Lapho abakwaZappala bengena ebhizinisini lika-anyanisi ngo-1927, umlando wawusohlangothini lwabo. U-anyanisi, ngemuva kwakho konke, ube yingxenye eyinhloko yokudla okuhle, emhlabeni wonke, iminyaka engaphezu kuka-5,000.
IZappala Farms zavela zaba umkhiqizi omkhulu ka-anyanisi esifundazweni saseNew York, ngokwengxenye ngokuqaphela ukuthi u-anyanisi akuyona nje u-anyanisi. Phakathi neminyaka yawo-1980, uJim Zappala, ebona isidingo sikhula sika-anyanisi omnandi, othambile, wasebenza nabacwaningi nezinkampani zembewu ukuthuthukisa uhlobo oluhlukile oluvuthwe ekwindla.
Lowo anyanisi, obizwa ngokuthi i-Empire Sweet, wenza i-Zappala Farms yagqama nakakhulu.
Ngo-2003, kwesinye igxathu elikhulu eliya phambili, abafowethu u-Sam noJim Zappala baqala i-Empire Fresh-Cuts futhi bangena ezweni lokuphathwa kwe-cold-chain kanye nokumaketha kumakhasimende amasha, "abefuna ukukhipha isigaba sika-anyanisi emakhishini abo," njengoba USam wayibeka. Manje sebedayisa u-anyanisi osikiwe, odayiwe futhi ohlutshiwe, omnandi futhi obabayo, kumakhasimende abawadingayo.
Imikhiqizo yabo ye-Empire Sweet ilingana noma kuphi lapho kudingeka khona u-anyanisi omnene, ongeke ulume uma udliwe usanda kuhlanganyela. Angena kumasaladi, phezu kwama-burgers, ku-pizza kanye nokudla kwase-Mexico noma okufana ne-salsa, ama-taco nama-fajitas.
Umndeni wakwaZappala waqala ukukhiqiza u-anyanisi eminyakeni engu-79 edlule e-Oswego County, eNew York, emhlabathini owudaka eduze kweLake Ontario. Namuhla, iZappala Farms ingumkhiqizi ka-anyanisi ophuzi omkhulu kunabo bonke empumalanga yeMississippi. Ikhula cishe amahektha angama-850 ka-anyanisi unyaka nonyaka emhlabathini owudaka namaminerali. Ikhula ukupheka kanye no-anyanisi omnandi. Ithenga, ipakishe futhi idayise u-anyanisi kwabanye abalimi. Ngonyaka, ithengisa izikhwama zika-anyanisi ezingaba ngu-750,000 50-pound.
USam uncoma umfowabo, uJim, ngokuba nombono nokuphikelela kokukholelwa ukuthi bangathola futhi bakhulise u-anyanisi omnandi owavuthwa eNew York ekwindla. Lokho kungababeka emakethe ngemuva kokuthi abanye u-anyanisi omnandi - uVidalias, Walla Walla Sweets, Texas Supersweets - sebedlule isizini yabo.
I-Empire Sweet ephawulwe ngohwebo yaqala ukuvela ngo-1996, ngemuva kokuthi abakwaZappala beyethule e-New York State Fair. Abathengi basheshe babanjwa. Manje, ama-Empire Sweets angatholakala kuyo yonke impumalanga yeNyakatho Melika nasezimakethe zokuthekelisa. Njengo-Vidalias, i-Empire Sweets ihlola cishe u-2.5 kuya ku-3.5 esikalini sobumnene, isebenzisa ukuhlolwa okujwayelekile kwamazinga e-pyruvic acid.
Ngo-1978, umndeni wakwaZappala wadala elinye ibhizinisi, elihlukene neZappala Farms, elibizwa ngokuthi i-Oswego Growers and Shippers. Lelo bhizinisi lipakisha futhi limakethe u-anyanisi we-Zappala Farms wazo zonke izinhlobo, futhi lenza konke ukumaketha kwe-Empire Fresh-Cuts futhi.
Isigaba Sokugcina
“Ngo-2003, sanquma ukugcwalisa isigaba sika-anyanisi esasisasele kithina,” kusho uSam ngesinqumo sabo sokungena ebhizinisini lika-anyanisi osanda kusikwa.
Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, u-anyanisi wabo wayethengiswa njengamatsha, ama-bulb aphelele noma avulekile noma ezikhwameni zabathengi. Kodwa babone “isimo sezulu esishintshayo senhlalo,” njengoba u-Sam esibiza kanjalo, lapho abasebenzisi abaningi baka-anyanisi embonini yesevisi yokudla babefuna u-anyanisi osekulungele ukusetshenziswa ngaphandle kokulahlwa yimfucuza ¬– futhi kungasekho nabasebenzi abanezinyembezi abahlanza futhi becwecwa u-anyanisi usinki wekhishi.
I-Empire Fresh-Cuts manje ikhiqiza futhi imaketha ulayini ogcwele wemikhiqizo ka-anyanisi enoshukela nebabazekayo isebenzisa izinto zokukhiqiza ezisezingeni eliphezulu ezivela eYurophu ¬– imishini edinga umsebenzi omncane wezandla.
AbakwaZappala bathola usizo oluningi ngokungena ebhizinisini. Lesi sikhungo esinamamitha-skwele angu-27,000 kanye nezinto zokusebenza zibiza izigidi ezingu-2.9 zamaRandi futhi sisekelwe ngosizo lwezezimali oluvela enhlanganweni yababolekisi, okuhlanganisa Ukuphathwa Kwamabhizinisi Amancane kanye ne-Oswego County Industrial Development Agency. Ithemba lemisebenzi emisha engu-30 yezimboni kwaba umfutho wesifunda.
Noma kunjalo, ababolekisi babedinga ukuqinisekiswa ukuthi ibhizinisi lizondiza, futhi lokho kwakusho ukuthi i-Empire Fresh-Cuts yayidinga ukufinyelela ezimakethe.
“Izinkampani eziningi zokudla ezinkulu zidinga ukuthi amaphrosesa abe nohlelo lwe-HACCP ngaphambi kokuthi a-ode imikhiqizo,” kusho u-Olga Padilla-Zakour, umqondisi we-NYS Food Venture Centre yaseCornell University.
Ngokusebenzisana nabeluleki bokuphepha kokudla abatholakala nge-NY Ag Innovation Center (NYAIC), abakwaZappala baqedele inqubo eqinile yokuthuthukisa uhlelo lwe-HACCP. Lokhu kwakufana “nelayisensi yokusebenzelana” nosonkontileka abasebenza ngokudla abahlinzeka ngemikhiqizo ezikoleni, izindawo zokudlela zezinkampani, izindawo zokudlela, amasosha kanye nabanye abathengi bokudla.
USam, ophethe lesi sikhungo, uthe: “Izinzuzo ezimbili ezinkulu ngokuba nalolu hlelo ukuheha abathengi abasha futhi ukwazi ukubanikeza izinga lokunethezeka elidlulela kubathengi. Ekugcineni, abathengi bancike ezinkambisweni zethu ukuze sigcine uchungechunge lokutholakala kokudla oluphephile.”
Ukuze kwakhiwe uhlelo lwe-HACCP ye-Empire Fresh-Cuts', abeluleki abavela kwa-NYAIC bavakashele lesi sikhungo izikhathi eziningana, bakha uhlelo namafomu futhi bahlola izinqubo zokusebenza kusukela ekwamukelweni, ukunqwabelanisa, ukusika umsila nokuphungula ngokusebenzisa ukusika, ukuvala, ukugxumeka izikhwama nokunamathisela.
Izinhlelo ze-HACCP zihlolwa kabusha njengoba izimo zokucubungula zishintsha futhi ziqinisekiswa minyaka yonke. Ithimba le-Empire Fresh-Cuts HACCP lihlanganisa umnikazi wezitshalo nomphathi uSam Zappala, umqondisi womugqa u-Abiu Velasquez, umqondisi wezokunakekelwa kwesondlo/ukukhucululwa kwendle u-Dale Chillson, ukulawulwa kwekhwalithi/umphathi wezokukhucululwa kwendle uRobin Maurillo kanye nabaxhumanisi be-NYAIC u-Olga Padilla-Zakour noRandy Worobo baseCornell University.
Ngaphezu koHlelo Lwe-Empire Fresh Cuts' lwe-HACCP Nohlelo Lokuvikeleka Kokudla, ukuhlolwa kwezinkampani zangaphandle kwenziwa minyaka yonke ukuze kuqinisekiswe Ukuphepha Kokudla, Ikhwalithi Nokuphepha KweziNsiza Zokucubungula Ukudla zithobelana ngokugcwele. Ngo-February 2006, i-Empire Fresh-Cuts yenza ucwaningo lwe-NSF-Cook & Thurber futhi yaphasa ngamaphesenti angu-90.73, ibeka inkampani esigabeni semikhuba ehamba phambili.
Ukuhlangabezana nalezi zindlela kusiza ukunika amandla i-Empire Fresh-Cuts ukuthi iqhubeke yandise ukuzethemba kwekhasimende ekuthengeni umkhiqizo ka-anyanisi osikiwe omusha ophephile, ovikelekile, osezingeni eliphezulu, kusho uSam.
Kusukela kwenzeka ngoSepthemba 11, 2001, bekudingeka olunye ungqimba lwezokuphepha, esho. Bonke abasebenzi esikhungweni sokucubungula i-Empire Fresh-Cuts bagqoka amabheji omazisi futhi badlule ezindaweni zokungena lapho ubunikazi babo buqinisekiswa khona.
Elinye izinga lokuvikeleka lihlobene nekhwalithi yokudla nokuphepha. Izisebenzi “ziyafaneleka” futhi zisebenza ezimeni zesiqandisi esijulile esingu-34˚ F.
U-anyanisi agcinwa endaweni ebandayo noma e-CA phakathi kwamamitha-skwele angama-70,000 esikhala se-Oswego Growers and Shippers. Cishe i-16,000 yamamitha-skwele angu-27,000 anikelwe ku-Empire Fresh-Cuts yindawo eqandisiwe.
Ukuze kusungulwe futhi kugcinwe uchungechunge olubandayo olubambezela ukukhula kwamagciwane, u-anyanisi wehliselwa ku-34˚ F phakathi kwezinsuku ezimbili kuya kwezintathu endaweni yokugcina esiqandisini. Umsebenzi omningi wokuqopha nomsila wenziwa ngemishini, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi u-anyanisi unongaphezulu naphansi, kumele uqondiswe ngesandla, kusho uSam.
Abakwa-Zappala basebenzisa imishini emibili yokucwecwa u-anyanisi abayithenge kwa-Finis, umklami nomkhiqizi wezinto zokucubungula ukudla e-Ulft, e-Holland.
U-anyanisi uhlanzwa ngokucwiliswa emanzini ane-chlorinated futhi uhamba ngomugqa oqhubekayo oholela kumakhilogremu angu-8,000 omkhiqizo wokugcina njalo ngehora. Imikhiqizo yokugcina ingena ezitsheni ezihlanganisa amaphakethe ethreyi wezindandatho zika-anyanisi, izikhwama kanye nemigqomo yenqwaba ye-1,600-pound. Ngemuva kokusika, u-anyanisi omisiwe ngokwanele ukususa umswakama ovulekile.
Ekupheleni komugqa, amakesi ayavalwa futhi afakwe ngamaphalethi egunjini lokuthumela. I-Oswego Growers and Shippers inenqwaba yamaloli, inkampani ebizwa ngokuthi i-ZTX, kodwa ithembele kakhulu kubathwali bangaphandle ukuhambisa imikhiqizo izimakethe isuka eCanada iye eTexas.
Izinhlelo Zekusasa
UJim Zappala, ophethe umsebenzi wasepulazini, wayejabule ngebhizinisi elisha lapho liqala.
“Ngenxa yokuthi sizoba nobuchwepheshe obuzosivumela ukuthi sicubungule izinhlobo ezahlukene zika-anyanisi, sizokwazi ukuthola ingxenye enkulu yemali esiyithola kubalimi bakuleli abavamise ukukhiqiza u-anyanisi omncane kancane kuno-anyanisi okhiqizwa ezindaweni eziqhudelanayo kuleli. ngakho-ke sisekela umnotho wethu wendawo,” esho engxoxweni ngesikhathi kusungulwa inkampani entsha.
“Ukuba nempahla yethu kusibeka endaweni eqinile yokuncintisana uma kuqhathaniswa nabanye abaprosesa.
“Ukucubungula kuyisixhumanisi sokugcina somjikelezo wokukhiqizwa kuka-anyanisi e-Oswego County. Sizokwazi ukuhlinzeka amakhasimende ethu ngemikhiqizo emisha ka-anyanisi egayiwe cishe unyaka wonke ngaphandle kokuthi sidwebe umkhiqizo ongaphekiwe kwezinye izindawo.”
Inkampani ihlela ukuthi "ihlale igxile ku-anyanisi," kusho uSam. “Senza u-anyanisi kuphela. Lokho kuyingozi ngandlela thize, kodwa ngakolunye uhlangothi, siyawazi u-anyanisi. Sidinga nje ukunaka lokho okudingwa yimakethe.
“Impela siyakhula isidingo semikhiqizo ka-anyanisi oswidi. Kusukela kumasaladi amazambane ehlobo kuya kumasaladi ajikijelwayo kuya ku-anyanisi oqhakazayo kuya ekusikeni kwe-fajita, abantu abafuni u-anyanisi onesibindi, obabayo esitsheni esisha.
“U-anyanisi uyimifino enempilo. Kufanele siqinisekise ukuthi zilingana nezisu zabantu abaningi. Kuwumuzwa omuhle ukuletha imifino enhle kule makethe. Siyazi indawo efanele yohlobo ngalunye luka-anyanisi.”
Ingabe zikhona izinselele ezizayo?
USam ubale ezimbalwa.
Omunye umncintiswano ovela emazweni aseNingizimu Melika futhi, esikhathini esizayo, iShayina, umkhiqizi omkhulu ka-anyanisi emhlabeni. Ngenxa yezindleko eziphansi zabasebenzi kula mazwe, “inkundla yokudlala ayilingani neze,” esho. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ukungena ku-anyanisi osikiwe kwakuwumnyakazo oklanyelwe ukukhipha u-anyanisi enkundleni yezimpahla futhi uwafake ku-value-added.
Izindleko zokumaketha ziyenyuka, kanye nenani likaphethiloli.
Okuhle ukuthi, “leli ibhizinisi eliphethwe umndeni,” esho. "Futhi kukhona ubuqotho ebhizinisini lokukhiqiza obusaqabula."
Indodakazi kaSam endala isanda kuqala ukusebenzela inkampani entsha, kanti indodana kaJim endala yaphothula ekolishi futhi yajoyina inqubo yokukhula eZappala Farms.