Magazine_October_2023

NONSTOP TRAVEL
WAYNE & DEREK - USA
Grapes farm in Bakersfield.
Aartsen goes USA
travel
Santa Monica pier; constructed in 1909, the first concrete pier on the west coast.
Californian stonefruit in packhouses.
Santa Monica Beach.
USA
California is one of the most productive
agricultural regions in the world, thanks to
its geography and favourable climate that
allow a wide variety of crops to be grown.
Aside from the gold rush in the mid-1800s,
there are many reasons why this place is
referred to as the "Golden State".
It has been four years since our last trip to the USA. Menno and
Derek visited all our partners in California, Washington and as well
Canada. Due to the strict covid restrictions Hong Kong travelling to
the US has been paused for some years. Finally Wayne and Derek
could visit the US again. This time our goal was to visit both current
and potential partners. Our trip started on a Sunday afternoon in
Los Angeles, where we had some time to enjoy sightseeing around
the city and visited the famous Santa Monica. As expected, the pier
was very crowded, and we were amazed by the cultural diversity.
In particular, Mexican culture has a strong presence throughout
California, making tacos and margaritas a perfect choice for
that evening. Moreover, we visited Venice which is famous for its
‘Muscle Beach’ which is widely known for its athletes who practice
gymnastics on the beach.
The next early morning, we set off on our journey to Bakersfield,
driving for around two hours through the Tejon Pass, which gave
us breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and valleys.
Bakersfield, the third-largest city in the Central Valley, is known
for its agricultural commodities such as grapes, citrus, almonds,
and pistachios. One interesting fact that many visitors may not
know is that Bakersfield also has a large music and cultural scene.
From there, we continued north towards Fresno on State Route
99, passing through endless orchards and fields on both sides of
the highway, with trailer trucks filling the roads. We made multiple
stops in Kingsburg, Selma, and Reedley to meet with stone fruit,
blueberry, citrus, and grape growers. It was wonderful to finally
see everyone in person again after only communicating through
computer screens for the past four years. The evenings with our
partners were filled with productive discussions, great food,
and amazing company. The next morning, we made our way
back to Los Angeles for our flights to Hong Kong.
The agricultural business has faced major challenges in the past
few years, such as rising costs, labor shortages, trade disputes,
water scarcity, and vessel schedule stability, among others.
This trip has given us valuable insight from a grower's standpoint
and a good understanding of their challenges. It has been an
encouraging experience that makes us proud to represent their
fruits and labels here in Asia.
How people in the USA greet
"hug"
In the United States, greetings are often informal and friendly.
A commonly used greeting is a simple "Hi" or "Hello."
Handshakes are also common, especially between people
meeting for the first time or in professional contexts.
A unique greeting in America is the "hug" or embrace.
This can range from a light hug to a more firm embrace,
depending on the relationship between individuals.
Hugs are often used to express emotions and friendship.
Another aspect of greetings in America is the use of first
names. People often address each other by their first names,
even in professional environments, reflecting the informal
and open culture.
It's important to note that greetings in the US can vary
depending on the region and context. Overall, kindness
and respect are appreciated in greetings and interactions
in American culture.
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