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Crafting That Perfect Mexican Catering Menu for Your Next Event or Party

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Planning a successful party or event is by no means an easy task. A lot of intricate details need to be worked out and everything needs to come together and work together to make sure that your party or event remains a memorable success. One of the most important things that you need to get right when you are trying to organize and execute a party or event is the party menu. The food you serve can leave a lasting impression on your guests and getting things right by delivering complex flavors and great quality can definitely increase your chances of having a successful party that your guests can remember and cherish. Coming up with the right event catering menu can involve a number of considerations. You have to think about the kind of cuisine that your guests might enjoy while also providing thrilling and interesting flavors and textures on the plate that can leave a lasting impression.


If you take a look at the popularity of different kinds of cuisine in the country in recent times, it can definitely make a lot of sense to have a menu that features Mexican dishes. Mexican food is the kind of crossover cuisine that people in the country seem to love and enjoy. With bold flavors and interesting use of layered spices, Mexican dishes can definitely bring the kind of charm and adventure to your party menu that you need. When you are looking for the right Mexican food to serve at your event menu, featuring the best Mexican ingredients and bringing together a menu that showcases the different characteristic properties of Mexican cuisine can definitely be a bold move that can pay off big time. When you are looking for event menu ideas, you can definitely make things interesting for your guests by choosing a Mexican catering menu.


Understanding the Charm of Mexican Food


Over the years, Mexican food has proven to be extremely popular in the country. Statistics indicate that one out of every 10 restaurants in the country serves some kind of Mexican cuisine, which makes it one of the most popular international food styles in the country. People in the country consume over 4 billion tacos a year and Mexican salsa as the number one condiment in the country, having surpassed the impressively popular ketchup and mayonnaise products. All of these indicate that a Mexican catering menu can be one of the best ways to ensure that people invited to your party or event enjoy the food to the hilt.


Some of the most important reasons why Mexican cuisine has resonated with the culinary palates of so many people in the country is the bold and interesting combination of flavors and aromas that it can bring to the table. Mexican sauces or mole can have a number of interesting ingredients and popular dishes like tacos, enchiladas, tortillas, empanadas, and guacamole deliver a rich and complex flavor profile that is replete with layered spices. The rich heritage of Mexican cuisine also favors the use of fresh and interesting ingredients that can really lift Mexican dishes. These are compelling reasons for you to consider a Mexican catering menu for your next event or party.


Creating the Perfect Mexican Catering Menu


When it comes to livening up your party or event, the perfect Mexican catering menu can work wonders. To go about it the right way, you can definitely think about popular Mexican cuisine and incorporating popular dishes in your menu. For example, having a live taco bar can be an excellent addition to your party as it brings the flair and charisma of live Mexican cooking to your guests. While featuring popular dishes can lay down a great foundation, you can also include interesting cross-cultural experiments with crossover dishes like Tex-Mex cuisine.


Having food that is colorful, flavorful, and lively can definitely improve your chances of having a menu that your guests can enjoy and remember. With the incorporation of Mexican cuisine, it can become much easier to serve food to your guests that they can love and enjoy while also learning about this great and popular food tradition with amazing flavors.


3 Steps for Keeping Beer Growlers Clean

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If you enjoy drinking beer, you’re certainly not alone. Statistics from 2015 found that adults in the United States aged 21 years and up consumed 27.5 gallons of cider and beer per person. Those who enjoy drinking beer likely know about growlers. For those unaware, growlers are containers typically used to carry beer. These containers are made from a wide variety of materials, primarily including glass and metal. Stainless steel growlers are especially popular with those known for accidentally dropping things. No matter which type of growler you own, it’s important to keep these items clean. Considering that, here are three simple steps for keeping your growler in great shape.

  • Clean Using Warm Water

    It’s understandable to think cleaning your growler with soap is acceptable. Unfortunately, soap is known to leave behind residue in many growlers. Making matters worse, this residue stays behind for the next time your growler is filled. If you don’t want to taste soapy beer, don’t use soap while cleaning your growler. A simple warm water rinse will sufficiently clean this container.
  • Don’t Forget to Clean Additional Growler Components

    Part of the fun associated with owning a growler is customizing it. For instance, many people prefer to own growler kegs. There are even mini growler kegs available. Considering that, this also means needing to clean keg cap taps and other items. Fortunately, these items are easily cleaned with a warm water rinse.
  • Give All Items Proper Time to Air Day

    Growlers are extremely popular with craft beer drinkers. Considering that, it’s no wonder that the craft beer market in the United States is now worth an estimated $23.5 billion. However, nothing ruins a growler faster than damp environments. If you don’t thoroughly let your growler dry, it can begin to house bacteria. This could lead to all sorts of potential health problems. To avoid this, place your growler and all other pieces upside down to air dry.

In closing, it’s important to keep your growlers clean. These items are popular with beer drinkers. In fact, a Gallup poll from 2016 found that 43% of those legally able to drink prefer beer over other types of alcoholic beverages. You’ll also want to make sure you have plenty of growler supplies on hand. For instance, you wouldn’t want to run out of keg cap tap before beginning to drink. Having growler supplies on hand always ensures you’re able to enjoy a nice, delicious beer.

Thermo King Refrigeration Units for Sale The Facts

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Across the globe, the transportation industry is incredibly important and vital to the growth of business in general. As a result, there are constant innovations that take place to help enhance this industry as a whole. Well, one of the best parts of this industry evolving includes high-quality and high-end Thermo King refrigeration units for sale, which are also called reefer trailers.

Now, it is important to note that the reefer here stands for refrigerated, not slang for any drugs. These reefer trailers and trucks have numbers in the United States and there are over 500,000 currently in operation. The average size of these trailers can be between 28 and 53 feet in length and no more than 13.5 feet in height as well. Also, these trailers will be able to carry up to 44,000 pounds at the maximum.

The Thermo King refrigeration units for sale and the reefer trailer industry is more important than ever before. These types of used reefer trailers and other types of refrigeration trucks are important because they can transport items sensitive to temperature. Here are all of the facts on these types of trucks:

Refrigerated Trailers and Trucks Are Important For Transportation

Between January 2017 and January 2018, there was a 250% increase of refrigerated trailer orders. As a result, one can easily understand just how important this type of truck is for the transportation industry. Furthermore, in the year of 2015, the market for these trucks was valued at over $5 billion. By the year of 2022, experts believe this could potentially grow by another $2 billion. Therefore, the value of Thermo King refrigeration units for sale is going to rise over the next five years or so.

The global reefer unit market is projected to grow to a market value of $7,658 billion by the year of 2022. This means that there will be a Compound Annual Growth Rate of almost 5% between the years of 2016 and 2022. As a result, a new reefer trailer is only going to be more expensive over the next five years or so. Therefore, anyone that needs themselves Thermo King refrigeration units for sale should buy in rather soon than later.

Refrigerated Trailers Provide An Important Service

New reefer trailers for sale and Thermo King refrigeration units for sale all provide an important service. As previously mentioned, these types of trailers are used to transport items that are sensitive to temperature. Therefore, companies that need to move food and other items that have low melting points should be transported in these trucks. That way, they can avoid melting and being ruined over time.

On average, the temperature ranger for a Thermo King refrigeration units for sale will be anywhere between -20 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This will largely depend on what the company wants to use these trucks for. Obviously, different types of products and materials need a different kind of temperature to stay in their best state over time. As a result, it is wise for companies with these sensitive items to properly invest in a reefer trailer.

FTR Transportation Intelligence gathers data on transportation items and services across the United States. this group collected data which has revealed that nearly 40,000 refrigerated trailers were ordered in the United States in just January 2018. Therefore, it is easy to understand that this is the future of the transportation industry and the trucking industry as well!

Closing Advice On Thermo King Refrigeration Units For Sale

In order to succeed, the transportation industry needs to continue and grow and develop over the next twenty years. As technology continues to grow and develop, so should all other industries that can use this technology to grow and enhance their products. As a result, Thermo King refrigeration units for sale will be the future of the transportation industry for food companies and more!

How Table Tops Can Change Your Business

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Having a hard time deciding between metal table tops and wooden ones for your restaurant? Choosing your tables can be as big of a job as choosing your outfit of the day. There are so many options in front of you for wood and metal that at the end of the day your head is left spinning with different choices. Do you go with something long lasting? Or should you pick something based only on how nice it looks? More restaurant owners find themselves baffled at these decisions. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind the next time picking out furniture seems as difficult as making your menu.

Metal Table Tops Save Your Pockets

With so many options out there your wallet will thank you in the end. Many times, these table tops are more affordable than if you put wood table tops or even reclaimed wood in your restaurant! Metal also means that you’re saving the trees! For hardwood trees that take almost 60 years to mature, this means that we cut down these beauties to make furniture faster than they can grow. Making the decision for metal means saving not only your own money but saving the trees as well. Who doesn’t like a business that puts the environment first?

Metal Table Tops Offer Less Paint Contamination

Metal table tops come in a verity of shapes, sizes and colors! Unlike wooden tables that are harder to maintain and only come in a few colored options. (Unless you layer them with paint and stain — would you really want to eat off of wood restaurant tables at that point? Knowing just how much paint has stained your table, who really wants their food touching all of that and then being digested? With metal table tops your options are unlimited! And you can be sure that you’re guests can be sure they aren’t picking up paint residue with every bight.

The Ease Of Moving

Instead of those large heavy to move tables and chairs that take forever to get out of the way to wash the floors at night. A great metal alternative could save time and strength! Those these table tops are light weight it doesn’t mean that they aren’t durable, it just means that this furniture is highly versatile. With furniture that is easy to move and reposition your restaurant never needs to stay the same for too long. Who doesn’t like the reset of a brand new setup.

Withstanding The Test Of Time

Metal table can last longer. Unlike wood, these tables and chairs don’t run the risk of being scuffed or broken beyond repair. Most of the time these tables can be repaired easily if there is an issue with them. Metal is known to look better in the long run than wood does, meaning that the need for replacement is far less than one would expect it to be.

Indoor Or Outdoor

With metal table tops the option of moving this furniture inside or outside on beautiful days brings with it the benefit of offering your costumers versatility on where they’d like to sit. Who doesn’t like to enjoy a delicious meal and the beautiful outdoors at the same time?

So the next time you are faced with that difficult decision over what to use for furniture within your restaurant keep these things in mind. Whatever your decision, your food offerings will be the thing that keeps most of your customers coming back time and time again.

Eco-Friendly Coffee Why and How?

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Coffee is a staple in the American working world. People enjoy coffee for the taste, the energy boost, and the social connotations it comes with. In fact, coffee shops rake in $12 billion in combined sales annually; that shows that it comes as no surprise how much United States residents love their coffee. However, the commuters who make a visit to their favorite coffee shop drive through do not realize the environmental impact they are making by using countless paper to go coffee cups year after year. Loving coffee is no crime against the earth, but how can we get our morning fix without leaving such a huge carbon footprint?

There are quite a few ways you can get that professional barista effect you love without tossing out those plastic cups with lids. Here is how you can enjoy your daily brew and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

1. Ask your favorite coffee shop about a custom reusable cup, so you can skip the paper to go coffee cups. Many shops offer patrons a thermos for purchase with that shop’s name or logo on it, so that you can save a handful of change every time you come through the drive through with your loyalty cup in hand. Not only will you be saving yourself some money, you will also lessening your presence in the landfill. Note that your coffee shop may fill a thermos that is not a loyalty thermos, but you probably will not get a discount.

2. Become a barista master yourself. The cost of a home coffee bar may be daunting at first, but you will save yourself money over time by making the craft coffee beverages you love at home rather than paying several dollars apiece for one every morning. The price tag on a home coffee bar can vary greatly depending on brand, model, and number of functions, but most will provide you with the milk-foaming, espresso-based drinks that you love. The coffee bar may come with tutorials on how to make these drinks, or you may be able to find them online.

3. Don’t want a coffee bar at home? Make a plea to your work. If your place of employment doesn’t have a coffee bar setup, you might be able to make a pretty strong case to your employers as long as you gather enough information. Talk to your colleagues about how they would feel about the installation of an office coffee bar, and research models that you think would be in your employer’s price range. Make sure you talk plenty about the increases of productivity that coffee in the workplace will bring, and draft up a rotating schedule of opportunities for coworkers to be at the coffee bar so your boss doesn’t see it as a distraction.

4. Rev up your drip coffee. Drip coffee may not be no whole milk caramel macchiato with extra drizzle and light whip, but it can still be a pretty dang good substitute when you want to save a little money and be kind to your planet. Research coffee clubs that deliver the finest whole beans to your door, and invest in a whole bean grinder, which can greatly change your views on drip coffee. Did you know that coffee loses 40% of its flavor potency and freshness within ten minutes of being ground? Some freshly ground, artisan drip coffee with a fabulously flavored creamer of your choice can give a coffee shop a run for its money. For a more barista-esque taste to your drip coffee, skip the heavily sweetened creamers, toggle that drip coffee maker over to strong, and use pure heavy cream with a dash of flavoring syrup to truly embody the flavor of homemade drip coffee. Once you’ve mastered your grinder, creamer, and drip coffee maker, buy yourself a couple of fashionable, high quality to go mugs, ditch your paper to go coffee cups, and you’re all set!
5. Become an activist. If you are lucky, you might be able to convince your coffee shop to ditch their paper to go coffee cups for a biodegradable option! Come with statistics!
Coffee is a delicious, wonderful gift to us, but the vessels they come in often aren’t.

The Art Of Candied Flowers The Dazzling Finishing Touches Micro Green Varieties Add To Your Menu

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Food culture has seen something of a revival in the modern era. Not exclusively in five-star restaurants, but in fast casual and fine dining alike.

Social media accounts have made it easier than ever to share beautiful dishes with thousands, even millions, of people. Online marketing campaigns and local SEO can direct customers to new fine dining experiences they might have overlooked otherwise. When you’re a restaurant just trying to figure out where you fit in all this, micro green varieties can add some zest to your menu. Candied flowers and micro herbs are beautiful food accents that breathe life into any dish, from salads to soups to rare steaks.

Who knows? Your edible flower petals might just mean the difference between a standard dining experience and the next big thing on Instagram.

Where did micro green varieties come from in the first place? According to food critics micro greens have been around for 30 years, seeing a revival partially credited to the rise in food photography. They’ve seen become a staple at many modern restaurants, with some designing their entire menu around the art. A recent study found visits to fine dining restaurants have gone up by 3% over the past year alone. That’s thousands more Americans dining in upscale restaurants on a regular or semi-regular basis.

Let’s take a deeper look at the increase in upscale dining and the impact it’s having on restaurants of all shapes and sizes. According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, households with incomes of $100,000 or higher are responsible for at least 35% of the total spending on food away from home. The upscale segment of the restaurant industry makes up around 10% of total American restaurant sales, to boot, and more establishments than ever are doing their best to stand out in a competitive sea. Micro green varieties are a subtle and artistic way of setting your business apart.

Did you now there are at least 100 types of common garden flowers that are both edible and palatable? You can use edible crystallized rose petals to decorate your pastries or edible flowers for salads that should look just as beautiful as they are tasty. Presentation and plating is a careful art that is best cultivated by dipping into psychology. Children have been found to prefer six food colors and seven food components, on average, while adults often go for more minimalist arrangements at three and three, respectively. No matter the age or preference, most diners love to see organic micro greens on their plate.

Micro greens take a careful hand to cultivate, store and transport. Failing to respect their unique needs is a recipe for disaster that will reflect badly on your menu. These tiny, edible greens are both tasty and pleasing to the eye, coming in enough varieties to compliment just about any style. They are generally rated on a scale between one and five, with one being considered too poor for sale and five being excellent. The marketability threshold tends to hover between three and four, with visual quality being the biggest indicator toward a sale. Your crystallized pansy, organic petite micro greens and sugar flowers should come from a reputable buyer.

Today one of the largest and most active Flickr groups is called ‘I Ate This’, including a staggering 300,000 photos and counting across 20,000 different members that regularly visit restaurants. The restaurant industry is always hungry for new and innovative experiences, that of which can be cultivated with a little creativity with your micro greens. These edible greens have to be stored at an optimal temperature of 39 degrees Fahrenheit and need to be kept in a closed container, among other things, to prevent the flowers or greens from browning.

Micro green varieties are the very definition of a little going a long way. What could edible flowers for cake decorating or spring salads do to entice more visitors to your restaurant?

Storing Wine 5 Things that can Ruin your Collection

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Alcohol has always been a popular drink and it’s popularity is only growing. The sales of all alcoholic beverages in the United states were slightly over $2 billion. While it may seem like the younger crowd is more interested in craft beer, there is still some interest in wine. There are more than 7,000 wineries in the United States with red wine being most preferred followed by white then rose. Buying and choosing wine is an important step in the process, however properly storing that wine is also important. Read the tips below for proper wine storage to help it stay fresh and age properly.

Position

The position of the wine bottle may not seem important but it is. Wines should always be stored horizontally with an angle no more than 25 degrees. This aids in keeping the cork of the bottle moist. When visiting wine stores consider your wine storage and how many bottles it can hold. You want to make sure to keep a multitude of types of wine on your rack, but you want them stored properly. Beer wine and spirits may all be available at certain stores, but that doesn’t mean storage is the same across all of them. Craft beer has completely different storage requirements, and liquor does as well. Consider storage space and type before making a trip to the wine store.

Temperature

The temperature of your wine is going to be slightly cooler than the rest of your house. The ideal temperature is around 55 degrees. You want to choose a spot that does not experience large fluctuations in temperature. These fluctuations can interfere with the aging process of your wine. Warmer climates can cause more of a vinegar taste which will severely distort the overall flavor of the wine. Consider cooler places in your home and avoid warmer places. Places like those located near a dryer, near an oven or even on top of the refrigerator are not ideal places for proper wine storage.

Odors

You want to make sure that you are storing your wine you bought from the wine store away from other things that have strong odors. Things such as onions should not be stored near wine. You don’t want the sweet taste of your wine distorted by odors such as onions or gasoline. Consider placing your wine rack away from areas where you store strong smelling chemicals or strong smelling foods.

Lighting

You should consider the lighting in the area where your wine is stored. Direct sunlight should not be allowed into the storage area as ultraviolet lights can affect the aging process of your wine. Instead choose a darker areas to store your wine. Majority of bottles are made to block most ultraviolet rays, however they do not block them all. This means that storing them away from ultraviolet light will be the only way to 100% guarantee that your wine is not affected.

Humidity

Humidity is an important part to the aging process. If you choose a dry area in your home to store wine then the aging process will be directly affected and so will the taste of your wine. If you live in an area that is especially dry you should consider special wine refrigerators. These wine refrigerators keep the humidity to help your wine stay fresh and help aid in the aging process. Consider this a good investment if you live in a dry climate area.

All types of wines are enjoyed for a variety of occasions by many people. Choosing the right bottle from the wine store and storing it properly can leave you with the perfect gift for your next occasion or get-to-gether. Aged wine is a gift that is worth giving and a special treat to compliment any gathering. Storing your wine the proper way ensures that your purchase will stay fresher longer and be perfect for that special someone or that special occasion.

Things To Consider When Choosing An Offset Vertical Smoker

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If you have decided to try smoked meat and a lot of it, you should try an offset vertical smoker. An offset vertical smoker comes with a huge smoking chamber and many shelves. These vertical smokers can hold more than enough racks of ribs for your next BBQ or family cookout. If you are in the mood for smoked brisket, big pork shoulders, and a lot of pieces of chicken, then an offset smoker is the perfect choice for you. Here are a few things to consider when choosing an offset vertical smoker for all of your BBQ parties.

Your Initial Investment

When choosing the best vertical smoker, your investment is everything. Like with anything else, there are the cheap vertical smokers and there are the high quality ones you can choose to buy instead. Think about it this way, you are only paying out a lot of money one time for the best smoker there is available on the market. Once you make that first initial investment, it will pay for itself many times over. The reason it will pay for itself is because, once you have your nice offset vertical smoker, you can enter BBQ competitions. If you win, you will be taking home a huge cash prize or something of the same value. You can also have your own barbecue party in your backyard and show off your new investment to all of your friends and family.

What You Will Be Cooking

Another good reason to buy a nice custom smoker grill is the idea of all of the awesome and tasty foods you can now make in one. You can make multiple racks of ribs, pork shoulders that you can slice into different pieces of pork and then freeze for dinner for the whole month. Of course, you don’t have to eat pork roasts, pork chops, and pork anything all month long if you don’t want to but if you have an offset vertical smoker on hand, you can save a lot of money on your next months grocery bill. You can cook a lot of different foods in one of these stand up smoker machines and this can save you a lot of money by not having to go grocery shopping as much as you used to.

Storage

When choosing an offset vertical smoker, you need to think about where you will store it. You can put it in the garage, under your porch, or anywhere that has a lot of extra space that you are not using. You don’t need too much extra space but these things are a little on the bigger side and you will need some space for it. Think about where you will store your smoker before buying one and this will help you buy the right vertical smoker for you.

Features

What type of features do you need or want? What type of features come with the smoker you are considering buying? Determining what type of features you want and what it comes with will help you choose the best one for you.

People barbecue as often as they can and will especially have backyard barbecues during their favorite summer time holidays. In fact, 73 % of people have barbecues and family get togethers on July 4 while 60 % use their grills or smokers on Memorial Day for their backyard parties with family and friends. Not only this, but, according to the HPBA or the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association, there are seven in 10 American adults who own either a smoker or a grill.


Wineries as the Most Creative and Affordable Venues for Weddings

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Venues for weddings are more of a variety than one would expect. More than just a church or hotel or reception hall, there are entertainment venues for weddings. One of those includes vineyards and wineries where there is incredible outdoor scenery along with delicious menus and incredible wines of their own.

Traditional Venues for Weddings

Have you ever thought beyond the traditional wedding ceremony in the church followed by taking the limo to the reception hall? Maybe there is a tradition in your family for weddings to be had at the family farm or historical home. It could be a local hall in the hometown where everyone has their weddings no matter what. But, there may be time to break away from tradition and venture into the new and contemporary style wedding.

Maybe It’s a Comfortable Party Time for Your Wedding

Thinking of that winery just down the road, with the kitchen, servers, bar, fresh wine of all flavors, and even room for the dance floor and live music, there is much to have both a cozy little ceremony and reception all in one location. Many times with the right weather there is space for a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the vineyard, followed by the exciting reception right uphill in the hall.

Benefits of Choosing the Winery for Your Wedding Venues

Well, if you like wine then there is nothing better than the winery for your wedding. With the many different wine brands that usually need to be purchased and brought to the reception hall, you can simply find that favorite local wine and the vineyard where it is made.

With almost a billion gallons of wine drunk every year in the U.S., there is much to be said for having access to plenty of wine right there on site for your wedding. With so many different items to plan for a wedding and reception, it is helpful that many of them can be combined all within the winery or vineyard. One of the easiest features of the winery is the ability to reserve the entire location, while they usually have a kitchen and dining room, a bar and dance floor, along with room for your DJ or live band. Basically, the selection for the venue resolved several wedding planning issues at once, while there is all the wine you could possibly need right there on site.

The top 5 things to consider when holiday party planning

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Hosting a holiday party can be a great experience and you can get as intricate or simple as you like depending on what type of party your hosting and who it is for. There are millions of options available to you and the party can be as long or short as you desire just remember to plan accordingly thinking of everyone attending and how you will entertain for the amount of time allotted. These are the most important things to think about when hosting and planning your next birthday party, office party or holiday party:

1. Who are you planning for? Is this a child friendly holiday party or adult only party with alcoholic beverages? If you plan on mixing the two like a wedding reception make sure to consider having a safe and comfortable place for the kids to be when the adults have begun their party. Always ensure there is sober supervision for children just in case somebody needs a ride home or there is an emergency that occurs that requires an adult who is thinking clearly. Plan the holiday party with everyone in mind and you won’t have any problems.

2. What types of food will you be serving? This is where you can get really creative and make themed food and drink or keep it simple with comfort food, finger foods and appetizers. Another great way to feed a large party is to have everyone sign up for potluck items to take some of the pressure off yourself as a host. You can also hire a food caterer to bring in every item making it even easier for you to focus on other party activities.

3. How will your party be entertained? Do you plan on having dinner and dancing? Would you have games and photo booths set up? Depending on who your party is for you can find infinite options available. Just consider the age of the group and which activities would be the funnest, remember adults like games and clowns to and you can find many kinds of adult games or hire an adult clown that tells grown up jokes and does grown up tricks. Entertaining large groups of mixed ages doesn’t have to be hard sometimes you need to think outside the box.

4. How will you invite your guests? Did you know there are multiple ways you can invite people to parties these days? You can email everyone, text them, mail invites, use a special delivery service, create tickets, and so much more. Inviting people to a party needs to be timed right as well, do not leave it to the last minute if you actually want your guests to come. Many people lead such busy lives they need a few weeks to be able to take the day off, find a sitter, travel, or otherwise make time for social get togethers.

5. Never underestimate the power of a thank you. Being thanked for coming to any party is always a great feeling. Remember these guests took time out of their busy schedules to be with you. A thank you can be a goodie bag to all the guests, a draw for a prize at the end of the night, a personal hand written note or even an email or text message the next day thanking them for being a part of your holiday party.

Have fun planning your holiday party and remember that is the most important part of any special event.

4 Steps to Follow Before Opening an Ice Cream Shop

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Ice cream remains an extremely popular dessert throughout the United States. In fact, statistics show that the average American consumes ice cream 28.5 times each year. Considering the popularity of this dessert, many people find success by opening an ice cream shop of their own. That being said, you’ll need to do a bit of preparation before achieving this goal. Considering that, here are four steps to follow before opening an ice cream shop.

  • Determining What Type of Ice Cream Shop You Want

    You’ll find that ice cream is a versatile dessert. Considering that, you’ll want to think about how you’re going to offer this treat to your customers. For instance, certain ice cream shops use glass serveware which encourages customers to sit down and enjoy themselves. On the other hand, you might prefer dessert cups to go, catering to those without the time to sit down.
  • Obtaining Proper Business Documentation

    Not every step involving opening your own ice cream shop is exciting. However, it’s imperative that you obtain all required licenses and permits before opening up your own shop. Without these important documents, you’ll risk having your new shop shut down.
  • Finding the Right Location

    Next, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve found the right location. Running an ice cream shop typically entails needing a lot of storage space. Statistics show that there are nearly 1.5 billion gallons of ice cream and other types of similar desserts produced throughout America each year. Therefore, buildings with large amounts of freezer space are great to find for storage purposes. In addition, you’ll also need to determine whether you want to lease or purchase your building. Purchasing a building means more upfront cost but spending less on rent each month.
  • Keeping Plenty of Ice Cream Shop Supplies on Hand

    One study found that 90% of households throughout the United States regularly indulge in some type of frozen treat. With that in mind, you’ll want to prepare for serving such a large number of customers. Fortunately, you can achieve this goal by having plenty of ice cream supplies on hand including cups, spoons, and napkins.

In conclusion, there are several important steps to follow before opening an ice cream shop. These businesses continue to remain popular with a wide range of customers. If you follow the previously mentioned steps, you’ll be ready to open a successful ice business of your own.

Popularity of Reclaimed Wood for Furniture and Other Home Decor

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Reclaimed wood is taken again after it was demolished or destroyed from its original use. One of the most common purposes of this material is for reclaimed wood table tops. While some of them may already be large lumber sheets, others may be wood panels that were used in the walls of homes, buildings, and other locations. With the ability to recreate and refinish the wood, it is reclaimed for another use while still looking good as new.

Reclaimed Wood and Its Use

Home decor is one of the most common uses of reclaimed wood. Using the vintage or classic look for items like tables, countertops, bedroom furniture, living room furniture frames, window frames, and much more. So many different types of reclaimed wood have been developed for items like the following:

  • Ladderback chair
  • Rustic table tops
  • Rustic wood siding
  • Wood restaurant tables
  • Wood table tops

Along with so many more options, there is wood that may actually be reclaimed from barns, homes, buildings, or other locations where it was originally used. These are only a few of the different types of furniture, interior decorative panels, exterior siding, and more.

Where Does Reclaimed Wood Come From?

If you are looking to find a reclaimed wood table top, other reclaimed wood furniture, or other options to reclaimed wood decor for your home, there are many locations to find reclaimed wood. Sometimes it is actually new wood that is made with the appearance of being reclaimed or reused. Other times, there are flooring and other supply stores that offer this specific option for purchase by contractors or consumers to be installed in homes as floors, countertops, cabinets, window sills, and more. Other times there are online stores and other furniture stores that offer full sets already built from reclaimed wood, or wood that appears to be reclaimed.

Most popular are reclaimed wood table tops available for almost any location or room around. They can be the table top or counter top of a restaurant bar, or they can also be restaurant table tops. Additionally, there are table tops for home kitchen tables and dining room tables, along with more tables than where we eat. Living room furniture and bedroom furniture include coffee tables and end tables. There may also be decorative items like trunks and TV stands made from reclaimed wood.

Are You Looking for a Way to Take Better Care of Yourself?

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For once, you did not wait until the new year to make a change. Working with one of your friends, you made the decision to make some very positive changes in your life. Just 24 months ago your marriages were toxic. Your marriages broke. You both found ourselves single moms to babies. Your boys are the same age. Your boys have heritage beyond our culture. You work full-time. You parent, housework, finance, and chauffeur full-time.
And while finding the strength to make the changes that you made nearly two years ago was no easy, you found strength to do what was best for you and your son with the help of your best friend. Since that time you have both purchased your own homes, supplemented your income with productive side businesses, and spend more quality time with your little men than you would have ever believed possible.

After doing so much for your son and your financial situation, you have now decided that it is time to focus on yourself. You want to find a way to get back to looking and feeling your best. You are looking for a way to quickly and efficiently get the exercise you need and find a way to eat more carefully and thoughtfully. You want to find a way to switch out organic micro greens for fast foods and adding microgreens to salads instead of being tempted by other less filling carbs.

Uses for Microgreens Continue to Expand

Many of us have learned to get everything in our life in place, but still forget to take the time to prepare the most healthy meals. We spend time trying to stay within a budget and then spend everything that we have saved on one expensive meal out.

Fortunately, there are a number of micro green varieties that can offer the best of both worlds. They can provide a quick and fast way to make sure that there are protein rich ingredients to many kinds of salads, vegetable dishes, and entrees. Organic micro greens are now affordably available at many grocery stores, so they can also help you create that really special meal at home instead of spending everything that you have saved on one expensive meal at a restaurant.

The latest research indicates that are as many as 100 types of common garden flowers that are both edible and palatable, so it might be time to use some of these to create the meals that you need at home to keep you from eating out. With the use of organic micro greens and other kinds of true leaves microgreens you can create a meal that will satisfy your hunger and help you stay healthy.

Taking A Look Into The Usage Of Organic Micro Greens Here In The United States

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Edible flowers and organic micro greens are quite commonplace in the world as we know it – at least here in the United States. In fact, it’s estimated that there are least 100 different kinds of common garden flowers that can be safely consumed by people. Many of these common garden flowers can be used in many different culinary applications, as can organic micro greens as well.

In fact, organic micro greens and other such micro greens like true leaves micro greens have been in use in the restaurant industry of this country for quite some time now. They have be utilized for at least 20 years, but some estimates put the use of organic micro greens and the like at closer to 30 years in total. In many ways, organic micro greens play an important role in the restaurant industry, particularly in the world of fine dining.

The fine dining experience is one that must set itself apart from the traditional restaurant meal. Fine dining must go above and beyond expectations, not only with taste but with the ambiance of the restaurant and, perhaps most important of all, with the appearance of the food that is served. After all, we eat with our eyes first, or so the saying goes. Organic micro greens can provide a great way to add a little something extra to any given dish, as can various types of edible flowers, depending on the dish.

After all, it has been found that color play a very important role in how we view a plate of food. For the average adult, having three different colors on one plate is ideal, as is having three different food components as well. Children, on the other hand, like much more color and variety, preferring up to six different colors and seven different components of food, all contained on one plate and during one single meal. The use of organic micro greens can make this a reality, as can other varieties of edible flowers.

Of course, carefully monitoring the quality of micro greens used is a must, organic micro greens or not. Organic micro greens – or any micro greens – that are not of a high quality should not be used, as these can end up having quite the detrimental effect when it comes to the plating and overall appearance of any given dish here in the United States or even in many other places all throughout the world as well. In order to keep this from happening, organic micro greens and all other micro greens are ranked.

The scale is from a 1 to a 5, with 5 being the very best quality of micro green while 1 is the very lowest. If organic micro greens or really any other type of micro greens are ranked below a 3, they are not considered to be fit for use in a restaurant setting and therefore will simply be discarded to ensure that only the very best organic micro greens are actually used. But even high quality organic micro greens must be stored responsibly and correctly in order to maintain this quality, and typically must be used within a few days of procurement in order to be presented as fresh as is possible.

For instance, organic micro greens and all other micro greens should be stored in a sealed container that is separate from other ingredients and food components. The temperature at which they are stored has also been found to matter quite a bit, all things considered. Ideally, the fridge in which they are stored will be set at just over 39 degrees Fahrenheit. This is essential to maintain, as a temperature that dips too low, such as at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, can cause considerable discoloration of the organic micro greens that are in question. This will happen to basil, for example, which will turn an ugly shade of brown when the temperature drops too low in the place that it has been stored.

At the end of the day, organic micro greens and all micro greens for that matter are quite important.

The Many Surprising Health Benefits of The Mediterranean Diet

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It’s easy to think of the falafel cart as the standard Greek or Mediterranean restaurant. There are actually very few restaurants or diners in the United States that serve Mediterranean cuisine, only about 14% in fact.

The History of Mediterranean Cuisine

While many of these menu items are often called “Greek” there are many different countries that border the Mediterranean sea and contribute to these restaurant and catering menus available around the world. These include about 20 nations total, all combined to create one unique culture and cuisine, otherwise referred to as the Mediterranean diet.

The Most Popular Mediterranean Cuisine

While hummus is the most popular item presented on Mediterranean menus, served in about three-quarters of those locations, there are plenty of other options available. Of course, you have falafels, as well as Greek or Mediterranean salads, and many other healthy options. One of the best things about the Mediterranean restaurant is the overall healthy nature of the menu, along with the healthful benefits of the food you eat.

The Health Benefits of Mediterranean Cuisine

Even more than taste there are many health benefits to including Mediterranean food in your diet. Especially as an adult, there is proof of prevention of many different diseases along with overall health improvement. A number of qualities of the Mediterranean diet are able to help with the aging process in many ways, for all adults. Some of the key health benefits gained from taking on a Mediterranean diet include:

  1. One of the key positive factors of this diet is the fact that it is low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fat. This is a helpful detail in relation to health guidelines that have been presented for years in the United States including the need to keep saturated fat at less than 10% of regular caloric intake.
  2. Studies have also shown that the Mediterranean diet can help adults prevent Type 2 Diabetes and improve overall glycemic control. With better blood sugar there is much to be gained in the long run regarding the risk of other health defects as well.
  3. Additionally, a study has reported that seniors who add Mediterranean foods into their regular diet have the potential to reduce the risk of dementia. Results of this study presented that a strict diet followed with the inclusion of Mediterranean foods helped to reduce the risk of dementia by over 50%.
  4. Finally, it was suggested in a study published by the International Journal of Cancer that Mediterranean food helped reduce the risk of breast cancer that occurs after menopause. The study shows a reduction of cancer cases by about 40% in those who follow this diet, indicating the potential of helping reduce the effects of estrogen loss after menopause.
  5. While there may not be a great number of locations in the United States to find Mediterranean food, there are a number of benefits to be had from eating these items. It could pose an incredible health benefit to learn how to cook from a Mediterranean menu, or find a Mediterranean restaurant close to your home to help incorporate some of these foods into your regular diet.


Online or In Store, There Are New Ways To Buy Booze

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Alcohol is almost ubiquitous in society today. Surveys have shown that about 86% of adults have tried either beer, wine or liquor at least once in their lives, and it’s estimated that more than 70% of millennials and about 65% of people 55 and older are at least occasional drinkers of alcohol. That’s a huge market, which is why there are a number of new business models that are popping up to serve the drinking population. Just as the model evolved from bars and liquor stores to restaurants and grocery stores, it is evolving again and giving people many options for buying their booze.

Just as it has provided options in other industries, the internet has provided a new outlet for alcohol manufacturers and distributors to sell their products all over. Buying wine online is especially popular, and wine deals online are easy to find. Whether you are buying cheap wine online or looking for more expensive brands, it’s important to keep some things in mind. Not all states allow online wine sales or sales of other alcohol. And even in the states that do, not all will allow you to have it delivered to your home. Your wine deals online that you buy may have to be picked up at a wine store or some other central location.

If online wine sellers or other online alcohol retailers aren’t really your thing, another popular way to buy alcohol these days is straight from a winery or craft brewery. There are nearly 8,000 wineries across the U.S., and thousands of new craft breweries have popped up in the past few years. Though distilleries are not as popular, there are plenty of them scattered around the country. At nearly all of these locations, you can buy alcohol by the drink as well as in larger quantities. For example, wineries sell wine by the bottle and craft breweries sell growlers and kegs, and some may sell cans or bottles of your favorite brew. Buying wine or beer through one of these establishments lets you try new concoctions while also supporting small local businesses.

New ways to buy alcohol means you don’t have to go to the liquor store. You can buy from the comfort of your own home or frequent a new local wine or beer maker.

Knowing What Ice Cream Supplies to Keep in Stock

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Ice cream stands as one of the most popular frozen treats among Americans today, and this and related treats such as gelato, frozen yogurt, and sherbet make up a large portion of the food and drink industry. Today’s customers can choose from many different desserts and flavors, and there’s more than one way for ice cream parlors to sell their products. Frozen yogurt spoons, eco-friendly paper straws, custom cups, paper napkins, and more can be offered at an ice cream parlor. After all, without supplies like eco-friendly paper straws or cups, it may be difficult to sell some products. While hard and soft serve ice cream can be eaten on an edible waffle cone, other desserts call for the right supplies, and this is something for store owners to keep in mind. Eco-friendly paper straws, are a recent alternative to plastic straws, since plastic is coming under heavily scrutiny for its pollution capacity. An ice cream shop may expect some heavy business in the warmer months, and the right ice cream or gelato should be on hand to serve. How can eco-friendly paper straws or spoons make for a tidy frozen dessert?

Frozen Treats and Supplies

The industry of frozen treats is large, and ever since the turn of the 20th century or so, Americans young and old have been enamored with ice cream and related treats. In fact, nearly 90% of American households today indulge regularly in sweet, frozen desserts, and the average American eats ice cream 28.5 times per year. The NDP Group conducted some research and found that in any two-week period, nearly 40% of Americans will eat a frozen treat such as ice cream or gelato. To meet this popular demand, a lot of ice cream, and related products, are made every year. Annually, some 1.5 billions gallons of ice cream are made in the United States, and nearly 9% of all American dairy is dedicated to all this ice cream. And not only is there classic ice cream, but also gelato, a thick and creamy alternative with slightly different ingredients, not to mention frozen yogurt or custard. Ice cream accessories are made to match, since some treats are meant to be eaten a certain way. Even a company that only sells paper or plastic products should be aware of all these different treats, so that they can better supply ice cream shops across the nation.

How to Eat

The ingredients for ice cream or gelato are varied, as are the flavors, but the ways to eat these treats are pretty simple. On the edible side, many ice cream treats are eaten on a classic waffle cone, which is a mildly sweet and dry treat. This can contrast pleasantly with the ice cream itself, and many ice cream treats on cones may appear on image-sharing websites such as Pinterest. Customers should note, though, that ice cream cones are certainly the messiest way to eat ice cream, and drips are possible. Or, the ice cream scoops may fall off entirely. It should also be noted that waffle cones are not convenient for storing any leftovers in the fridge or freezer at home, making them a poor choice for some customers.

By contrast, paper cups and plastic spoons, along with eco-friendly paper straws, can be tidier for eating ice cream, gelato, and other treats. This doesn’t offer the classic vibe of a waffle cone, but then again, these supplies prevent messes. Many customers may find that appealing, and what is more, a customer can mix the flavors or condiments of their ice cream in their cup with a spoon, and the cup makes for ready-made storage for leftovers. Some treats, such as gelato or frozen yogurt, are nearly always eaten like this, and gelato may be served with special spoons.

An ice cream shop will also invest in hardware. Namely, the ice cream mixers and makers, and even gelato or frozen custard machines for added variety. These machines need care, though. At the end of the day, they should be rinsed free of food, then taken apart and washed to clean them off for the next day’s operation. The owner’s manual may need to be consulted for disassembly.

The Water Way

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There are quite a few difficulties when discussing plumbing. Even research can’t begin to crack the iceberg of complexities that pertains to plumbing, it is truly a lifelong skill for many. However, a quick guide into the world of plumbing and its various areas can provide a basic understanding of repairs before venturing down your pipes.

p>1. There are two significant parts to plumbing: the water supply system that carries clean water, and the drain waste advanced filtration system that removes unclean water or water that’s no longer being used.

2. Water Supply System: The water system is used for circulating water from your street’s main valve and is extremely high-pressured as it incoming water to supply showers and faucets. Another additional pipe is required to be dedicated to provide incoming fresh water to the water heater—the water system’s primary function is simply to provide instant, clean water throughout businesses or residential areas as needed.

3. Drain-Waste Water System: Water must be drained, like everything else; water becomes known as water waste high capacity and taken from the residence through the drain-waste process. Gravity is an important factor for this system to work efficiently with various pipes are balanced ph angled downward to lead the water outside of a residence. This system requires complexities that uses various vents, traps to allow things that fall down the drained to get trapped with the ability to retrieve it.

4. Tanks: Having a tank is crucial in a residence and commercial areas—septic tanks, for example, are described as an “underground chamber” typically comprised of concrete, fiberglass or plastic that domestic water waste flows for basic treatment. They are used as a type of basic onsite sewage facility that holds waste from traveling.

5. Lines: There are a variety of lines used in plumbing for different resources, such as sewer lines and water lines that are required to be installed in all residential and commercial areas to operate. Replacing pipes can be taxing; sewer repair, water filtration, nspections, office water service and water line excavations—when repairing or excavating pipes, boosting productivity it is important to have a general understanding of how and when the optimal time is to make changes.

6. Sump-pumps: The term is probably unknown to most non-plumbers, but they are installed to prevent frequent flooding in isolated areas like basements or if the water table is above or equivalent to the foundation of the home.

How To Properly Care For Your Septic Tank

Septic tanks are were all waste-water flows from your home into the tank. Through time, heavier solids typically sink to the bottom where small appliances bacterias reduce them to sludge and gasses while lighter solids remain afloat and form a layer of scum and water filteration Approximately 20% of Americans rely on septic tanks for sewage disposal— the additional 80% is severed by municipal water-treatment plants. and office water service Typically, most solids have a decomposition time, but if they are not removed during their periodic pumping period of 3-5 years the bacteria will continue to accumulate and eventually overflow to the drain field causing extensive damage. A septic tank has a typical life expectancy approximately 25 years, but it all depends on how well the system was designed and maintained office water service, office water service by its owner. When discussing your typical septic tank knowing when to pump it is important—once a year is ideal to inspect your septic tank to ensure there are no septic tank repairs required. If so, also knowing how the bacteria appears tells you when pumping is imperative to sustain its warranty: A) When scum in the tank is within 3” of the bottom of the outlet device, the tank needs to be pumped, b) When the top of the sludge layer is close to 12” of the bottom of the outlet, the tank needs to be pumped.

Choose a Used Reefer Trailer for the Benefit of Your Business

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While hearing about a “reefer trailer” may sound like something in the drug world, there is much more to it than that. As an abbreviation for refrigerated, there is much to gain from having a reefer trailer for a food business or another company that sells products that need to be kept cool. With many different refrigerated products to be shipped around the nation and world, there is much to gain from carrier reefers.

What You Need to Know About a Reefer Unit

Reefer trailers provide a broad range of services, such as the ice cream truck and food and drinks at outdoor events. A reefer unit is most commonly the cooler trailer that is attached to a semi-truck. In the U.S. during January 2018 alone there were about 40,000 refrigerated trailers ordered. Considering the 250% growth that had occurred since 2017, there is much to see in the reefer unit wholesale market. Providing the refrigerated trailers at wholesale, as this will be a more common resale trend, may increase by another two billion dollars in the next few years.

Choose a Used Reefer Trailer

Knowing that there is much to value from a reefer unit, it is also important to know that there is no reason to buy a brand new one. If the function of the trailer is the most important thing, then it is much like buying a used car. You can likely find one that is still fairly new and has only been minimally used. It will still be able to preserve many products during transportation. A great deal of freshness remains in a carrier reefer or reefer trailer even if it is used. These keep foods like produce, dairy, meat, and other items cool from one place to the next. Additionally, reefer containers made for trucks, ships, trains, and locomotives, with cooling available in all areas of the transportation industry. Among these, you have the ability to choose a used reefer trailer to still provide the best work needed for your business.

Different Brands of Reefer Units

Food needs the most refrigeration in the transportation process, and there are brands that work specifically for this purpose. Because a reefer unit can maintain freshness, it is also able to help keep the quality of a food business up to date. This may be for restaurants that are ordering refrigerated foods to the distributors that ship them out. You have the ability to choose a used reefer trailer that meets your transportation needs the most. Some of those brands include:

  • Used Rock Trucks for sale
  • Used Thermo King refrigeration units for sale

Used reefer trailers are available, with the ability to save a great deal from the cost of a new unit. There is much to seek for the cost of the trailers themselves. With up to 500,000 reefer trailers currently in the U.S., it is a large market of its own, from new to used. No matter what you need in a reefer trailer, there are several options between the new and used markets. It may take a little research to choose a used reefer trailer, but when this is needed for your work a quality unit is key. While the purchase may be a challenge, the cost savings and support provided by these used trailers are a great benefit.

Why A Used Reefer Trailer Is Not As Scary As It Sounds

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What has several wheels, attaches to a semi-truck and keeps temperature-sensitive goods cooled? If you said “reefer trailer” then you are correct! What is a reefer trailer? A reefer truck is nothing more than a big refrigerator on wheels. In the United States, if you could count the amount of reefer trailers operating right now, you would need about 500,000 fingers.

We have all been there at one time or another; we have temperature-sensitive goods but can’t get them to their destined location. If only you had brand new reefer trailers or even some used reefer trailers But wait! You saw used reefer trailers for sale down the road. But how to choose a used reefer?

How To Choose A Used Reefer

Here is a hypothetical: you have two vehicles of the same make and model. Both vehicles, of course, are both good for the same amount of miles. For the sake of argument and simplicity, let us say their maximum miles are 100. Vehicle A is reach 25 miles, but is 5 years old. Vehicle B is only 2 years old, but it has tallied 70 miles. Which would you prefer? Vehicle A, of course.

Choosing a used reefer works in a similar fashion but instead of miles, it tallies hours. If two reefers are of the same make and model, but one is older with fewer hours while the other is half as old with twice the hours, you can make a safe bet that the older one is a better choice. If the older reefer trailer has been maintained well, or needs very little work, you will get more bang for your buck.

Another popular option on how to choose a used reefer is opting for a used trailer but replacing the old cooling unit. If the trailer was, again, well maintained then you can certainly save yourself money just replacing a cooling unit that has reached old age, or rather, ran out of time (pun intended). This gives the buyer the advantage of having a good trailer with a brand new cooling unit without the more expensive price tag.

Regardless if it is used or new, it should be noted that it really comes down to preference. Used and new reefer trailers carry a max weight of 44,000 pounds. Both offer a temperature range between -20 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, if the used one is up to snuff, that is. You can find any used and new trailers between 28 and 53 feet, but never any that are taller than 13.5 feet. Either are capable of helping you claim a dream of transporting goods, especially if you live in the top five United States Ports: Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Seattle/Tacoma, and Savannah.

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