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Pelican News

September 2016 | #126 Blue Skies Newsletter

Fruit in a Bottle launched in SA BlueSkieshaslaunchedanewrangeoffreshlysqueezedjuicesandstilllemonadesinSouthAfrica.Called‘FruitinaBottle,’therangeisbeingsoldatlocalfoodmarkets,festivalsanddeliveredtoneighbourhoodsintheGuatengprovince.FruitinaBottleissimply100%naturalfreshlysqueezedfruit.Therearenoconcentrates,nopreservatives,noaddedwaterorflavourings.Ourstilllemonadesaremade‘homestyle’fromwater,sugar,reallemonjuiceandpulpandflavouredwithfruit.

TherangeincludesFreshlySqueezedStarRubyGrapefruitJuice,ValenciaOrangeJuiceandNaartjieJuice,StillLemonade,RaspberryandRoseStillLemonadeandGingerandLimeStillLemonade.Allareavailablein300ml,1Litreand5LitreBottles.

Tofindoutmoreandtoenquireaboutplacinganorder,visit‘FruitinaBottle’onlineat:www.blueskies.com/fruit-in-a-bottle

Above:theBlueSkies‘FruitinaBottle’rangein1litrebottles -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blue Skies to attend PMA Fresh Summit

BlueSkieswillbeexhibitingatthePMAFreshSummitbetweenthe14-16OctoberinOrlando.BlueSkiescanbelocatedatBooth108.---------------------------------------------

www.instagram/blueskiesproductswww.instagram/fruitinabottle---------------------------------------------

www.twitter.com/blueskiesfruitwww.twitter.com/fruitinabottle---------------------------------------------

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Blue Skies to go on a Great Fruit Adventure

BlueSkieswillbehostingavisitbyMaxMacGillivrayandGarethJoneswhowillbetravellingbymotorcyclefromLondontoCapeTownbetweenNovember2016andFebruary2017.Called‘TheGreatFruitAdventure’,MaxandGarethareaimingtoraiseawarenessamongyoungpeopleabouttheimportanceofeatingfreshfruitandvegetablesandknowingwhereitcomesfrom.TheteamwillstopoffatBlueSkiesGhanainDecemberwheretheyplantomeetpeopleatthefactoryandfarmsandvisitsomeFoundationProjects.YoucanfindoutmoreabouttheGreatFruitAdventureathttp://www.thegreatfruitadventure.com/MaxispicturedabovewithAnthonyPileandProductDeveloperSarahBirchamattheBlueSkiesHQ.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blue Skies impress at Asia Logistica

BlueSkiesattendedAsiaLogisticainHongKonginSeptember.PicturedfromlefttorightisLanaMo,HarrietPile,AnthonyPile,SarahBirchamandCathMaskell.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top marks in ethical audits CongratulationstoBlueSkiesEgyptwhoachievedanexcellentSMETAauditresultonthe21stand22ndSeptember.SabrinaLanecamefromSGSSouthAfricatocarryoutthesocialaudit.Egyptisnowthelastofoursitesabroadthatshehasaudited.EgyptdidnotdoquiteaswellasBrazil,whogotzeroN/Cslastmonth,but1N/CisoutstandingandareflectionoftheworkdonebyMohamedBahgat,EhabAbdulAziz,KhaledMostafaandOsamaHasanintoensurethatweimplementtheJointEffortEnterpriseandmeetSMETArequirements.

PicturedlefttorightisKhaledMostafa,MohamedAbdul-Razik,auditorSabrinaLane,StephanMorris,MohamedBahgat,EhabAbdulAziz,OsamaHasanin-------------------------------------------------

Blue Skies on show

BlueSkiesGhanawereattheAccraFoodandWineFestivalthismonth.Joanispicturedsellingourjuicestothirstyattendees.-------------------------------------------------

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Woolworths Beverage team visit SA factory Onthe8thofSeptember2016theWoolworthsBeverageteamvisitedBlueSkiesinBalfour.TheWoolworthsteamincludedBadenJacka(newHeadofLonglife);MarissaMunroe(outgoingHeadofLonglife);BernardBoulle(HeadofFreshJuice);LatiefaBehardien(HeadofTechnical:Longlife);ChristinaCosta(HeadofLonglifeProductDevelopment)andAndrewBerry(LogisticsandPlanning).ItwasaverysuccessfulvisitandtheWoolworthsteamwasverycomplimentaryaboutouroperationinBalfouraswellastheproductswesupplytoWoolworths.TheBlueSkiesTechnicalTeamalsopresentedsomeveryinnovativeideasthatwillhopefullybemovedforwardtonewproductsinthefuture.ThediscussionsalsoincludedadetailedreviewofourprocurementplanningforrawmaterialusedtoproduceourFreshlySqueezedjuicestoWoolworths.ThisiscurrentlyunderthespotlightduetotheseveredroughtthatweareexperiencinginSouthAfricaandtheconcernsaroundfruitavailabilityingeneral.TheWoolworthsteamleftBlueSkieswitharenewedconfidenceinourabilitytosupplythemwithtrulyfresh,highqualityjuices,aswellasourtechnicalexpertisetodevelopandlaunchuniqueproductsfortheminthefuture.

ByAndreVeldsman,BlueSkiesSouthAfrica

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blue Skies work with Delhaize to improve supply chain DelhaizeandBlueSkiesareworkingcloselytogethertooptimizeourjointsupplychainfromHollandintoBelgium.RecentlywewereinvitedbyKrisVerhofstadt(SupplyChainManagerDelhaize)tovisittheirwarehousefacilitiesinZellikandevaluatethecurrentrangeofoutercasesthatarebeingused.WehadallouroutercasesandDelhaizeCratesinoneroomandtogetherweevaluatedthesupplychainprocesstryingtoidentifyareasforimprovementtogether.Welearnedthatbydesigningouroutercasesslightlydifferentwecanincreaseourtransportefficienciesandsavecosts.AtthesametimewewillincreaseproductivityforDelhaizeintheirimpressivewarehousepickingactivitiesinZellik.SjoerdiscurrentlyinGhanaworkingonthisprojectforusandsoonhewillalsoinvolveothersitesandseewherewecanworkmoreefficientlyasagroup.TheDelhaizeprojectisscheduledtobefinalisedsecondweekofJanuary2017whenthecommercialteamofDelhaizeisvisitingusinGhana.DelhaizeandBlueSkiesareachievinganimpressivegrowthtogetherandhavelaunchedthreenewlinesthismonth.ByPaulvanBreukelen,BlueSkiesNetherlands.

Pictured:SjoerdwithKrisVerhofstadt,supplychainManagerofDelhaize-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why mangoes join together

Whentheembryonicgrowingpointofafruitisgeneticallyalteredpossiblyduetoenvironmentalfactorsorinsectdamage,itcanleadtoconjoinedfruitssuchasthesemangoeswhichoriginatefromSenegal.Itisreallyinterestingtoseethisphysiologythatrarelyhappensinhumans(Siamesetwins)occurringinplants.Theunassuminglyamazingbeautyofgeneticsatplay…MutationofFruitPrimordium.ByCharlesKwadwoAdu,BlueSkiesSenegal.------------------------------------------------

Blue Skies Egypt hold elections

Pictured:electionstakingplaceatBlueSkiesEgyptfortheStaffWelfareandStakeholderCommittees.------------------------------------------------

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The Vegetable Report: Lettuce Month Itisanother“VegesSeason”andyouknowit’sjustabouttimetoignitesmilesonthefacesofstressedandhungrystaff.Itgivesusgreatjoytoseeandhearpeoplehappywhenevertheyareservedwithmealsgarnishedwithvegetablesfromtheirownfarm.Tousonthevegetablefarm,it’snotjustaboutthegarnishedmealsbuttheassuranceofBlueSkiespeopleeatingfreshandhygienicstraight-from-farmvegetables.Ourvegetableshavetherightnutrientsintactduetotheproperagronomicpracticesemployedonourfields.ItisfulfillingtoknowthatindirectlywearepositivelyinfluencingthehealthofBlueSkiespeople.

ThisseasonnursingandplantingstartedinJuneandaswesaidinourlastpublication,otherpracticeshavebeenlearntandhassofarbeeninculcatedinourfieldactivities.Muchimprovementhasbeenseeninthevegetativegrowthofplantsandwearehighlyoptimisticthatitisgoingtobeagreatseason.Already,harvestinghasstarted.SeveralsuppliesoflettuceandFrenchbeanshavebeenmadetothecanteenalreadyandmorewouldfollowupsoon.Anall-year-roundprogramhasbeendrawntoenableaconstantsupplyofvegetablesthroughouttheyear.

Toensureourconsumersknowwhattheytakein,weareusingthisplatformtoeducatepeopleonthephysiologyandhealthbenefitsofthevariousvegetableswecultivate.Thismonthhasbeendubbed“TheLettuceMonth”andwearegoingtoplungeintothenitty-grittiesofthisvegetable.

LETTUCE

GeneralInformation:Lettuce(Lactucasativa)isanannualplantofthedaisyfamilyAsteraceae.Itismostoftengrownasaleafyvegetable,butsometimesforitsstemandseeds.LettuceisarichsourceofvitaminKandvitaminA,andisamoderatesourceoffolateandiron.

Planting:Beforeyouplantyourlettuceseeds,makesurethesoilisprepared.Itshouldbelooseanddrainwellsoit’smoistwithout

stayingsoggy.Tokeepthesoilfertile,feeditwithorganicmatteraboutoneweekbeforeyounurseyourseedandtransplant.Sincetheseedissosmall,awell-tilledseedbedisessential.Largeclodswillreducegermination.

Uses:Lettuceismostoftenusedforsalads,althoughitisalsoseeninotherkindsoffood,suchassoups,sandwichesandwraps;itcanalsobegrilled.Onevariety,thewoju,orasparaguslettuce,isgrownforitsstems,whichareeateneitherraworcooked.

HealthbenefitsofLettuce

• Lettuceleavesareoneoftheverylowcaloriegreen-vegetables.100gfreshgreensprovidejust15calories.Nonetheless,theyarethestorehouseofmanyphyto-nutrientsthatpossesshealthpromotinganddiseasepreventionproperties.

• Vitaminsinlettuceareplentiful.ItsfreshleavesareanexcellentsourceofseveralVitaminAandbetacarotenes.Just100goffresh,raw-lettuceprovides247%ofdailyvitaminA,and4443μgofbeta-carotene(CarotenesconvertintovitaminAinthebody;2μgofcaroteneisconsideredequivalentto1IUofvitaminA).Thesecompoundshaveantioxidantproperties.VitaminAisrequiredformaintaininghealthymucus.

• Italsocontainsgoodamountsofmineralslikeiron,calcium,magnesium,andpotassium,whichareessentialforbodymetabolism.Potassiumisanimportantcomponentofcellandbodyfluidsthathelpscontrollingheartrateandbloodpressure.Manganeseisusedbythebodyasaco-factorfortheantioxidantenzyme,superoxidedismutase.Copperisrequiredintheproductionofredbloodcells.Ironisessentialforredbloodcellformation.

Didyouknow…

• Lettuceisamemberofthesunflowerfamily• Incaseyouhavewiltedlettuce,Puttheleavesinabowlofcoldwaterwithice

cubesandsoakforabout15minutes.• Eatinglettucefordinnercanbecalmingandhelptoreducestress.

Letusembraceleafygreens!Andlivehealthierandlonger!!!ByPerpetualOfasi,BlueSkiesGhana.Gotowww.blueskies.com/lettucemonthforthefullreport

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South Africa Expansion takes shape

Pictured:workprogressestoexpandthefactoryinSouthAfrica---------------------------------------------Palm nuts take a real pounding

Nothing goes to waste at Blue Skies Ghana, and here is Elizabeth our lovely guest house hostess pounding the palm nuts from a tree in the guest house grounds to extract the palm oil used as an ingredient in the spicy stews so beloved of Ghanaians. By Stephan Morris.---------------------------------------------

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Blue Skies conquer Three Peaks Ghana BlueSkiesGhanaparticipatedinthe3peakschallengeon9thand10thSeptember,2016,organisedbyKosmosEnergyGhana.Thechallengebroughttogethersevencorporatebodies;Tullowoil,KosmosEnergy,AtuaboFreeport,ChinaHabour,PensileEnchileLetsaandAnkamahConsult,Dun&BradstreetandBlueSkies.TheobjectiveforthiseventwastoclimbthehighestandthelongestmountainsinGhanawithin24hoursandalsotoraisemoneytobuildaclinicforthepeopleofShiarri,alocalsettlementonMountainDjebobo.TheparticipantsclimbedmountainAfadjaoandAduadoforthefirstnightandproceededtoclimbthethirdmountain,Djebobointhefollowingmorning.ThethreemountainsarelocatedinmiddleandNorthernvoltarespectively.MountainAfadjato,MountainDjebobo,andMountainAduadoallintheVoltaRegionofGhana.Thefirsttwomountainswerehikedintheevening/nightbetween5pmand12am.Thelastpeakwashikedbetween7amand9am.Threeawardswereatstakeforthebestdressedteam,thestrongestteamandthefunniestdressedteam.BlueSkieswasrepresentedbyeightstaff,namelyPerpetualOfasi,WisdomTukpih,MawuliDogbo,SampsonKwawukumey,GeorgeAhiagba,RichardAkornortey,GraceMorteyandDianaAzogla.TheBlueSkiesteamseemedtoostrongforthecompetitionasittookthemjustaboutthreehoursinsteadofthenormalsevenhourstoascendanddescendthetwomountainsAfadjatoandAduadorespectivelytotheamazementoftheotherparticipants.IntheendBlueSkieswasadjudgedthebestdressedteamandTullowOilwontheawardforthefunniestdressedteam.Thestrongestteamhoweverwasawardedtothedrivers,adecisionwhichisbeingdisputedastheyhadnocontenderintheparticipatingteams-anditwasobviousthatthestrongestteamwasreallyBlueSkies!Despitethecontroversy,theeventwasreallyadventurousandfun.WelldonetotheBlueSkiesTeamforprovingtheirprowesswhenitcomestofitnessandsports.ReportbyWisdomTukpih,BlueSkiesGhana.

Picturedabove:TheThreePeaksTeam,stillsmilinginthedeepofthenight-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ghana gets Pine Vision

ManythankstoourfriendsintheNetherlandsforsendingusthesebeautifulpineappleglasses!PicturedaboveisRose,RuthandErnestwhohavereplacedtheiroldframeswiththesemorecolourfulspectacles.---------------------------------------------

www.instagram/blueskiesproductswww.instagram/fruitinabottle---------------------------------------------

www.facebook.com/blueskiesafricawww.facebook.com/fruitinabottle---------------------------------------------

www.twitter.com/blueskiesfruitwww.twitter.com/fruitinabottle---------------------------------------------