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Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin (FAEW) distributed 84% more food to community members in need during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the prior year. Though systems were in place to manage food receipt and distribution data, social distancing requirements and technological barriers revealed inefficiencies in utilizing this data. In pursuit of data-driven decision-making and in the context of a global pandemic, FAEW partnered with Marquette University data scientists through an industry-supported grant. Applying newly learned skills in Business Intelligence, students produced detailed reports of data cleanliness in FAEW's source systems to improve underlying data quality and better support analytic efforts. Additionally, students synchronized human-centered design thinking and visual analytics to produce an interactive application to optimize inventory management, storage availability, and product distribution. Finally, students are utilizing business analytics techniques such as supervised and unsupervised data mining to provide new insights about food receipt and distribution patterns that will have a sustainable impact on FAEW operations. This unique partnership offers students experiential learning opportunities, tangible data science solutions that FAEW will use to ensure best practices, and real-world solutions to collaboratively end hunger in our communities.

The urgency of the current climate crisis emphasizes the need for university graduates equipped with relevant knowledge and skills to tackle environmental and social problems such as material consumption, environmental degradation and inequality at all spatial scales. Geographic and spatially sensitive concepts and approaches to sustainability and greening are particularly relevant as best practices and success models are not easily transferable across different contexts. But how can students learn the necessary skills to connect theory with practice? Based on a third-year geography module at a British university that teaches green economy concepts, this paper presents insights from a problem- and project-based group learning exercise designed to help students translate conceptual approaches into practice highlighting the strength of geographic thinking. As part of the exercise, students work in groups to develop a green project that they present in a green dragons' den-style ideas pitch to an expert panel for evaluation. Students are tasked to develop innovative, feasible and applicable proposals that address specific sustainability challenges. Findings from five consecutive years of teaching illustrate the value of project- and problem-based learning to students through the diversity of practical applications, the need for critical thinking and context-dependent assessments and enhanced transferable skills.

Most Americans consume diets at odds with nutrition recommendations, contributing to our ongoing epidemics of noncommunicable diseases. One strategy for accelerating progress toward healthier diets involves formal agreements between companies and nongovernmental organizations to develop new products, reformulate existing products, and implement new marketing strategies. Although the general intention for industry agreements is to generate public health benefits, their goals and activities may not align with this intention. Based on a literature review and technical assistance we provided to organizations engaged in industry agreements, we believe that increasing scientific scope and rigor in evaluations of voluntary food and beverage industry agreements could improve potential public health benefits and understanding of their actual effects. We provide recommendations for external, unconflicted funding that permits comprehensive, independent, and rigorous evaluation of voluntary industry agreements.

Chinese enterprise personnel are faced with the problem of intercultural adaptation. Based on Black's theory of "three-dimensional" model of intercultural adaptation, this paper proposes a "four-dimensional" model of intercultural adaptation, namely, life adaptation, work adaptation, interpersonal adaptation and Chinese image adaptation. The research method of semi-structured in-depth interview is used to interview 23 Chinese people from one Chinese enterprise in Saudi Arabia, who have worked there for at least one year. We get findings as follows: (1) Life adaptation: maladjustment is mainly reflected in religious restriction. Especially, religious regulations and taboos make the life of Chinese enterprise personnel restricted. However, there are also many aspects of adaptation, such as Saudi cuisine, living environment and leisure life, which bring the satisfaction of life demands to Chinese enterprise personnel. (2) Work adaptation: foreign companies must employ a certain proportion of local people to work in their companies; the roles of buyers and sellers in Saudi Arabia and in China are different; the concept of time is different. (3) Interpersonal adaptation: Chinese people in Saudi Arabia still have the most frequent contact with their Chinese compatriots, and it is difficult for them to develop close friendship with foreigners. Chinese people are good at creating harmonious interpersonal relationships for work through some after-work activities, such as drinking tea, eating out and holding football matches. (4) Chinese image adaptation: Chinese enterprise personnel in Saudi Arabia have decent income, and Saudi police fail to check Chinese cars, all of which make the Chinese people have a positive face value. In view of the above four adaptation situations of Chinese enterprise personnel in Saudi Arabia, the following suggestions are proposed: (1) Be strict with yourself in life, respect local social and religious customs, and also keep a careful attitude and actively deal with disadvantageous factors. (2) While benefiting from working or doing business in Saudi Arabia, we should make contributions for the development of local economy and society, providing employment and training for local people. (3) We should observe the local laws and regulations, and also follow the local and international market rules. (4) In interpersonal communication, we should combine the maintenance mode of Chinese "guanxi" (relationship) with western "principle" on the one hand, and make a difference between them on the other hand. (5) In terms of image adaptation, besides maintaining a good image politically and economically, it is also necessary to improve our individual quality and our cultural cultivation overseas, be a communicator bridging Chinese and foreign excellent culture, and build a positive national image and individual image.

Afghanistan remains an agrarian country with most analyses holding food production and processing as key to recovery. To date, however, there are no public or private higher education departments focused on food technology. To bridge this gap, Herat University initiated a new academic department conferring BS degrees in food technology. Models for developing agriculture curricula consider industry input integral to preparing graduates for the job market. Here, we assessed perspectives of Afghan food processors on challenges faced and skills/knowledge valued most in new employees as a first step in developing an industry validated food technology curriculum for Afghanistan. Businesses identified numerous challenges (e.g., having to source technical assistance from outside the country) and specific skills gaps (e.g., ability to conduct quality analysis/assurance) they feel should be addressed by the university. Afghan higher education is largely teacher centered, however, with little to no integration of industry stakeholders and responses indicated that establishing beneficial relationships between stakeholders and university programs will take considerable effort. As Afghanistan continues higher education reform throughout the country with the addition of more "workforce" oriented degree programs, these results have implications extending to other areas of agriculture and beyond.

The relevance of the investigated problem is caused by increasing levels of competition in the industry markets of chocolate producers in Russia and the need to maintain the profitability of the companies' activities in the unstable macroeconomic conditions. The aim of the article is to assess the impact of competitive forces on settlements terms between the participants of supply chain, taking into account relative financial and industrial competitiveness of suppliers and buyers. The leading method of this problem is the research analysis of the market situation in the industry based on the model of five forces of competition by M. Porter (2004), as well as assessment of individual indicators of financial condition of chocolate products manufacturing companies using the analysis of some indicators. The article defines the conditions of optimization of financing sources for current payments based on relative financial and industrial competitiveness of suppliers and buyers. Article Submissions are of practical value to chocolate producers operating in Russian and international markets.

This article describes results from a study examining the supply chain for local foods in Maryland school meals, the barriers and opportunities for increasing local foods in schools, and the development of Extension efforts to meet the needs identified. Interviews and surveys were administered with stakeholders, including farmers and food service directors. The results suggest that outreach regarding public schools should focus on the farm level, while efforts for private schools should focus on both the schools and the farm level and facilitating networking between the two.

The focus of this study is direct marketing of produce from an urban market garden. Rather than discussing broad issues of direct marketing, we use a case study to frame the decisions a market gardener is likely to face in developing both production and marketing plans. The garden featured in this study is located in Seattle, Washington, a city with a very active direct marketing culture. The study covers several of the decisions that market gardeners must consider when determining their marketing plan including production plans, current and projected market conditions, and specific marketing plans. (Contains 3 tables, 1 figure, and 8 footnotes.)

America is a nation of entrepreneurs. Whether engaged in a start-up operation, managing a family business, or as part of an entrepreneurial venture within a larger entity, American entrepreneurs have provided the vision and energy that have powered the U.S. economy for the last century. Educating entrepreneurs presents special challenges, particularly in the context of legal studies class. Entrepreneurs thrive in an active environment that uses experience to integrate theory and application. This article introduces the Ice Cream Project, an activity that asks students to take a holistic view of contracting by integrating the operational concerns of an entrepreneurial venture with the legal concepts presented in class in the context of a procurement contract. By permitting students to "discover" how the law provides tangible solutions to business problems, the Ice Cream Project helps to concretize the importance of contract law to entrepreneurial enterprises. The Ice Cream Project is the capstone activity of the legal studies course and is designed to be completed in approximately five weeks, with a number of informal milestones. It requires students to perform three interrelated activities: (1) a factual analysis; (2) a legal analysis and application; and (3) drafting. Instructions on how to implement the project are presented. (Contains 64 footnotes.)

Inherent within emerging new food supply chains (FSCs) in the UK in recent years, and in particular those based upon direct marketing, is the (re)connection of production--consumption processes and concomitantly producers and consumers. New forms of connection are apparent, as food produce is differentiated on the basis of quality constructs which are often linked both to the place and nature of its production, but also to the exchange context. As a result, quality evaluation has become increasingly complex and heterogeneous, necessitating context-specific examinations of its mediation. This paper seeks to do this through its examination of producers and consumers at farmers' markets (FMs). Utilising the framework of Conventions Theory, it assesses how producers and consumers coordinate their mutual expectations in order to circumvent the uniform standards of "conventionally" produced food and create new production--consumption spaces. In so doing, the notion of a "Regard" Convention is suggested as a means of acknowledging the non-economic benefits of FSCs that are underpinned by direct marketing and, in particular, those that involve face-to-face interaction between the participants concerned.

Research on markets and marketing of some non-timber forest products (NTFPs) was carried out in selected locations of Osun State. The NTFPs considered are chewing sticks such as "Massularia acuminata" and bush meat like "Thryonomys swinderianus", representing both the flora and fauna aspects of NTFPs, respectively. Five Local Government Areas were randomly selected, namely; Odo-otin, Boripe, Iwo, Irewole and Atakunmosa for the research purpose. A total of 300 questionnaires were administered, 150 questionnaires for each of the NTFPs. Each NTFPs was further subdivided to production, marketing and usage or consumption with 50 questionnaires for each unit. It was gathered from the result that "M. acuminata" tops the list of the well favoured chewing sticks. Other types of chewing sticks that rank high include fagara ("Zanthophylum zanthoxonoides") and Ira ("Rauwolfia vomitora"). Bush meat is also cherished by people most especially in urban centres where it is regarded as a delicacy. Despite the preference of bush meat, the rate of consumption is still low relative to other animal protein sources. Apart from these two NTFPs, several others of economic, nutritional and medicinal importance exist. A list of some of them is made with their uses. NTFPs are grossly affected by seasonal changes and this in turns affect their availability and prices. In all, considering NTFPs in the light of economic gain alone will be parochial even though analysis for the marketing of the two NTFPs shows that they are viable business ventures. The values should extend beyond the economic gain to other values which are indispensable to the existence of man. A major but neglected aspect is the medicinal aspect of NTFPs. (Contains 6 tables.)

Reports on an online survey of consumer attitudes toward online storefronts marketing barbecue sauce, cheese, olive oil, potato chips, and other specialty food products. The relationship between consumer attitudes toward Web sites and the likelihood of purchase, as well as demographic factors related to online food and drink buying, are described. (PEN)

This article presents the 10 best new magazines of 2008. They are: (1) BBC Knowledge; (2) Bible Study Magazine; (3) Culture: The Word on Cheese; (4) Food Network Magazine; (5) Lapham's Quarterly; (6) Miller-McCune; (7) NCAA Champion; (8) Science Illustrated; (9) Strategy; and (10) World Affairs. These magazines have in common the potential to create a devoted readership able to sustain circulation and attract advertisers interested in reaching their particular audience. Each succeeds in presenting distinctive and visually appealing content, in some cases with remarkably creative design. These magazines demonstrate that the art of graphic design is thriving. The Best Magazines of 2008 represent a range of target audiences, from general to special interest. Industry trends would suggest that the more general titles may have the most difficulty succeeding, but prognostication is a risky business. Special interest publications always face the challenge of being accepted broadly enough quickly enough to pay the bills. Given the deep recession that took hold in 2008 and the risks inherent in launching a new magazine, it's remarkable that publishers took the leap to inaugurate this fine crop of new titles.

The advent of m-commerce has reinvented and simplified the shopping experience for the digital native generation. The following questions were the starting points for this research: is nutrition labeling important in purchase decisions? Could a new format for food nutrition labeling in m-commerce be the optimal way to inform the younger generation and enrich their shopping experience? This study continues the authors’ research on the food preferences of the younger generation by conducting a quantitative study on a sample of 364 students. The aim of the paper is to identify the factors that influence online food orders and the ways in which nutrition labeling can enhance consumers’ purchasing experiences and eating habits. The results show that nutrition facts play an important role in online purchases of new or unfamiliar foods. Control over one’s own diet and a higher income also make digital natives more interested in ordering food online. The use of a mobile format for nutrition labeling would be the necessary update for the food industry to turn nutrition data into added value, help consumers get a balanced diet and personalize nutritional needs, and for policymakers to adjust nutrition standards and policies toward healthier and more responsible consumption patterns.

The study aims to explore specific factors that affecting the satisfaction of customers buying food with last- mile delivery service on e-commerce platform in Vietnam. The authors develop a research model consisting of 5 independent variables: service capacity of the transport unit, complaint and refund policy, freight cost, the factor about delivery staff, the form of goods upon receipt. The research apply simple random sampling method then conduct data analysis after collecting a sample size of 295 by SPSS 2.0 software. The research model explains 60.9% of the overall relationship of the above 5 factors with the satisfaction of last-mile delivery service when purchasing food. Implications and recommendations for further research are also discussed. The authors also propose some solutions to boost customer satisfaction when buying food for last- mile delivery services on the e-commerce platform. Abstrak dalam Bahasa Indonesia.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi faktor-faktor spesifik yang mempengaruhi kepuasan pelanggan yang membeli makanan dengan layanan pengiriman last-mile pada platform e-commerce di Vietnam. Penulis mengembangkan model penelitian yang terdiri dari 5 variabel bebas: kapasitas pelayanan unit angkutan, kebijakan komplain dan refund, biaya angkut, faktor petugas pengiriman, bentuk barang setelah diterima. Penelitian menggunakan metode simple random sampling kemudian melakukan analisis data setelah terkumpul sampel sebesar 295 dengan software SPSS 2.0. Model penelitian menjelaskan 60,9% dari keseluruhan hubungan 5 faktor di atas dengan kepuasan pelayanan pesan antar jarak jauh saat membeli makanan. Implikasi dan rekomendasi untuk penelitian selanjutnya juga dibahas. Penulis juga mengusulkan beberapa solusi untuk meningkatkan kepuasan pelanggan saat membeli makanan untuk layanan pengiriman jarak jauh di platform e-commerce.

This study proposes and evaluates a novel approach utilizing ensemble machine learning techniques for personalized meal services to address a critical gap in understanding AI-powered decision-making within the food delivery and restaurant industry. We draw inspiration from diverse fields, including non-traditional simulation methodologies and open innovation dynamics, to create a framework that leverages the combined strengths of individual algorithms. Three machine learning algorithms – decision trees, logistic regression, and naïve Bayes – are rigorously evaluated for their efficacy in classifying and assigning algorithms within an ensemble model for a new service. A simulated dataset, informed by expert tagging, is the training ground, ensuring practical relevance. We employ the voting probability metric on a held-out test set to provide a robust measure of accuracy in this critical task. Our findings reveal the significant potential of AI-powered personalized meal services. Ensemble models demonstrate high accuracy, showcasing the collaboration of combining individual algorithms. This originality lies in applying ensemble techniques to a business case with far-reaching implications for management and societal well-being. Beyond technical success, we explore this technology’s broader impact. AI-powered food recommendations can enhance accessibility for individuals with dietary needs, promote healthier lifestyles through nutritious meal suggestions, and generate new job opportunities. Acknowledging limitations and future research avenues, we invite further exploration of diverse machine learning algorithms and broader applications across various domains.