strength
New AutoScan mode: virtually eliminates false alarms
New Easy-to-Use Programming: allows you to customize up to 7 options for your specific driving style
New Ku-band detection: for European travel and future United States use
Tech Display: Beltronics radar detector provides numeric frequency of any radar signal
3 Power-On Indicator Modes: including voltage meter mode
3 Signal Strength Meter Modes: provide optimum flexibility in tracking alerts
3 City Modes: optimize selectivity
Shadow Technology: provides complete immunity to the VG-2 detector-detector
Total Tracking Laser: ensures superior off-axis coverage and widest field-of-view
One year limited warranty: 2 year extended service plan available
The BEL RX65 is the most advanced radar, laser and safety detector ever designed by Beltronics.
The BEL RX65 includes full X, K, SuperWide Ka, and Safety Warning System radar capability, front and rear laser detection, digital signal processing (DSP) for superior range and reduced false alarms, our patented Mute and AutoMute, audible and visual band alerts, and all the performance you'd expect from Beltronics.
Four selectivity functions virtually eliminate false alerts, and Threat Display, a sophisticated means of tracking multiple radar signals, coupled with Digital Voice Technology, keep you informed like no other detector on the market.


text:
Objectives: To assess the relationships among work stress, oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in information technology (IT) professionals in south India. Methods: The study population consisted of 134 IT industry workers in four mid-size IT companies in south India. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of the eight-item Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) scale and a 25-item modified version of the original 167-item Work Stress Questionnaire was given, following which an oral examination was carried out. Results: Mean Â± standard deviation scores on the Work Stress Questionnaire, the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index and the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) for the sample population were 53.82 Â± 15.07, 4.23 Â± 3.47 and 1.81 Â± 0.58, respectively. A comparison of clinical oral health status data against respondents' work stress and OIDP scores showed that mean DMFT and CPITN scores were significantly greater among those who reported oral impact on their daily performance. However, although participants who reported oral problems had consistently higher work stress scores, the differences were statistically significant only for gingival bleeding and sensitive teeth. Multivariate analysis after controlling for age and sex showed that higher levels of work stress and periodontal disease were significant predictors for poor OHRQoL in the sample population. Conclusions: Work stress may be an important predictor for poor OHRQoL and hence requires to be studied in greater detail.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes


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The Philippines is known as a country that is rich in culture and heritage so it is no longer surprising that various colorful and unique festivals are being held in different parts of the country all year round.
The tradition of fiesta came from the many Spanish religious practices that is why most Filipino festivals are celebrated in honor of it’s patron saints or any major events in the life of Jesus Christ and His Mother Mary.
So when planning your next travel in the Philippines, book a flight or schedule a road trip to your province of choice during its festival so you will be able to be hit two birds in one stone. To give you a taste of the diverse culture ad traditions in the Philippines when celebrating fiestas, I suggest you start first with the following Philippine festivals that should top your list to see and experience.
1. Moriones Festival. Moriones Festival is being celebrated in the “Lent Capital of the Philippines“, Marinduque, every lent season. This whole week celebration starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday.
Morions are men or women in costumes and masks replicating the biblical Roman soldiers during Christ’s time. They can be seen roaming around the streets of Marinduque for a week like normal people. Dressed in colorful tunics, scary faced masks and helmets, the mere sight of a morion is already enough to send kids scrambling back to their homes.
But don’t be deceived, morions may look snotty in the outside but they are not. In fact, these centurions are very much willing to join you for a picture taking. They also love engaging in antics or surprises to draw attention of tourists. So don’t be scared or surprised if you are walking in the town proper and see a morion coming near and trying to scare you.
Aside from them being a pleasant sight to see in the streets of Marinduque’s town capital Boac, the morions, as part of the Moriones Festival, also plays a crucial part in the Senakulo during Holy Week.
The Senakulo, a lenten play that depicts the life, suffering, and death of Christ, starts staging on the evening of Holy Wednesday and ends late evening of Black Saturday. Aside from Jesus Christ, one of the main characters in the senakulo is the Roman soldier Longinus, who also happens to be a centurion. When in Marinduque during Holy Week, be sure to specifically, look for Longinus. He’s easy to spot–he’s blind on one eye and is the most famous morion off all.
Aside from the afternoon lent processions, senakulo, Battle of the Morions and “pugutan” (reenactment of the beheading of Longinus), the main highlight of the Moriones Festival is actually the Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross which starts as early as 8:00AM of Good Friday. You have the option to go along with Christ, the other penitents, and morions or simply watch–though it is highly suggested that you go with the Way of the Cross since it is actually a one of a kind experience seeing every step of Christ’s suffering. Better be ready to endure the heat of the sun though and just consider it as another form of penitence. The Via Crucis ends with a “crucifixion” before lunch.
2. Sinulog Festival. The Sinulog Festival is probably one of the grandest, popular and colorful festival in the Philippines. Sinulog’s main festival is held every year on the third Sunday of January in the province of Cebu to honor the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus, who used to be the patron saint of the whole province of Cebu.
Sinulog comes from the Cebuano adverb “sulog” which is “like water current movement,” as this is the best term to describe the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance.
The nine day celebration of Sinulog features participants in bright-colored and garbed costumes while dancing to the rhythm of drums and native gongs. Aside from the famous street dance, fluvial parades and SME trade fair which features Cebu export quality products are also some of the activities to watch out for.
Every year, Cebu is flocked with thousands of tourists from around the world just to witness this one of a kind celebration. In fact, getting a hotel to stay in Cebu City is actually a feat since most accommodations are fully booked already. Thus, if you are planning to street dance with the Cebuanos during the Sinulog Festival, be sure to book your flight and hotel a year before.
For more information on Sinulog Festival, please visit www.sinulog.ph

domain: travel


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Illinois State University is home to two unique and widely admired circus traditions -- Gamma Phi Circus, the 88-year strong circus arts program for students, and the Circus and Allied Arts Collection, part of the Special Collections at Milner Library. Both are keenly feeling the impending loss of The Greatest Show On Earth.
After 146 years, millions of miles, thrills, laughs and more, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is closing down.
" You know, I think it's the changing taste of the American public," said Maureen Brunsdale, the Special Collections Librarian at ISU's Milner Library. "They have so many different things to go see, as far as entertainment is concerned that perhaps the circus didn't hold the charm it once held for the American public."
The Greatest Show on Earth will close in May, but on the campus of Illinois State University, circus is thriving. Gamma Phi Circus was founded 88 years ago by Clifford 'Pop' Horton as a honorary gymnastics fraternity. Now run by Marcus Alouan, the circus attracts students from all over campus who fly on the trapeze, clown, dance, juggle and much more -- including setting a world record with this spring's show, April 7 and 8 at Redbird Arena.
"It will be an all women six-high off the teeter board," explained Alouan. "We'll have five women, stacked up, standing on each other's shoulders. And then a sixth woman will stand on a teeter board, a couple of big people will jump on the other end and she will flip up and land on the top person's shoulders. This will be the first time that that is accomplished by all women."
Helping the students accomplish their world record is Ivan Stoinev, assistant director of Gamma Phi Circus. Stoinev used to work for the soon-to-be closed Ringling Bothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. In fact, he grew up under the big top of the Greatest Show on Earth. "I started at the age of 13 in 1978. All my childhood memories are there in the circus. It's something special to me."
Stoinev was saddened when he heard the news of Ringling's closing. "It hurts my heart. It's painful, but we have to take it. It will put about 500 hundred people out of their jobs."
Dwindling ticket sales and changing tastes may force down the biggest big top of all, but its legacy will go on, both through the continued work of the student circus performers of Gamma Phi, and through the preservation efforts of the Milner librarians. The Special Collection houses many artifacts from Ringling's storied past, including a pennant that survived the devastating Hartford Circus Fire of 1946. There's also business records, rare photos and posters... and one very intriguing item -- a piece of correspondence from 1907, the year Ringling Brothers purchased Barnum & Bailey, said librarian Mark Schmitt.
"Otto Ringling is in Bridgeport, Connecticut and he's writing to his brother on Barnum and Bailey stationary and saying 'Hey, guess what? Barnum and Bailey is for sale. We should buy it.'"
"He actually uses the phrase 'we'll be too big to fail,'" added Maureen Brunsdale.
But The Greatest Show on Earth, after 146 years, finally has failed. The art of circus, however, lives on. "Anytime there's something like this, opportunities are created," said Brunsdale. "One thing circus has been known for for centuries is that it's constantly changing, it's ever evolving. And I do believe circus is not dead."
Gamma Phi director Marcus Alouan agrees. "The future of circus is here. And not only these students that are right here, but throughout the country. Young people are becoming very excited about circus arts and we're certainly a hub of that. I get calls from students from other universities who want to start a program like ours, because what we have is the gold standard."
WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.


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Innovation Quality Value Service

domain: food


text:
Published October 14, 2021
Restaurant owners have enough to worry about. They have to maintain a reliable team and manage their local food supply chain. They also have to come up with new menu items and deliver delicious food to hundreds of customers each day. On top of all these daily responsibilities, restaurant owners must also ensure perfectly balanced food delivery.
Nobody knows how to solve the challenges created by food supply chains. There’s a constant tug of war between shortage and surplus, and one misstep may mean the difference between operating at a profit and operating at a loss. Many see buying from local and regional sources (such as farmers’ markets or small-scale farms) as a potential solution. While this does indeed reduce delivery times, it can also create plenty of challenging logistical factors.
We wanted to learn more about this delicate process, so we asked two restaurant owners in the Atlanta area how they deal with food-supply challenges and what practices have worked (or haven’t worked) for them.
Sean Yeremyan runs a neighborhood tavern called HobNob, which also has four locations scattered throughout the greater Atlanta metro area. His wife manages the supply chain partners, which lets Sean focus on other restaurant operations like marketing. However, the effects of sourcing limitations touch every part of the business.
“You basically have to let the market dictate your menu options,” he said. In order to optimize their food supply as well as prices, Sean’s wife works with multiple suppliers, encouraging a capitalistic system that rewards those who offer the best products at the best prices.
Supply has been an issue for Alex Brounstein, founder of Grindhouse Killer Burgers, since he opened the doors of his first location in downtown Atlanta in 2009. Grindhouse is a unique case study because it primarily serves beef hamburgers in seven cities throughout Georgia. This specialization lets Alex focus mainly on sourcing beef rather than fruits or vegetables. But this also means his business is reliant on product availability. Unlike Sean’s case with HobNob, Alex can’t retool his menu to exclude beef.
Alex had multiple sourcing pain points when he first opened Grindhouse. The first, and most common in the industry, was finding a cost-effective and reliable supplier who wouldn’t provide differential treatment for a brand new restaurant. He first partnered with a supplier out of North Carolina who could generally deliver high-quality, dry-aged ground beef every day. The only hiccup was that once meat has been ground (especially dry-aged meat), it spoils at a much quicker rate. Alex eventually found a supplier based out of Detroit who offered a product at a similar quality level but with a longer shelf life due to shorter supply chains.
This new business relationship worked quite well until the COVID-19 pandemic prompted beef shortages—something the federal government is working to manage even now. Alex, however, doesn’t believe this to be a problem unique to out-of-state suppliers. “I don’t want to switch from them because I think this is going to be short-lived and they’ve been so good to us. I imagine we’ll have the same issue everywhere,” he explained.
Alex leans toward using larger national suppliers over small, local suppliers. “There’s no good answer, but it helps having good vendors who understand your problems,” he said. “A big company like Sysco has a lot of options. If a smaller vendor goes down, I have no other options, but Sysco is pulling from so many different places.”
Alex’s biggest takeaway from over a decade in the restaurant industry is that no matter the size of your supplier, you must have a contingency plan.
“Your backup has to be more consistent than your main supplier,” he said. “If your backup runs out of anything then it isn’t a good backup. Find one that may be slightly inferior, but, at the same time, never sacrifice quality.”
A solid backup option is crucial to Alex—Grindhouse depends on it.
“We need a good backup because if we run out of beef, we’re out of business.” Every restaurant owner wishes they didn’t have to think twice about their food supply system, but it’s an inescapable part of the business. While most restaurant owners prefer the concept of partnering with smaller local and regional suppliers, it’s often less practical, less reliable and less cost-effective.
If a restaurateur decides that they do indeed want to support their community by partnering locally and regionally, it’s essential they have a consistent backup plan in case of any unforeseeable issues. This dynamic is of the utmost importance, as food delivery can make or break a restaurant.
Related: The global restaurant re-opening: Experiences from around the world
Why should restaurants use local produce?
Using local produce (local farmers, farmers’ markets and even grocery stores) is an easy way to support your community while developing a mutually beneficial relationship. The quality of the products is often higher and the shorter supply chains make it easier to build enduring professional and personal relationships.
Where do restaurants get their supplies?
Restaurants typically procure their supplies from wholesale distributors. These can be larger companies like Sysco or smaller, more local producers, like small farms or farmers’ markets.
What are the disadvantages of locally grown food?
Locally grown food is generally less cost-effective because it doesn’t benefit from the economies of scale that larger entities enjoy. This means restaurants will often pay higher prices. Additionally, smaller vendors are more vulnerable to external elements and may thus be less reliable, despite increased consumer interest.