k e e p i n g VOLUME 4 ■ ISSUE 12
IN PROFILE
BUSINESS JOURNAL
b u s i n e s s e s
c o n n e c t e d ™
DECEMBER 2019
AG MAINSTAY
Daryl Carpenter has turned his experience with pain and the relief he got from CBD products into a thriving Manteca business. PAGE 3
IN PROFILE
Turlock resident Amy Navarra is wowing the community with her charcuterie boards.
PAGE 4
Stanislaus Farm Supply celebrates 70 years BY JEFF BENZIGER
I
209 Business Journal
n 1949 a strike by the steel workers on the east coast led to a shrinking supply of bailing wire needed by Valley farmers and what was available was exorbitantly priced. The need for less expensive wire drove Stanislaus County farmers to creatively pool financial resources under a committee to secure a railcar of wire. One of the farmers, Joe Sousa, offered to the Farm Supply Committee headed by Maurice McDonald to manage the company for six months without pay. He also offered free use of his pickup and one-and-a-half-ton truck. If directors were satisfied with the operation at the end of six months, he agreed to continue for six more months; if not, he pledged to resign with no compensation. Another farmer, Fred Thiemann matched Sousa’s proposal by offering office space and clerical staff at no charge, and in 1949, Stanislaus Farm Supply was born. That was 70 years ago and in November the Ceres based grower-owned coop celebrated with a dinner gala and program at the Turlock Fairgrounds. While other grower-owned companies and ag suppliers have come and gone in the same 70 years, Stanislaus Farm Supply has thrived by adapting to change. Today, Stanislaus Farm Supply has three locations in California – Ceres, Merced and Kerman – and two in Nevada – Yerington and Fallon – with a total of 150 employees. The business mainly supplies 2,500 farmer members and general customers with fertilizer, seed, feed, herbicides and pesticides and general farm supplies such as farm animal health products. Besides lower costs, Stanislaus Farm
Supply offers service and advice to farmers. “Our competitors are large and foreign owned and kind of publicly traded companies with thousands of branches across the country,” said marketing director Joey Gonsalves. “They could care less what’s happening in Ceres. Their branch out here is a number on a page where here it’s much more focused on the customer because that’s who owns us. So, it’s getting quality service, quality service at a fair price to make them money.” From advances in ag technology to climate and environmental changes, agriculture is a dynamic industry full of challenges and opportunities. Stanislaus Farm Supply also works with the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau as an affiliated co-op to be a voice for agriculture and strives to improve the financial wellbeing and quality of life for farmers and ranchers. The program recounted how Stanislaus Farm Supply – today located on Service Road in southwest Ceres – evolved over the seven decades. Originally located on 8th and Washington streets in Modesto, Stanislaus Farm Supply’s success is often attributed to the business savvy of its founding members, along with its integral relationship with the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau which supplied much of the early financing for the growing company. Within five years of its 1949 founding the small cooperative grew to over $500,000 in annual sales. By 1960 Farm Supply acquired a new warehouse on Service Road near the Tidewater Railroad tracks that allowed for the eventual development of onsite bulk fertilizer storage and added a field staff to better
emphasize its service-oriented business model. Today the Ceres location doubles as the corporate headquarters and is one of the main distribution centers for fertilizer and seed. It employs around 100 employees, said Gonsalves. While Stanislaus Farm Supply strengthened its relationship with the Farm Bureau and area growers, an increasing gap widened between farmers and consumers. When Sam Bettencourt became general manager in 1978, he pushed the SEE FARM, PAGE 10
JEFF BENZIGER/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
Nick Biscay, CEO of Stanislaus Farm Supply, speaks at the 70th anniversary banquet in Turlock on Nov. 14.
209 209BUSINESS BUSINESS JOURNAL JOURNAL
2
DECEMBER 2019
OPINION
Vol. 4 No. 12 ■ December 2019 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen
GENERAL MANAGER
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Drew Savage
MANAGING EDITOR Sabra Stafford
NEWSROOM Dennis D. Cruz Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Angelina Martin Candy Padilla Vince Rembulat Virginia Still Dennis Wyatt
— Winston Churchill
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harold L. George
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman
SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Lorraine Bernaldes Beth Flanagan Dawn Hamilton Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber Jennifer Webber
DIGITAL Frankie Tovar Rich Matheson
To advertise in 209 Business Journal, call Manteca • 209.249.3500 Oakdale • 209.847.3021 Turlock • 209.634.9141 209 Business Journal is published monthly 122 S. Third Ave • Oakdale, CA 95361 Information: dsavage@209businessjournal.com 209businessjournal.com The Oakdale Leader USPS No 178-680 Is published weekly by Morris Newspaper Corporation, 122 S. Third Ave. Oakdale, Ca 95361 ©Copyright 2019. 209 Business Journal All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher of 209 Business Journal is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in 209 Business Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of 209 Business Journal management or owner. 209 Business Journal assumes no responsibility and makes no recommendation for claims made by advertisers and shall not be liable for any damages incurred.
209MAG A Z I N E.CO M
Store parking lots are now turning into modern spoils system with PC overtures I believe there is a special place in hell reserved by those that park in handicapped spaces that have no handicaps and the prerequisite placard or plate. I get that there are those that abuse the system and somehow manage to either get the DMV to erroneously issue them one or else “borrow” one from a legitimate handicapped person. I also do not assume that someone using a blue placard that looks perfectly healthy is indeed perfectly healthy as they could have an invisible handicap — heart or breathing issues — that aren’t readily telegraphed at all opportunities. Keeping that in mind I’m not the person who circles a parking lot for 5 to 10 minutes trying to get as close to the front door as possible. I’m more of a park and get out of the car and go into the store kind of guy as opposed to those that undertake a massive hunt for a stall that is 5 feet closer to the one that they just passed up. I will never understand how some people relate to parking. Back in 1992 after Walmart had opened there was a fabric store where Manteca Bedquarters is today. I overheard two ladies talking about the fabric section at Walmart. This was before the happy smile emoji people gave the fabric depart-
DENNIS WYATT 209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
ment the deep-six treatment when Bentonville realized they couldn’t squeeze enough profit from selling fabrics after successfully driving every small town fabric store out of business. One said they still preferred Hancock Fabrics as the selection was much better, the clerks more knowledgeable, and the prices weren’t all that different. The second lady said she had stopped going to Hancock Fabrics as she was tired of walking a half a block or so from where she parked her car. If you have ever been to the Manteca Walmart — or any Walmart for that matter — even the handicapped parking often is not all that close to the front door. The fabric section was at the farthest possible point from the entrance in the far southwest corner of the Manteca store. Yet the lady was arguing when she made a trip specifically — and exclusively — to buy fabric that it was easier to do so at Walmart because of the parking. I get if she was talking about parallel parking on Yosemite Avenue in heavy traffic. I avoid
parallel parking between cars whenever I can. But she was referring to the actual distance between where she parked her car and where the fabrics were. I’ve been going to the InShape City on East Yosemite Avenue since 1991 when it was still the Manteca Racquetball & Health Club. For the last 25 years I’ve driven to the gym less than five times. I have jogged there in rain, fog, darkness, below freezing, and even twice when it was snowing ever so slightly. I go a minimum of three times a week. It is a nice warm-up and cool down jog given it is 1.75 miles each way. I get why people drive to the gym — time, distance, other appointments. What I don’t get are people who drive to the gym, bypass available spaces, and circle the parking lot several times looking for a closer stall. These people are not handicapped and more often than not are younger and in better shape than me. It is not uncommon when I come out of a group fitness class they are on a treadmill. If that makes sense to you we have to have a serious talk. It goes without saying I’m not the type of person to be miffed about not getting close to a store entrance. However, I’m beginning to wonder what retailers think of me as a customer given how subtly they
work to relegate me to the back of the parking lot. I was never wild about the idea that the “employee of the month” is carved out a special parking space from the prime stalls. Show how special they are by giving them a $100 bonus without sending a message to paying customers that employees count more than they do in the pecking order of the parking lot. I get why spaces are set aside for online pickup orders although it is a strange way to tell traditional brick and mortar in-the-flesh shoppers what they mean to you. What I’m not getting is the proliferation of “carve out” spaces for the remaining customers. The ones for “expectant mothers” don’t raise too much ire given being pregnant can impact your physical movements as handicaps can. But spaces reserved for “mother with young children? What makes them more special than “90 plus year olds who are still relatively agile but don’t need a handicap placard” customer? Are young moms with children more harried than “young fathers with children”? Why aren’t the gender-neutral police coming down on whoever is in charge of carving up the parking lot? What about spaces reserved SEE STORE, PAGE 10
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
3
IN PROFILE
Oakdale Curves recognized with national honor Elite Relief finds BY TERESA HAMMOND 209 Business Journal
November marked a significant anniversary for Oakdale businesswoman Colleen O’Connell. It was ten years ago that O’Connell first stepped into the now popular downtown Curves/Jenny Craig location and got to work. The business at 113 N. Third Ave., Oakdale, was not just a new location for the longstanding Oakdale business but a fresh start with O’Connell at the helm. “There was just a small amount of members left, I think maybe 75,” she said of when she acquired the business from the previous owner, “so when I first opened my doors I think I had 15 women who worked out in one day.” Curves Oakdale was first opened 19 years ago. This year, however, marks more than a decade of business for the health and fitness enthusiast. It also marks the first year the franchise has been recognized for its contributions by the parent corporation. Earlier this month O’Connell was awarded 2019 Curves North America Franchisee of the Year,
while attending a conference in Waco, Texas. “I was literally just stunned,” she said of hearing her name announced during the ceremony. “I was looking at all these great owners, all who work hard, all who affect change in their community, they’ve got big businesses and I’m small.” The franchise owner shared it was an unimaginable surprise. She noted that during the 2018 conference a Hawaii trip caught her attention and at the start of the new year, recognized she might be a contender for that trip. System updates companywide, however, slowly made it more challenging for O’Connell to track the progress. So as she sat at the conference a few weeks back, the Hawaii trip was what she anticipated. An honor such as Franchisee of the Year was far off her radar. Upon stepping onto the stage amidst the cheers from her peers, O’Connell was presented with the award as well as a list of accomplishments for the year which earned her the distinguished honor. The
niche in Manteca BY VINCE REMBULAT 209 Business Journal
Several years ago, Daryl Carpenter suffered an unknown illness. He went from an active lifestyle that included coaching youth baseball along with running his own business, to not being able to walk for weeks. Carpenter, who is lifelong resident of Manteca, was suffering from Stills disease, which affects the autoimmune system with
symptoms similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis. His pain not only affected the joints but included some excruciating muscle and nerve pain. Some of his events were so severe that he needed to call emergency services. Since 2015, Carpenter had seen many of the area’s top physicians, who prescribed him everything from Nsaids to SEE ELITE, PAGE 6
TERESA HAMMOND/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
Colleen O’Connell was awarded 2019 Curves North America Franchisee of the Year.
business owner shared she feels she just checked off all the boxes throughout the year, an act which happened somewhat organically, as she shared her love not only for the business, but the community in which she serves. Curves/Jenny Craig Oakdale now has a membership of close to 350. It’s a membership list which
We’re Committed to Local and Diverse Suppliers At Kaiser Permanente, we want local economies to thrive. That’s why we leverage our purchasing power to buy goods and services from local, small and diverseowned businesses. Kaiser Permanente spent almost $2 billion with diverse suppliers last year. If you would like to raise your visibility for future procurement opportunities, register your business in our Supplier Portal today!
REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS
Go to supplierdiversity.kp.org
has not only grown since she reopened the doors 10 years ago, but has a healthy retention. The business became a dual brand location in 2014. A merge which O’Connell shared was not a requirement, yet she felt was a nice complement to the existing Curves business. SEE CURVES, PAGE 7
VINCE REMBULAT/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
From left, Daryl Carpenter, Katie Clemons and Darla Carpenter are part of Manteca’s family owned and operated Elite Relief located in the Civic Plaza.
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
4
DECEMBER 2019
IN PROFILE
Turlocker brings people together through charcuterie BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
The Dunbar House Inn and Event Center in Murphys is providing guests a one-stop location for weddings and events.
Dunbar House: Murphys retreat and event venue BY SABRA STAFFORD 209 Business Journal
When it comes to planning for a wedding some couples opt to really personalize the experience and create memorable moments for themselves and their guests by hosting a destination wedding. The Dunbar House Inn and Event Center in striving to
give couples a unique and convenient experience. Nestled right off Main Street in Murphys is the 139-year-old Italianatestyle Dunbar House that has been turned into an all in one wedding venue with the added bonus of giving the wedding party and guests the entire town of Murphys to stay and play.
The Dunbar House Inn and Event Property is owned by Michael Ninos and is part of V Vacation Rentals, which includes the Victoria Inn, the 20-acre Crestview Pond Estate, as well as condos in Murphys. “The fact that we are right in the middle of town is really convenient,” Ninos SEE DUNBAR, PAGE 6
Following behind the likes of chips and salsa, deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail, charcuterie boards are the new must-have hors d’oeuvre when it comes to hosting an event no one will forget. The decadent boards topped with meats, cheeses and crackers are a tad more cultured than their finger food counterparts, however, inspiring Turlock resident Amy Navarra to create a business showing the community how to “wow” with gorgeous arrangements that taste PHOTO CONTRIBUTED as good as they look. While the term “char- Turlock resident Amy Navarra created Savor Charcuterie cuterie” is of French de- in an effort to spread hospitality through artisticallyarranged meats, cheeses and crackers. scent, meaning “cured meats,” this definition as an appetizer at events to workshops that teach doesn’t tell the whole sto- and also feature cheese, hosts how to entertain ry of what the boards truly crackers, bread and other and impress their guests are, Navarra explained. and through food. Today, charcuterie refers accompaniments, Hospitality was a prioriNavarra’s business, Sato the practice of assemty for Navarra growing up, bling fine meat artistically vor Charcuterie, provides she said, and through this for consumption. The expertly-crafted boards boards are typically used for customers in addition SEE SAVOR, PAGE 5
Your Trusted Community Partner
(209)883-8300 | TID.org
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
5
IN PROFILE
Furniture gallery opens in Oakdale BY TERESA HAMMOND 209 Business Journal
Retirement might look a bit different than one might imagine for Scott and Lisa Duburg. The Oakdale couple recently began their latest adventure as the owners of Oakdale Furniture Gallery. The family run business at 1449 E. F St., Oakdale is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. “We retired and needed something to do after the fact,” Lisa Duburg said. “We wanted something to leave our kids and grandkids. This is completely family owned and operated.” Located to the south of SaveMart supermarket, the furniture store currently occupies two of the suites which were vacant. An expansion is currently underway and is expected to be complete in early 2020. Duburg noted while the couple is thrilled to have opened its doors in October with the limited space, she’s equally excited to be able to expand the business and create true vignettes once construction is complete. Drawing on Scott’s 40 years in the furniture business and her 30 years in the heating and air business, the couple’s business partnership is proving to be beneficial in creating a well-rounded retail experience for its customers. In Scott’s 40 years in the business he spent a number of years with his own furniture repair business, as well as working for the
SAVOR
FROM PAGE 4 she was able to grasp the importance of an authentic connection. Cuisine is one means through which humans can form a connection, and what better way to do so than while grazing a delicious charcuterie board? “It’s scientifically proven that when people use their hands for something in the presence of others, they have an increased likelihood to engage in meaningful and authentic social interaction,” Navarra said. “Plus, who doesn’t like to eat meat and cheese?” Through Savor Charcuterie, Navarra encourages others to taste the difference togetherness makes. She’s traveled as far as Iowa with her business, offering informational charcuterie
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TERESA HAMMOND/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
Oakdale Furniture Gallery, owned by Scott and Lisa Duburg, will be expanded in the coming year.
well-known Restoration Hardware. Experiences which make him a true asset to the business, as well as being able to work with customer requests. Lisa Duburg describes the team as Scott being the “creative doer” and herself as the numbers person. The newly opened furniture store offers a fresh shopping experience to the east side of Oakdale. The space offers furnishings described as rustic, industrial, but very, very comfy. “I’m not real modern,” she said of her personal style. “That’s not my style. I have to keep in mind other people’s style and taste. If it was all my style and taste it would be rustic homey, farmhouse kind of look. I love that. That is my style.”
While the space offers a stylish variety of furnishing pieces, the couple also offers a progressive feature to the business by way of retail kiosk. It’s an in store digital tool which offers customers access to two warehouse spaces in Los Angeles and the Bay Area and thousands of additional pieces of inventory. “If you see it on our digital kiosk it’s in stock,” Duburg said. “Once you see it if you like it you can purchase it and it comes out of the inventory immediately. It changes daily, several times a day actually. So as inventory comes and goes, that digital kiosk is updated.” In addition to this unique shopping opportunity, Oakdale Furniture Gal-
lery is also a membership based store. While customers need not be members to shop in the retail space, it is a service which can pay for itself in one quick shopping trip. “What that gives you is 20 percent off of furniture or anything in our store for life,” she said of the membership business model. Duburg also shared for the month of November they are offering free membership. “So, after November it will be a $99 fee.” “It’s a different concept,” she noted. “We needed a little niche, a little something different.” As the Duburgs get settled into the current space during the construction in the adjacent suites, Lisa
workshops and creating both grazing tables and individual curated boards in all sizes for customers to enjoy. “I think people are really drawn to these boards because there is something for everyone on them. It’s all the essential elements for a great started and all curated together makes a beautiful and artful presentation,” she said. “It’s also become so much easier to source great cheese and charcuterie meats at the local supermarkets, which gets people excited as well.” According to Navarra, two things go into a perfect charcuterie board: quality ingredients and balance. Similar to the rules of interior design, boards should feature odd numbered amounts of meat and cheese, and there should be no more than seven different types total on a
board at once. “You don’t have to spend your life savings, though very easy to do, as long as you have balance on your board,” Navarra said. Navarra’s charcuterie workshops are similar to paint and sip parties, she said, except instead of painting a canvas, participants create the art on their boards. When guests arrive at a workshop, the meats, cheeses and accompaniments are prepared, plated and ready to curate, and Navarra explains the art and methodology behind charcuterie so that even beginners can enjoy. “No idea is a bad idea, so they’ll be able to imagine their own combinations as well,” Navarra said. For the holidays, Navarra recommends festive extras to spice up a board. For Thanksgiving, add on fresh persimmons sliced thin, dried cranberries and figs,
pumpkin butter or pecans. At Christmas, add spiced nuts, cider-soaked cranberries, cherry jam or even rosemary sprigs. No matter what’s on a board, one thing is certain: food is a great equalizer, Navarra said, and everyone shows up to a charcuterie display with one thing in mind. “It doesn’t matter about our politics, our religion or our economics. At that moment, all that matters is that we are hungry and excited about gourmet cheese and meat,” she said. “It’s a little way to nourish not only our bodies but our souls. I love that I get to be a little part of connecting people, of helping people create authentic genuine connections and inspire the lost art of hospitality.” For more information email amy@savortogetherness.com; @savorcharcuterie on Instagram
SEE OAKDALE, PAGE 6
Sisters Marissa Miranda and Isabella Cisneros recently opened their secondhand boutique, Little Red Door, inside of Rustic Roots in downtown Turlock.
Fashion made affordable at secondhand boutique BY ANGELINA MARTIN
Little Red Door
A new Turlock business is giving discarded fashions a second chance — and downtown shoppers an affordable boutique experience. Sisters Marissa Miranda and Isabella Cisneros opened Little Red Door in November, hoping to redefine thrift shopping for the community through a selection of up-cycled clothing hand-picked by the duo. Miranda hopes the new boutique, located inside downtown business Rustic Roots, can bring back quality fabrics and one-of-a-kind items seldom found in chain stores today. “(Little Red Door) is like walking into your dream closet. It’s filled with nice, quality clothes because we really wanted to raise awareness about how over-manufactured the clothing industry is today...it’s more about quantity over quality, and that craftsmanship just isn’t there anymore,” Miranda said. “We don’t look like a secondhand shop and it doesn’t smell like it. It looks like a boutique until you look at the price tags.” A full-time teacher at Turlock Christian, Miranda recently moved to Turlock from Monterey. While living on the coast, she and Cisneros, who lives in Santa Cruz, would frequent thrift shops. Now the sisters continue to do so in towns like San Juan Bautista and Murphys, but are instead on the hunt for
Location: Inside Rustic Roots, 231 E. Main St., Turlock
209 Business Journal
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday Contact information: 831-240-7579
retro fashions they can sell in their shop. From Levi’s jeans to handbags from the ‘60s, a wide range of style options is available at the store. “My sister and I have always been close, but this has made us have more time together and has helped our relationship grow even more,” Miranda said. The store isn’t arranged by type of clothing, but the need for clothing, rather. Racks are labeled by occasion, like work, date night, weekend vibes and even a section for men, ranging in prices anywhere from $5 to $15. While many these days go thrifting in order to resell the clothing for a profit, Little Red Door aims to provide fashion at prices similar to the stores where the items were found. In addition, 10 percent of the shop’s proceeds go toward local nonprofit Prem-maa, which was started by two TC students to help stop human trafficking. “We want to make sure that it’s not going to cost a fortune to look good,” Miranda said. “Our objective is that anyone can dress nice and should be able to afford it.”
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
6
DECEMBER 2019
IN PROFILE
Latif’s ushers in new era, by Pedretti BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal
The 1960s decor, world famous pies and even the chair where George H. W. Bush once sat will all remain, but one of Turlock’s most-beloved restaurants now has a new owner — and kind of a new name. Latif’s by Pedretti — formerly known as Latif’s Restaurant — was recently purchased by Turlock native Nick Pedretti, who former owner Bob Stevens says he’s “passing the torch” to in good faith. Stevens has been a part of Latif’s since 1981, working in the restaurant first under his parents, Jim and Shirley Stevens, and eventually partnering with them before becoming the sole owner in 1997. He decided to sell the restaurant and retire to his new home in Twain Harte after commuting to Latif’s for the
OAKDALE
FROM PAGE 5
shared she’s enjoying the business, as well as location and partnership with her husband thus far. Once the additional space is open however, she is excited to bring in more home
DUNBAR
FROM PAGE 4
said of the Dunbar House. “You park your car and you don’t get back into it until you’re ready to go home.” The house was built in 1880 by the Dunbar family, who owned and operated some of the earliest lumberyards in the region. The house has served as an inn since the 1980s. Capable of hosting intimate sit-down outdoor special events and weddings for up to 140 people, the lush manicured grounds of the Dunbar
ELITE
FROM PAGE 3 steroids during that time. “Nothing seemed to work,” he said. That’s when Carpenter, who was taking up to 26 medications – “It was depressing,” he said – sought out a holistic alternative to his pain and sufferings. He went from looking into medical marijuana to researching the differences between CBD and CBG, consulting with people as far as Oregon on his educa-
past two years. “I had other buyers, but I really believe in Nick and the Pedretti family. They’re about as well-known as anybody in this town,” Stevens said. Pedretti will be the third family name to take over Latif’s since it opened in June of 1960, and he said he’s eager — and nervous — to take over the famed restaurant after serving as the downtown Dust Bowl taproom’s general manager for nearly nine years. “I loved my previous job, but I decided this was probably the time to work on my own. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time,” Pedretti said. “They were looking for someone who had been in town for a long time and had been coming here their whole life. I don’t want to change it up too much, just
update it a little bit and try to get some extra crowd in here.” Stevens’ entire staff stayed on to work under Pedretti. Turlockers and out-oftowners alike will be glad to hear their favorite pies are still up for grabs, and the nostalgic decor of the decades-old diner will remain as well — right down to the jukebox. So far there are just a few changes other than the new name, including some big screen TVs, new menu items and, soon, beer and wine. Pedretti said the restaurant’s longtime patrons made it clear: Don’t change a thing. “Just after being here for a couple weeks talking to everybody and hearing how much they love it the way it is, 100 percent I wanted to keep it the same,” he said. “We want to keep it original,
ANGELINA MARTIN/209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
The beloved 1960s ambiance and world-famous pies will remain, but under new owner Nick Pedretti, Latif’s Restaurant will now be known as Latif’s by Pedretti.
but have a new little swing on it.” Stevens knows the future of the diner is in good hands. “It’s a lot of mixed emotions. I’m proud that (Pedretti) is taking it over and it’s still going to remain the same,” Stevens said. “He’s going to do the things he needs to do to continue its success, but at the same time he won’t compromise the traditions that have been a mainstay in Turlock for 60 years. It’s a perfect fit, I believe.”
Soon, the words “Family Dining” underneath the iconic Latif’s sign will be replaced with “by Pedretti,” ushering in a new era for the longtime Turlock establishment. Looking back at his tenure as an employee, partner then owner, Stevens reflected on what the past 38 years have meant to him. “I’m going to miss all my customers and I just want to say thank you to the community for the support of Latif’s for 60 years and for the 38 that I was there,” he said. “I’m
accessories for their customers. “That’s my passion, that’s my love,” she said. “Furniture is his love and he knows everything there is to know about furniture. It’s just kind of blending the two together.” She also feels comfortable in the environment.
“I’m a people person, I love to talk to people,” she continued, sharing that the customers are her favorite part of the job. “No highpressure sales or anything like that. This is a family store. You walk through these doors, you might as well be coming into my home.”
house feature a tree shaded outdoor lawn area on the west side of the property for seated wedding ceremony services while the east side of the property is configured for the seated reception, entertainment and dancing. The Dunbar House also features the newly renovated 1880 Hall and freestanding Greenhouse meeting rooms and an expansive back property patio area. When the patio area is tented against heat, cold or inclement weather, it bridges the 1880 Hall to the Greenhouse, permitting for year-round indoor events for 30 to 100 seated
and 120 standing. An extensive full-service food catering menu is available from some of the local caterers, as well as the nearby Victoria Inn’s “V” Bistro, Restaurant and Bar. In-house food preparation can be staged and completed in the Dunbar House’s large kitchen. Additionally, the Dunbar House is fully licensed for beer, wine and full bar service for any event. For multi-day events, the Dunbar House has six suites available. Amenities range from king or queen-size beds, French doors leading to secluded patios and porch-
es, overstuffed furniture and wingback chairs, Jacuzzis, separate showers, and clawfoot tubs, English towel warmers, hair dryers, tables, writing desks, in-room coffee and tea service, WiFi, Smart flat screen televisions, radios, DVD/CD players and more. Guests are treated to a sumptuous full breakfast every morning, with full 24/7 access to the dining area’s coffee and tea services and a selection of readily available fresh bakery goods and fruit. For destination weddings requiring more than a few guest accommodations, additional rooms of
the same superior quality can be reserved at the 13 room Victoria Inn sister property, which is a mere 2-minute walk to the Dunbar House. In addition, 12 of 14 V Vacation Rentals, consisting of condos to full homes, are within a one to 10-minute walking distance from the Dunbar House with two secluded estate creekside or pondview homes within 1.2 to 2.7-mile driving distance. “The immediate bridal party is staying here, and all the close family and friends are staying at these exquisite condos and homes that are all up and down the block,” said V
tional quest. CBD is distinct from CBG in both chemical structure and concentration within the cannabis plants. CBG is the stem cell that produces CBD. It’s the latter that Carpenter, who also incorporated regular exercising and dieting to his daily routine, found beneficial, in his case – his inflammation went down tremendously and, after one full year of using CBD, experienced no flare ups or missed work at his business — Daryl Carpenter Insurance Agency.
Last February, he opened up Elite Relief at 955 W. Center St. Suite #4 in the Civic Plaza in Manteca. “We are a CBD shop, we are not a dispensary,” said Carpenter of the family owned and operated business that uses only the best CBD creams, oils and products. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and reopens from 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays According to Clemons, Elite Relief has seen increased business as of late thanks to social media,
word of mouth and testimonials. Carpenter, who is a thirdgeneration business owner in Manteca, made it clear that his shop is not a cureall but rather an option. “Every person is different,” he said. “Each has (his or her) own journey.” Elite Relief offers products for the brain (antianxiety, anti-depressant, antioxidant, neuroprotective), stomach (anti-emetic, appetite control), bones (stimulating growth and strengthening bones affected by osteoporosis),
eyes (vasorelaxant for glaucoma), heart (anti-inflammatory, atherosclerosis, anti-ischemic) and intestines (anti-prokinetic). Carpenter also provides plenty of information on CBD and CBG. “(We) are knowledgeable about every product we sell and we look forward to helping you and find exactly what you’re looking for,” he said. For more information, call or text at 209.683.4007 or email www.eliterelief209@gmail.com.
going to miss my employees; they’re all like family for me. I’ll be down all the time poking my head in, helping with this and helping with that...I’m not washing my hands of Turlock by any means.” Pedretti is looking forward to adding his legacy to the small list of Latif’s owners. “It’s definitely a little scary and I’m a little nervous, but it’s nice to have the family and everybody here to support me,” Pedretti said. “It should work out well.” Vacation Rentals Marketing Director Christopher Buttner. For the bride and groom and their wedding party and guests, Murphys offers a variety of activities. “You can hit 25 tasting rooms right on Main Street, plus shopping and restaurants and ice cream shops,” Ninos said. “I think the mix of retail andswim? restaurants Wanna We got you covered. and tasting rooms and everything else that exists here is a really good mix. The wedding experience can stretch out over several days all in Murphys.”
Subscribe on
STUDIO209.TV
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
7
NEWS
Holiday drive launches to benefit local food banks 128-UNIT APARTMENTS BEING BUILT STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal
Save Mart has launched their annual storewide Give. Share. Care! Holiday Drive to benefit local food banks throughout California and Northern Nevada. In conjunction with this launch, Save Mart is debuting their latest #ValleyProud video on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook that highlights Save Mart’s community partnership with centralized food banks throughout California and Northern Nevada. “Since our founding in 1952, our motto at The Save Mart Companies is to nourish community and our commitment extends beyond the four walls of our stores in each community we serve,” said ,
CURVES
FROM PAGE 3
As testimony to the success of the business, the studio was outfitted with the newest Curves equipment this spring. “It’s sleeker and ergonomic and it just has a great feel,” O’Connell said of the new equipment. She also began to focus on non-scale victories with the Curves clients, utilizing social media to share the stories of success. “That was really a big important piece. That was really thrilling,” she said of the social media platform. “We have so many success
Vice President of Save Mart Store Operations Bobby McDowell. “Each video in our Valley Proud campaign reflects the pride we have living and working in our communities and our latest Valley Proud video echoes our deep appreciation of our partners and customers, who generously support our efforts to help and feed families in need.” There is no single face of food insecurity, as it impacts every community in the United States. According to Feeding America, an average of one in nine Americans struggle with hunger and do not know where his or her next meal will come from. It’s worse among children: one in seven experiences food insecurity.
“Save Mart plays a huge role in getting food into our community,” said Kim Dildine, Chief Administrative Officer at Central California Food Bank in Fresno. “Our partner agencies work with them to receive food and Save Mart’s amazing register campaign raises thousands of dollars so we’re able to put that to work to get food to families in need.” To help boost donations to local food banks all Save Mart stores make it easy for shoppers to donate through their Holiday Give. Share. CARE! Holiday Drive. At checkout, customers can tear off a coupon and hand it to the cashier: $2 feeds one person breakfast
$3 feeds one person lunch $5 feeds one person dinner The coupon shoppers choose will be added to their grocery bill, and the tax-deductible contribution will be noted on their receipt. 100% of all donations go to the local food bank assigned to each store. Last year, the Give. Share. CARE! Holiday Drive brought in more than $305,000 collectively from our 207 family of stores for about 30 food banks throughout California and Northern Nevada. This year donations at checkout will end Dec. 27.
stories, but a lot of us don’t want to toot our own horn.” Ten years of business in Oakdale, has also found O’Connell becoming active in community events, sharing that reaching out and being involved with the community as important not only to her, but to her clients. She noted the interaction with the community at varying events as an opportunity to change lives. “I do everything I can,” she said. “Everything” which includes canned food drives for community sharing, participation in farmers market and other local events as well as Oakdale’s annual
Relay For Life event. Some might say it’s O’Connell’s passion for the business, as well as drive which is pivotal to the location success and while she might not deny that, she also feels it’s the business model of 30 minute workouts which keep clients coming back. “I think most of my membership want the flexibility to just pop in and out without having a planned time,” she said, noting that classes are hosted twice a day as well. “They might have a time frame around that they come, but the flexibility works for them.” Her passion for the business, however, has placed her in a position where she
is working a bit more than she would like. The success of the business now allows her the ability to build her staff a bit so that she can pursue a bit more life balance in the coming year. “The pieces that I’m doing I’m really enjoying,” she shared. “I really help change women’s lives. That is really what it’s about. I’m a real success seeker. I see things happy. I’m happy when I come in.” Her happiness in coming to work and her passion for helping others has now brought the national accolades as well. “It really is a lifetime achievement that I wasn’t expecting,” O’Connell said.
Your Favorite Magazine now... DECEM
BER/JA
NUARY 201
9 - ISS
UE 30
NYE F as BRU hion MID NCH TO
Just $
- $4.9
5
NIGH T CERES CENT ENNIA Celebr L
ation
FEBRUA
RY/MA
L
RCH 201
9 - ISS
$4.95US
MACodi’s own K
ZIE FREEEND
- $4.9
5
Miss C aliforn ia
PIFF
THE M AG DRAG ON IC
Cover
-84P.indd
UE 31
1
Sno y Stopw s
APRIL/M
AY 201
9 - ISS
Cover P h C oto WIN ontest 11/26
/2018
UE 32
- $4.9
5
9:30:2
1 AM
NE
LET’S
R BRUDNO CH TOAS WARK 200 0 T here
$4.95US
to the roam elephan
IRISH in the 209ts
Cover
-84P.indd
1
JUNE/J
ULY 201
9 - ISS
UE 33
1/21/2019
- $4.9
5
12:15:52
PM
$4.95US
SECR
Swim ET Holes ming
Cover
-84P.indd
1
LIFE
in theM saY ddK le Jo ETO
18
per year
visit 209magazine.com and click the
SUBSCRIBE to have 209 Magazine delivered to your door!
urney
3/25/2019
10:03:18
Construction of Woodbridge complex starting in 2020 at Union, Lathrop roads BY DENNIS WYATT 209 Business Journal
Get ready for 2020 being the Year of the Apartments in Manteca. There will be 364 apartment units under construction in 2020 — the most ever for one year in Manteca. Developers have secured financing to build the long-approved 128unit Woodbridge Apartment complex planned immediately east of the Woodbridge Center East anchored by CVS Pharmacy on the northeast corner of Union and Lathrop roads. The complex is also north and east of the water tank along Lathrop Road. Plans for the $39.1 million project are now being processed by the City of Manteca. Developers want to break ground in early 2020. Site work has started on the first phase pf the 428unit Valencia Place Apartments complex being built on Atherton Drive to the east of Bass Pro Shops and Orchard Valley. When you combine the 236 apartments in the first phase of the Valencia’s complex with the 128 units at Woodbridge, it will mean 364 apartments will be under construction at the same time in Manteca during 2020. That is the largest number of apartment units ever to be built in a single year in Manteca eclipsing the 300 Paseo Villa units built in 2006. Valencia has funding secured for all 428 units. It is being built in two phases to make it manageable. The Valencia units are expected to be ready to lease in late 2021. The Woodbridge complex will consist of seven buildings ranging from two to three stories. It will include a first for Manteca — a keypad pedestrian gate on the northwest part of the project that will allow
residents to walk to and from the adjoining Woodbridge Center East retail development. The retail complex on the northwest corner of Lathrop Road and Union Road already has a CVS Pharmacy, a McDonald’s and a car wash. It is also expected to eventually have a restaurant as well as three additional on-line retail storefront buildings as part of the center. The 128-unit garden apartment complex includes a 3,800-squarefoot community center with a swimming pool and spa. There also would be a mail kiosk, enclosed garages, carports and extensive landscaping and landscaping improvements. The northeast corner of Lathrop Road and Union Road was master planned for what is called “smart growth” that means basic retail services such as grocery shopping, drug stores and food services are within walking distance of the apartment complex. The complex is also situated to serve as a buffer between the single-family homes of Union Ranch to the north and the retail complex. The 20-acre Valencia Place project is within walking distance of four high profile categories of amenities — restaurants, a 16-screen cinema, a fitness center, and an elementary school. Valencia Place is being developed in two phases with the first 236 units built on the southern edge of the 20 acres along Atherton Drive and the second phase of 192 units bordering the 120 Bypass. Each phase — while designed as one large complex — will have its own community center, swimming pool, tot lots, family areas and park/drainage basin with fenced-in dog parks.
The world is
Your business should be, too.
AM
MNC Digital Services $4.95US
KEEP
Cover
-84P.indd
1
and CALM TEQUdrink ILA 5/20/2019
8:49:2
8 AM
WE’ VE GOT THE 209 COVERED.
20 cents is spent by the owner and employees locally
40% 40%
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
8
37% DECEMBER 2019 32% 30%
BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS Americans love Small Business Saturday Independentlyowned bakeries
44 cents goes to the small business owner and employees wages and benefits
Locking up your suppliers when selling online “I have been selling merchandise on eBay and Amazon for some time. I would like to build a ‘brand’ for the merchandise that I sell, but I’m being told that the only way to do that (since I’m not the manufacturer of these goods, only the distributor) is to get an exclusive distributor agreement with each manufacturer so that I am the only person selling these goods on eBay and Amazon. “What do you think of this idea? If it’s a good one, how do I go about negotiating contracts with these manufacturers?” Generally, it’s hard to build a brand online when you are not the manufacturer of the merchandise you sell. Most new sellers on eBay and Amazon make the mistake of selling goods that are all over the map. While this may be a good way to get started in online sales and learn the ropes, you won’t be able to grow an online selling business unless you specialize in a merchandise niche and have merchandise that isn’t easily available elsewhere. Manufacturers will probably be hesitant to deal with you unless you have an established track record of selling online and you show them you are creditworthy and have the expertise and sophistication to maintain their brand image online. Most large manufacturers won’t want to deal with you at all (they deal only with other big companies), but smaller family-owned businesses may give you a shot. If your manufacturers are willing to give you the exclusive right to handle their merchandise online, here are some of the key points you will have to negotiate with each of them. The Scope of Your Exclusive Territory. Will you be the manufacturer’s exclusive distributor for the
FEBRU ARY/M
ARCH
2019
- ISSUE
31 - $4.95
PIFF
THE M AG DRAG ON IC APRIL
/MAY
2019
- ISSUE
32 - $4.95
Snow Stops y LET’S DO Cover Photo Con B
RUNCWIN teARstK H NWERhere 2000
$4.95U
S
JUNE
/JULY
2019
P.indd
1
$4.95U
SECR ET
S
Cover-84
P.indd
1
TOAS to th T
- ISSUE
Cover-84
roam in elephants the 20 9
e
IRISH
33 - $4.95
Swim Holes ming
1/21/2019
12:15:52
PM
LIFE
MY K Jo ETO in the sa urney ddle 3/25/2019
$4.95U
10:03:18
AM
S
KEEP CALM
Cover-84
P.indd
1
and TEQUdrink ILA 5/20/2019
8:49:28
AM
CLIFF ENNICO CREATORS SYNDICATE
whole web? Only eBay? EBay and Amazon? You should seek as broad a territory as possible. Also, since people can access the web anywhere in the world, you should not accept any sort of geographic boundaries on your activities (for example, “online sales to customers in the continental United States”), as there is no practical way to enforce them. d Feedback The Terms of the Agreement. Once you establish an online brand for a manufacturer, it’s a sure bet the manufacturer will be approached by other online vendors offering to do a better job than you. To protect your investment, you should ask the manufacturer for as long a term as possible (I recommend at least five years) and options to renew for additional periods. Will You Be Allowed to Carry Competing Merchandise? Just as you want an exclusive for online sales, your manufacturer may want an exclusive that prohibits you from carrying their competitors’ merchandise. You should seek to keep these as limited as possible: for example, if a jewelry designer asks you not to deal with “any other jewelry designer,” you can respond by offering not to deal with “any jewelry designer who specializes in Celtic-inspired designs.” Will You Be Required to Purchase Minimum Quantities of Merchandise? In a true distributorship, you buy goods from the manufacturer at wholesale prices and then resell them online, keeping the difference as your profit. Some manufacturers will grant you an exclusive only if you agree to
18
Just $
23 cents gets reinvested in other local businesses
59%
plan to shop from small And that $1 creates an businesses even online additional 50 cents of local economic impact 30 cents is spent by the small business owner on local vendors 20 cents is spent by the owner and employees locally
Small Business: one with fewer than 500 employees
love Small Support Your Local Americans Business Saturday 4x Small 91% 47%Businesses 17% of Americans shop at a small business at least once a week
frequent small businesses 2-4 times weekly
November:
37%
32% 30% November 30, 2019: Small Business Saturday
Independentlyowned bakeries
Clothing, accessory and shoe stores
Restaurants, bars and pubs
Bookstores
SUBSCRIBE
plan to shop at independentlyowned retailers or restaurants that day
of consumers said Small Business Saturday has had a positive impact on their community
LocalNational Shoppers’ Favorite Entrepreneur Destinations: Month
40% 40%
80%
97%
more than 4 times a week
59%
plan to shop from small businesses even online
Support Your Local Small Businesses November: National Entrepreneur Month
GIFTS
Gift, novelty and souvenir stores
November 30, 2019: Small Business Saturday
Small businesses keep money in the community For every $1 you spend at a small business:
www.score.org
www.score.org
Connect with SCORE to help prepare your small business for these events and year-round at score.org
67 cents stays in the local community
Connect with SCORE to help prepare your small business for these events and year-round at score.org 44 cents goes to the small business owner and employees wages and benefits 23 cents gets reinvested in other local businesses
Sources:
https://www.coxblue.com/fast-facts-for-small-business-from-the-2018-cox-business-consumer-pulse-survey/ https://about.americanexpress.com/press-release/another-reason-to-shop-small-on-small-business-saturday https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181113005356/en/
And that $1 creates an additional 50 cents of local economic impact Sources: https://www.coxblue.com/fast-facts-for-small-business-from-the-2018-cox-business-consumer-pulse-survey/
30 cents is spent by the small business owner on local vendors https://about.americanexpress.com/press-release/another-reason-to-shop-small-on-small-business-saturday 20 cents is spent by the owner and https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181113005356/en/ employees locally
Americans love Small Business Saturday
Your Favorite Magazine now...
DECEMB
ER/JANU ARY 201
9 - ISSU
NY Fas E BRUNhion MID CH TO
plan to shop from small businesses even online
$4.95
NIGH Support T Your Local CERE Small Businesses CEN S
CelebTEr NNIAL ation
November: FEBRUA
18
plan to shop at independentlyowned retailers or restaurants that day
59%
E 30 -
Just $
80%
97% of consumers said Small Business Saturday has had a positive impact on their community
Lodi’s o
M
National EntrepreneurACKEN wn ZIE Month RY/MA
RCH 201
9 - ISSU
$4.95US
Cover
E 31 -
Miss Ca lifornia
PIFF
November 30, 2019: TH E MA G DRSmall Business IC AGO N Saturday
-84P.in
dd 1
Sno y Stopw s
APRIL/M
AY 201
9 - ISSU
Cover P h C oto WIN ontest 11/26/
2018
E 32 -
$4.95
9:30:21
AM
NE
LET’S
$4.95US
Cover
per year
FREED
$4.95
R BRUDNO CH TOAS WARK 200 0 T here www.score.org
visit 209magazine.com and click the
to the roam elephan in the 2 ts 0prepare 9 Connect with SCORE to help your small business for these events and year-round at score.org
IRISH
-84P.in
dd 1
JUNE/JU
LY 201
9 - ISSU
1/21/2
E 33 -
019 12:15:5
2 PM
$4.95
Sources: $4.95US https://www.coxblue.com/fast-facts-for-small-business-from-the-2018-cox-business-consumer-pulse-survey/
SECR ET
LIFE
https://about.americanexpress.com/press-release/another-reason-to-shop-small-on-small-business-saturday
Swim Holes ming
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181113005356/en/
Cover
-84P.in
dd 1
in theM saY ddK le Jo ETO
urney
SUBSCRIBE to have 209 Magazine delivered to your door!
3/25/2
019 10:03:1
8 AM
$4.95US
KEEP
Cover
-84P.in
dd 1
and CALM TEQUdrink ILA 5/20/2
019 8:49:28
AM
per year
WE’ VE GOT THE 209 COVERED.
Gift, novelty and souvenir stores
plan toFor shop everyat $1 you spend at a small business: independentlyowned retailers 67 cents stays in the or restaurants local community that day
Small Businesses?
buy minimum quantities of merchandise each month or quarter. Keep these as low as possible, and negotiate a credit for any merchandise you return to the manufacturer that was in your inventory for an unreasonably long time. Will the Manufacturer Require You to Sell at Specific Prices? It is illegal for a manufacturer to dictate your resale price or set a maximum resale price for their goods. The law is hazier on whether a manufacturer can set a minimum resale price. If a manufacturer engages in a minimum advertised price, or MAP pricing, you may have to go along with it. Just be sure that you retain the right to offer clearance prices for merchandise that stays in your inventory for a long time and the manufacturer refuses to take back. d Feedback Will the Manufacturer Agree to Notify Other Distributors of Your Exclusive Rights? Your agreement should contain a clause requiring the manufacturer to notify all of its other distributors of your exclusive online rights, specifically that they are prohibited from selling the manufacturer’s goods on their own websites. Here’s a final question you should ask yourself: How will you deal with retail arbitrageurs and other folks who circumvent your exclusive relationship by buying the manufacturer’s goods (legally) at retail and then reselling them online? If this is a serious problem (lots of sellers are doing this), you may have to send them nasty letters ordering them to cease and desist their online selling activities. If only a handful of items are being sold through retail arbitrage, you may just want to ignore it. After all, that’s probably how you got started.
Bookstores
Small businesses keep money in the community
of consumers said Small Business Saturday has had a Americans Support positive impact on their community
How Do
Restaurants, bars and pubs
80%
97%
AT WORK
Clothing, accessory and shoe stores
GIFTS
WE’ VE GOT THE 209 COVERED.
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
9
NEWS
Business Forecast: Regional economy continues to slow BY ANGELINA MARTIN 209 Business Journal
The San Joaquin Valley Business Forecast report was released in November, detailing changes in the dynamics of the Central Valley’s economy. After the economy at both the regional and national levels reached their peak in recent years, all indicators point to a further slowing of economic activity in the coming months — something the business community should prepare for now as the longest-lasting period of expansion comes to an end. The biannual forecast is produced by Stanislaus State and provides businesses with extensive information about trends in the region relative to those in the state and nation. The report not only helps minimize uncertainty surrounding these economic indicators, but also generates market consensus on a regional basis helping businesses, investors and consumers make better-
informed decisions. Foster Farms Endowed Professor of Business Economics Gökçe Soydemir has been the lead author of the report since 2011, and said that the state of the Valley’s economy continues to slow after years of expansion following the recession. Businesses can make sure they’re prepared for the slower economy through a variety of tactics, he added. “They can start thinking about downsizing and paying off their debts if they have any,” Soydemir said. “Other things you want to think about are what you would do if your income were to decline due to the slowing of economic activity, and there are certain measures you can take on the overhead cost side.” The slowdown in the San Joaquin Valley’s total employment was projected in previous Business Forecasts and, for the first time since 2011, registered a month-to-month decline. This drop in employment
In a way it’s a self-correcting behavior. Otherwise, the economy will overheat. — Foster Farms Endowed Professor of Business Economics Gökçe Soydemir was more apparent in 2019 than in previous years, as total employment growth came in below the average — also for the first time since 2011. In addition to employment, the real estate market can sometimes mirror the state of the economy. While building permits in the Valley did register a 11.41 percent decline in 2019, the drop follows a significant 32.84 percent increase in 2018. A correction like this is normal, Soydemir explained. “That’s a statistical phenomenon,” he said. “Whenever a series ex-
ceeds the average by several standard deviations, it will correct itself by reversing behavior. Last year it was very high, so for the series to report something even higher than that is not very realistic.” Following consecutive cuts to the federal funds rate in 2019, 30-year mortgage rates fell to threeyear lows. Meanwhile, the growth of home values has slowed, with a 5.75 percent average yearly increase in 2019 registering slightly above the longterm benchmark rate of 5.14 percent and trailing the growth rates evident in
2017 and 2016. Mortgage rates can tell us a lot about the economy, Soydemir said. “When long term borrowing rates decline, that creates an environment for home purchasing and refinancing. So, we see that it increases construction, and construction employment came up this year as the fastest growing category.” While wages did not decline in 2019, it could happen as rising prices due to tariffs and inflation will soon outpace wage increases. While inflation tends to stay above wage growth, the added impact of tariffs is being felt in the Central Valley, Soydemir said, impacting what consumers are able to afford. “There are winners and losers from any political change. Steel is winning, but areas like us here are losing,” Soydemir said. The tariffs have had such an impact on the local economy that the Business Forecast added a new sec-
tion to its report that focuses on the external sector. The section examines the activity at the Port of Stockton which handles shipments of goods such as cement, steel, liquid fertilizer and rice — four bulk items highly susceptible to the pressures of tariffs. The minimum requirement of observations for this series hasn’t been met yet, but future reports will include the data. While the economy has slowed, it doesn’t necessarily mean a recession is in the future, Soydemir said. Rather, the decrease in activity signifies a drop that, for now, is normal. “In a way it’s a self-correcting behavior. Otherwise, the economy will overheat,” he said. “It’s like if you’re running, you can only run for a short time at best until you need to slow down. The economy is like that. It needs to maintain a long-term sustainable rate of growth.”
California agriculture in 2050 – where we are headed and why STAFF REPORTS Turlock Journal
At its monthly meeting on Nov. 5, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture heard a cautiously optimistic appraisal of agriculture’s future through 2050 from economist Daniel Sumner, director of the Agricultural Issues Center at UC Davis. Sumner believes that net farm income will continue to grow, even though it may experience ups and downs, and that growth specifics will hinge on the management of five key cost factors: Labor, water, climate change, regulations and research and development. Sumner states that these five factors will affect all industries and regions to varying degrees and will
drive the supply side of California agricultural adjustments between now and 2050, and he believes that overall demand for California ag products will remain strong as long as income growth continues and consumers continue to make specific choices based on diet and on-farm practices. Labor: Because of the relatively high cost of labor in California, there is a crucial need for innovation to offset that disadvantage. Fruit and vegetable commodities that remain highly labor intensive will face challenges, although guest workers and innovation may provide some relief. Commodities that can cost-effectively manage la-
bor intensity will be more competitive. Water: Drought, climate change and groundwater regulation are likely to mean a decrease in water available for irrigation. By 2050 effective regulations may minimize the loss of agricultural productivity and lead to a more economically sustainable water system with moderate investment in infrastructure to store and move water. Regulatory change must include innovative policy and rules to secure property rights, and markets to allow for water transfers and groundwater recharge. Climate Change: The changing climate is likely to drive changes in crop pro-
The world is
MNC Digital Services
Your business should be, too.
Responsive Web Design and Hosting Search Engine Optimization Search Engine Marketing Listings/Reputation Management Audience Engagement Campaigns Digital Advertising Social Media Management Video Production Services (Studio209)
duction, especially shifting locations and planting crops or varieties better suited to new climate conditions. We may also expect shifts in locations of crops globally by 2050, so California farms may face new competition for some traditional crops and may switch to crops that had been grown previously in warmer areas. We can also expect different pest pressures. Nonetheless, no unmanageable changes seem to be likely by 2050, given the close attention of researchers and growers. Regulations: California regulations raise costs of agricultural production
in California relative to some competitors, especially competitors in the rest of the United States and in developing countries. California agriculture may mitigate some costs of regulations, in areas like technology or land prices that fall below where they would otherwise be to accommodate higher production costs. Research and Development: Globally, farm productivity is increasingly reliant on private-sector R&D, but the role of public research and extension remains vital in many situations. California has a long history of having the
world’s top public agricultural research enterprise, which has delivered tangible benefits to California producers and consumers. Given the challenges ahead, including challenges to adapt to climate change and regulations, renewed investment seems vital, but the prognosis is uncertain at best. This may mean that more of the R&D effort will shift to private funding and industries unwilling to support such effort will fall behind. The good news is that California is well suited to embrace food and farm trends and anticipate complex customer demands.
est The tBes! Ra
WE SPECIALIZE IN PROVIDING FUNDING FOR YOUR BUSINESS ♦ Quick Funding ♦ Simple & Easy ♦ Fast Approvals ♦ Free Consultations
New website coming soon.
Call Now!
209-828-7958 Tamara Magalotti Serving The Central Valley
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
10
STORE
FROM PAGE 2 for “people with emotional service animals”? Are their struggles much different than someone that qualifies for a blue handicapped space? And why wouldn’t you cater to VIP customers defined by those that spend $1,000 or more a month at your store? If anyone deserves preferential treatment its loyal customers that shop at your store as if they are on an outing to Costco. By the way who verified those that use preferential parking spaces that they are legit? One store has spaces reserved for veterans. Either I missed something or is the military now recruiting preteens who — after they are discharged — are barely old enough to qualify for a driver’s license and who rebel against four years of military service by wearing nose plugs and opt
JUNE/JU
APRIL/M
AY 2019
- ISSUE
RY/MAR
CH 2019
- ISSUE
BRUDO NCH
31 - $4.95
KEEP CALM
Cover-84P.in
dd 1
Cover Ph Co oto $4.95US
WIN ntest NER
TOAST to the
dd 1
Journe y
$4.95US
Cover-84P.in dd 1
Cover-84P.in
MY KE TO
roam in phants the 20 9
PIFF
$4.95US
33 - $4.95
ARK Where 2000 ele
THE M AG DRAG ON IC
Snow Stops y
- ISSUE
im Holes ming
32 - $4.95
LET’S
FEBRUA
LY 2019
SECR Sw ET
3/25/2019
IRISH 1/21/2019
12:15:52
LIFE
in the sad dle
PM
10:03:18
AM
and TEQUdrink ILA 5/20/2019
8:49:28
AM
for a hairstyle right out of a KISS music video with the attitude to go with it? That’s who parked in such a “veterans” space outside the Modesto Lowe’s store. I really don’t have an issue with veterans parking closer to the storefront but if you’re going to do something like that don’t cheapen the gesture by letting anyone abuse the privilege. Perhaps since retailers are placing such a big emphasis on being understanding of customers with concerns du jour having to perhaps walk an additional 20 feet or so to enter a 140,000-square-foot store where everything is not conveniently located, perhaps they should go whole hog and create fully segregated parking lots. That way instead of mingling people can park with “like” people. There could be space for Trump supporters, anybody-but-Trump supporters, country music lovers, rap music lovers, Game of Throne fans, Big Bang Theory fans, those paying with
Just $
cash, those paying with credit cards — you get the picture. Then there is the issue of charging stations plopped down at newer stores for electric vehicles. Historically charging stations such as the ones Tesla puts in place are convenient but not on top of the front of stores. But retailers in a mad dash to cater to every splinter group they can are rolling out stores with charging stations having almost as prominent placing in parking lots as handicapped spaces. There is a real danger in this. Forget for a moment most e-vehicle drivers get tax credits and have most of their use of streets and freeways in this state subsidized by draconian gas taxes paid by non-electric vehicle drivers. The real issue is that the demographics of those that drive e-vehicles show they typically have larger household incomes than those that drive vehicles with internal combustion engines.
18
DECEMBER 2019
Given we are under the jurisdiction of the federal 9th District Court of Appeals it is only a matter of time before homeless advocates succeed in getting the rights of non-customers stores chose to “discriminate” against codified. I can see it now. The court mandated pecking order for parking lot spaces — first the handicapped, then the homeless living in vehicles followed by e-vehicles. Then after that those who are protected classes under court rulings get preference in descending order of political correctness until the last stalls are set aside for middle class and working class families that are paying customers, have no other genders in their family besides male and female, and who pay their taxes on time. It kind of makes you yearn for the days when parking lots were just that — parking lots — and not a politically correct spoils system.
per year
FARM
FROM PAGE 1 company to further serve its member by stepping up its support of local youth through junior livestock events and student scholarships for those pursuing agricultural related degrees. Today it sponsors FFA and 4H projects and members by annually purchasing $80,000 worth of member animals at the county fairs, in addition to awarding $50,000 annually towards donations and scholarships. “It’s a big part of our out-
reach to customers and community,” said Gonsalves. “We try to keep it in check so it doesn’t go too crazy, but yeah we probably go to a dozen fairs in California and Nevada. Probably about half of that is out of Stanislaus County.” Bettencourt also oversaw the hiring and development of many of Farm Supply’s most valuable employees, many of whom remain with the company to this day. In 2015, Nick Biscay was named president and CEO of Farm Supply following Bettencourt’s 37 years at the helm.
The world is
Your business should be, too.
MNC Digital Services Responsive Web Design and Hosting Search Engine Optimization Search Engine Marketing Listings/Reputation Management Audience Engagement Campaigns Digital Advertising Social Media Management Video Production Services (Studio209)
mnccalifornia.com
visit 209magazine.com and click the
SUBSCRIBE to have 209 Magazine delivered to your door!
WE’ VE GOT THE 209 COVERED.
WHERE YOU’RE TREATED LIKE FAMILY GENERATION AFTER GENERATION SINCE 1913 www.wisg.com | 209-667-0995 | Lic. # 0596517
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
11
ACCOLADES
PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, HONORS, ETC. Business Council of San Joaquin appoints Betty Wilson, Executive Director
The Business Council of San Joaquin County announced today that they have appointed Betty Wilson as Executive Director. Wilson has served in the financial industry for more than fifteen years and most recently worked in government relations. “I am honored to have been chosen as the new Executive Director of the Business Council,” stated Wilson. “We are in challenging times with great opportunities and I am looking forward Betty Wilson to being part of a team that is concerned about our community’s health and how business can partner in its growth.” Founded in 1987, The Business Council of San Joaquin County is an organization dedicated to taking responsibility for the wellbeing of our community, through implementation of local programs and initiatives. Members, comprised of business, nonprofit and government officials, are civically engaged and have chosen to take a proactive progressive approach to addressing community challenges. “The Business Council has been a val-
ued participant in numerous initiatives that have improved our community’s ability to provide a better quality of life. “I am looking forward to harnessing the opportunities we have as a community – to expand and grow the Council’s role as a public partner,” states Wilson. Wilson is succeeding Jane Butterfield, CEO/President who retired in October.
Farm Credit honored for its support of FFA The Farm Credit Alliance was recently presented with FFA’s Distinguished Service Citation for its longstanding contributions to FFA and agricultural education.
Katie Otto, development director for the California FFA Foundation, the state organization’s fund-raising arm, said the California FFA nominated Farm Credit for the award because of its generous and endur-
ing support. She added that the recognition was long overdue. “The Alliance and its members have generously supported countless chapters at the local level through auction support at county fairs and through loans and financial services for student projects,” Otto said. “They have also served as members on advisory committees, as judges and coaches for events, and as mentors for projects – the list goes on.” “The Alliance alone has contributed a half-million dollars to the California FFA over the past 25 years; their financial support impacts approximately 14% of FFA members nationwide. Their contributions to FFA and agriculture are significant; they embrace and regularly demonstrate the pillars of philanthropy giving of their time, talent and treasure on all levels.” Jeana Hultquist, a vice president for Farm Credit Alliance member American AgCredit, accepted the award, presented at FFA’s National Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, and thanked the organization for the recognition, saying that Farm Credit’s support is part of its overall commitment to the future of California agriculture. “Agriculture remains a vital part of California’s economy, but that’s not all,” Hultquist said. “Our farmers and ranchers feed the nation and the world, and that’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. By investing in our young people today, we’re helping ensure the industry will remain strong and vibrant for decades to come.”
Doctors Medical Center achieves National Reaccreditation for Bariatric Surgery
Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care in the Central Valley. Doctors Medical Center is proud to announce the hospital’s bariatric surgical center has been reaccredited as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016 ensure that bariatric surgical patients receive a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. The accredited center offers preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for their severely obese patients. “This reaccreditation signifies that our bariatric program met nationally established criteria by demonstrating expertise in delivering quality specialty care, safely and effectively,” said Matthew Coates, SEE ACCOLADES, PAGE 12
209 BUSINESS JOURNAL
12
DECEMBER 2019
NEWS
Fredriks Nursery in Ripon sells to Hickman firm STAFF REPORTS 209 Business Journal
Dave Wilson Nursery — the world’s largest commercial nut and fruit tree nursery — has purchased Fredriks Nursery in Ripon. The acquisition will increase environment-controlled greenhouse tree farming by 13 additional acres, allowing for significant growth within the Dave Wilson Nursery potted tree division. Thus, confirming tremendous and rapid growth for the largest nut and fruit tree nursery in the world. “For some time our leadership team at Dave Wilson Nursery had their eyes set on greenhouse expansion to meet the growing demands of tree farmers,” noted CEO Bill Reid. “When David Fredrik approached us with the op-
portunity to purchase, the deal came together quickly. This has been a win-win because David wanted to sell and we’re looking to grow our potted division. Obviously, the acquisition is better than new build construction for environmental and timing reasons.” Currently used as a flower nursery, the greenhouses will undergo technological enhancements to adhere to Dave Wilson Nursery’s stringent quality requirements for growing almond, walnut and stone fruit varieties and rootstock. Compared to farming open ground, greenhouse farming allows for more efficient and productive farming with increased consistency. Fredriks Nursery presently employs approxi-
ACCOLADES
FROM PAGE 11
M.D., Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Director at Doctors Medical Center. “This recognition shows our team’s commitment in delivering safe outcomes for our patients. Community members and patients can be confident in choosing Doctors Medical Center as their bariatric surgical center.” Doctors Medical Center’s commitment to quality care begins with appropriately trained staff and the leadership surgeons who participate in meetings throughout the year to review its outcomes. They seek continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process and outcomes of the center. To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Doctors Medical Center met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The
mately 20 full-time staff and 140 seasonal employees. With the location of the Fredriks Nursery facility within 30 miles of the Dave Wilson Nursery Hickman headquarters, seamless internal operations transition will ensue. “When the opportunity to sell to a fellow Central Valley family-owned business presented itself, it made sense for our family to sell at this time in our life. We believe that Dave Wilson Nursery will be a good partner here in Ripon and we’re pleased by the local leadership,” said David Fredrik. The deal is scheduled to close in January 2020, with crop conversion goals set for this Winter and early Spring.
center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement. The standards are specified in the MBSAQIP Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016, published by the ACS and ASMBS.
California Table Grape Commission hires director of Trade Policy
Jodi Devaurs is the new director of trade policy for the California Table Grape Commission. Devaurs’ responsibilities include market access, technical issues, and general trade policy matters for the commission. “Managing technical issues to help growers and shippers move California grapes to market is a key function of the commission, and Jodi’s experience with government affairs and regulatory issues will be an asset for the industry,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the commission. “We
Subscribe on
STUDIO209.TV
are very excited to have Jodi join the team.” Devaurs joins the commission from the California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association and the Western Agricultural Processors Association where she served as Director of Jodi Devaurs Regulatory Affairs. Jodi worked on regulatory and legislative issues including air and water quality, pesticides, and food safety, and she worked with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service on technical issues. Devaurs is a Central Valley native, born and raised in Clovis. She is a graduate of Fresno State with a bachelor of science in agricultural education—communications.
Your Favorite Magazine now...
DECE
MBER
/JANU ARY 2019
- ISSUE
NY Fas E BRU hion MID NCH TO
Just $
18
30 - $4.95
NIGH T
CERES CEN
CelebTEr NNIAL ation FEBRUARY
$4.95U
S
CH 2019
Lo
- ISSUE
31 - $4.95
MACKdi’s own
per year
ZIE FREEEND Miss Ca lifornia
PIFF
THE M AG DRAG ON IC
Cover-84
P.indd
/MAR
1
Sno y Stopw s
APRIL
/MAY
2019
- ISSUE
$4.95U
Cover P h C oto 11/26/20
18 9:30:21
32 - $4.95
LET’S DO
AM
WIN ontest NER
BRUN CH TOAS WARK 200 0 T here
S
to the roam elephant
IRISH in the 209s
Cover-84
P.indd
1
JUNE
$4.95U
/JULY
2019
- ISSUE
SECR ET
Swim Holes ming
Cover-84
P.indd
1/21/201
33 - $4.95
1
9 12:15:52
PM
S
LIFE
in theM saY ddK le Jo ETO
urney
visit 209magazine.com and click the
SUBSCRIBE to have 209 Magazine delivered to your door!
3/25/201
9 10:03:18
$4.95U
AM
S
KEEP CA
Cover-84
P.indd
1
and LM TEQUdrink ILA 5/20/201
9 8:49:28
AM
WE’ VE GOT THE 209 COVERED.