These are tough times for our nation’s economy.  I know first hand.  This week, my company, Advanced Trailer & Equipment, announced a one-month pause of trailer production.  This pause will allow us to determine expected demand and have a better understanding of our customers needs for the year.

In other words, what we are doing reflects our company’s strength, not weakness.  We have plenty of trailers to meet our customers’ needs.  But now we can use this time of plenty to plan ahead for the rest of the year.

That’s what’s so great about the free market.  People ask: how will things turn around in our economy?  They already are turning around.  Businesses are adjusting; the markets are responding.  For example, housing prices are down.  So guess what’s starting to happen?  People are buying houses.  Wal-Mart cut prices.  And guess what happened?  Wal-Mart recently announced huge sales numbers.  The free market works.

But that’s not the only reason the free market works.  It also works because of the people who work in it.  I found this out again this week when I met with my team to give them the news.  I told them the truth: that we didn’t want to initiate a pause in production but that we needed to since we had so many trailers in stock.  Without exception, each member of my team took it well and promised to “be back” once we open production again.  One man even thanked me for “telling us the truth.”  What great workers!  What great people!  Want to know why we in America have the best economy in the world?  Because we have the best people in the world.

I know the free market isn’t perfect.  But it beats any other system out there. Companies like mine will adjust and adapt.  And we will survive and prevail.  So will our economy…and so will our country.

-Randy Hill

As a business owner in the peanut industry, I share the concerns
about the recent salmonella scare.  The good news is the FDA is
fully investigating the scare and has already traced the salmonella
to one company: the Peanut Corporation of America.

I support the FDA’s actions on the PCA.  However, it’s important to
note that virtually all other peanut goods are perfectly healthy.

Here is a list of some brands that are safe and healthy for you and
your family:

ConAgra Foods (Peter Pan Peanut Butter)
The J. M. Smucker Company (including Jif)
Kraft Foods, Inc.
Mars Snackfoods US
American Blanching Company
Clasen Quality Coatings (CQC)
Confectionery coatings
Clements Foods Company, Inc.
Flavors “R” Specialty, Inc.
Girl Scouts of the USA (Girl Scout Cookies)
Golden Peanut Company
Hampton Farms
Harvest Manor Farms
Hearts&Minds LLC
Hubbard Peanut Company
Jimbo’s Jumbos
John B. Sanfilippo and Son, Inc
Peanut Butter & Co.
Producers Peanut Company, Inc.
Smart Balance
Superior Nut Company, Inc.
Universal Blanchers/Seabrook Ingredients
Virginia Diner

So don’t get overly concerned.  Peanuts and peanut products are good for you.

-Randy Hill

Today, our country and our world celebrate the inauguration of a
new president. Barack Obama’s journey’s to the White House is
remarkable. All Americans should be proud. But undoubtedly there is
a special pride for African-Americans.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17680.html

Throughout our nation’s history, African-Americans have made enormous
contributions to politics, culture and business. Indeed, I own and
operate a business today that would not be possible without the
inventions of George Washington Carver more than a century ago.
Carver wanted to find a product other than cotton for the South to
produce. To encourage the production of peanuts, he invented more
than 105 recipes for the product. As a result, the peanut industry
took off. And years later, people like me are still reaping the
benefit of his investment.

So on this day, let’s celebrate America’s past and it’s future.
This truly is the greatest nation in history.

-Randy Hill

In recent days, reports have surfaced about peanut butter products having salmonella contamination:
http://admin.peanutsusa.com/documents/Document_Library/January%2017%20APC%20release%20update%20-%20final.pdf

As with any public health issue, people are rightfully feeling concerned about what they should and shouldn’t eat.  The cure for uncertainty is fact. So, as someone associated with the peanut industry, let me give you the facts.

First, 99.9% of peanut butter products are safe. And none of the affected peanut butter was sold at retail.  So if you see peanut butter on the shelf at your store, it’s safe. Besides, peanut butter is regulated and must pass FDA standards.  And the industry has a long track record of success.

Second, the recent salmonella scare has already been traced to one company in one part of the country.  A few products from the Blakely, Georgia plant of Peanut Corp of America have been linked to salmonella in three states.  PCA has already issued a recall of all its products produced at this plant in recent months.  And the FDA is investigating and has promised to release a list of safe peanut products.

What does all that mean for you?  It means you should not be worried. Retail peanut butter on grocery shelves is safe.  And the FDA will soon issue its list of safe products.  I call on both the FDA and the PCA to get to the bottom of this and release the results of the investigation as soon possible.

-Randy Hill

In recent days, reports have surfaced about peanut butter products having salmonella contamination:
http://admin.peanutsusa.com/documents/Document_Library/January%2017%20APC%20release%20update%20-%20final.pdf

As with any public health issue, people are rightfully feeling concerned about what they should and shouldn’t eat.  The cure for uncertainty is fact. So, as someone associated with the peanut industry, let me give you the facts.

First, 99.9% of peanut butter products are safe. And none of the affected peanut butter was sold at retail.  So if you see peanut butter on the shelf at your store, it’s safe. Besides, peanut butter is regulated and must pass FDA standards.  And the industry has a long track record of success.

Second, the recent salmonella scare has already been traced to one company in one part of the country.  A few products from the Blakely, Georgia plant of Peanut Corp of America have been linked to salmonella in three states.  PCA has already issued a recall of all its products produced at this plant in recent months.  And the FDA is investigating and has promised to release a list of safe peanut products.

What does all that mean for you?  It means you should not be worried. Retail peanut butter on grocery shelves is safe.  And the FDA will soon issue its list of safe products.  I call on both the FDA and the PCA to get to the bottom of this and release the results of the investigation as soon possible.

-Randy Hill