In This Issue

Inquiry of the Week

GCCA's Success Highlighted at Summit

2010 Directory Update Time!

GCCA Expands Global Reach

IACSC Conference Hotel Cut-Off

Winter Storms, Are You Prepared?

USDA Starts 2009 Capacity Survey

Time’s Running out to Save on 2010 Directory Ad Space

Cold Storage Industry News

Food Industry News

Government News

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Q: We keep freezing rooms of about 700 cubic meters at -18 C, only for storage of frozen food. We were asked to freeze pallets of jelly sacs (for transportation of drugs), from ambient (20C), to -18C. Pallets are 100X120X160 cm and contain 820 net kgs of gel (960 gross). The freezing point of gel is about -5C and boxes are densely stacked. Every pallet contains 50 boxes and each box contains 24 sacks of jell and each sac weighs 680 gr. Our cooling plant is designed for storage only, not freezing. Could you estimate approximately the freezing time required for the temperature to reach from ambient (20 C) to -18 C? Should we have any negative temperature effects in surrounding goods, if we place 2-3 pallets in every room?

A: Don Schlimme, WFLO Scientific Advisor responds: This query required us to make a few assumptions in order to accommodate the computer calculation process. The assumptions were related to the composition of the fluid within the "jelly sacs." We assumed the following: the water content is 95%, the protein content is 1.5%, the carbohydrate content is 1.5%, the fat content is 1%, the ash content is 0 %, and the fiber content is 0%. We further assumed that at 0 F (-18 C) the amount of unfrozen water is 1%. If the solid loaded pallet is placed in a space where the air temperature is -1 F (-18.3 C) and there is no air movement, air velocity is 1 ft/min (essentially nil) and the time required for the temperature in the geometric center of the pallet to reach a temperature of 0 F (-17.8 C) would be 298 days. However, if large floor fans were blowing the cold air onto and around the solid loaded pallet at a velocity of 500 ft/min the time required to attain a temperature of 1 F (-17.2 C) in the geometric center of the pallet would be 25.5 days. This time could be considerably reduced if 2-inch (5.1 cm) spacers were placed between each layer of cases on the pallet.

GCCA President and CEO Bill Hudson was one of a select group of association CEOs and top executives brought together at the Association CEO Summit VIII organized by Bisnow. At the summit, CEOs were asked how they are protecting their organization’s bottom line from the rough economic climate. Hudson was able to report that GCCA has actually grown its membership this year by focusing on and expanding the many benefits that come with joining the association. Read more about the CEO Summit here.

The publication of the 2010 Global Cold Chain Directory is just around the corner and the time has come again to ensure that your listing is accurate in the industry’s best resource. This week and next all members will be receiving email proofs of their listings. Warehouses will receive a message containing their corporate headquarters listing information, and then separate messages for each facility listing as well. All other members will also receive messages showing all of the details of their company listing and any other information such as product or service category. The email will include instructions on updating your listing and if you need any assistance please call GCCA headquarters at +1 703 373 4300.

The WFLO Cold Store Operations Course have successfully completed in India, Nicaragua, and South Africa, reaching over 120 international cold store operators. Evaluations from the South African course participants were overwhelmingly positive with 96 percent responding that the topics covered were helpful to their company and an 100 percent of respondents agreeing that the presenters of the course were effective. WFLO will continue to deliver high quality training and presenters to the global cold storage community through the further implementation of the Cold Store Operations Course; The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant that has already trained over 200 researchers to conduct post harvest losses in Benin, Ghana, Rwanda and India; and additional programs scheduled in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and North Africa.  For more information on any of our International Programs or to get involved in the work that GCCA is doing, contact Richard Tracy at rtracy@gcca.org or +1 703 373 4300.

Where can you learn about automation, builders risk insurance, storm proofing, and flexibility in design? At the 2009 IACSC Conference and Expo, being held 5-8 November 2009 at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, attendees will learn about the trends that will shape construction and design in the cold storage industry in 2010. Special offer: IARW Warehouse Members can attend this three-day conference for just $300! We are also offering an exceptional rate of $209 with no additional resort fee (plus 13% room tax and $2.00 per room occupancy tax) at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton New Orleans. However, this deal ends next week on October 14, 2009. Book your room today by calling central reservations at +1 800 826 8987, and mentioning “IACSC.” For a full registration list and complete information on the conference, visit www.iacsc.org/iacsc09.

Unfortunately, many of you probably remember the storms from last winter that hit unlike any that most have seen before. As much as we hope not to see those types of storms again, it is time to begin assessing how prepared we are for the next storm season. Recently an operation managers of an IARW member mentioned that he was very proud of their new company purchase, a professional snow blower. Don’t wait until the weather changes to try and purchase snow blowers in your area. Buy them early and have them ready. BE PREPARED! As always, please contact your IARW Insurance Services Team for any assistance by reaching out to Connie Phipps at cphipps@lockton.com or +1 816 960 9946.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun conducting its 2009 Capacity Survey of Refrigerated Warehouses in the United States. IARW works closely with USDA on this survey, which provides invaluable information on growth of the cold storage warehouse industry (public and private). Surveys were sent out to warehousing professionals across the U.S. in late September. If you received a survey, please consider completing the questionnaire and returning to USDA as soon as possible. Data from your firm will be combined with others to maintain the confidentiality of individual reports. The published report will be sent to all respondents who request a copy by checking the box on the back of the questionnaire. The report will be published in late January 2010. For more information, click here.

If you’re planning on advertising in the 2010 Global Cold Chain Directory, there’s only one week left to qualify for the early-bird discount! Submit your insertion order form by 14 October 2009 and save 5 percent of any ad. As an added bonus, when you reserve your Directory ad space you are also eligible to receive 20 percent off all 2010 COLD FACTS ad space.

To reserve ad space or to find out more ways to bundle your association advertising in 2010, contact James Rogers at jrogers@gcca.org or call +1 703 373 4300. Download your GCCA Media Kit here.

Castle & Cooke Cold Storage has announced that the company has undergone a name change as well as a move to new headquarters as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary.  See full release.

A strong pink salmon run means plenty of work at Bellingham Cold Storage' s dockside facility in Washington, USA.  See full story from The Bellingham Herald.

Stefan Borisov Nicolov freezing and cold storage plant, in Camagüey city, Cuba, is an example of energy saving performance.  See full story from Radio Cadena Agramonte.

California, USA Asian noodle manufacturers are demanding a change in a state law requiring manufacturers to refrigerate the pasta instead of allowing it to be stored at room temperature. See full story from The Los Angeles Times.