FT051424

#INTHEAIREVERYWHERE

Vol. 23 No. 24	Tuesday May 14, 2024

     Unexpectedly we can start this little rerun from a Shakespearian quote. In the second act of Midsummer’s Night Dream, Oberon reproaches Titania for leading Theseus “through the glimmering night from Perigenia, whom he ravished.” Why is Perigenia (or Perigune) suddenly important for the Flying Typers? As we read in Wikipedia, “after Theseus killed her father, Perigune hid herself in a bed of rushes and asparagus. Theseus was unable to find her, but it was said that she revealed herself anyway after he promised not to harm her. She later bore Theseus’s first male heir, Melanippus, who became the ancestor of the Loxids of Caria. All this would have been impossible without a bunch of asparagus . . .
     Ancient myths always bear references to habits and circumstances of the period when they were conceived. This one tell us that Greeks were growing asparagus, probably having imported the habit from the Egyptians, who left pictures of asparagus used as offering to their divinities. Greeks were soon followed by the Romans with their fully-fledged appreciation of the green vegetable on their tables. The picture above is in the National Museum of Naples in which we see a bunch of asparagus and other culinary delicacies that were popular in Pompeii, before the city was destroyed by the Vesuvius’s eruption in 79 A.D.
     Asparagus was extremely popular in many parts of the Roman Empire, including England and the Netherlands where archeological material suggesting its use and cultivation was popular there too. Other than the more common green asparagus, there are the German white variety and the rarest violet one from Albenga, IT. It is not clear whether white asparagus was already part of the Roman spring banquet, but it is indeed the variety which makes Germans so proud and whets their appetite in this period of the year. This is the time when in many parts of the German speaking world the tasty vegetable is celebrated and consumed in conspicuous quantities. Spargelzeit is not unique to Europe, there is a growing tradition in the USA, too, and we, at the Flying Typers, have been part of it . . .
     In Manhattan tomorrow May 15, the German American Chamber Of Commerce celebrates its annual White Asparagus Gala dinner that will fill the exclusive Tribeca Roof with revelers in attendance for a great meal and a cascading view of The World Trade Center, the Hudson river and the New Jersey Skyline.
     Speaking for EMO Trans 2024, Chairwoman Karin Frigger said: “To EMO Trans business partners worldwide our wish is for good health and well-being at this special time of year as we gather around the table to celebrate Springtime with Spargelzeit. Germans take white asparagus seriously. The country consumes more than 70,000 tons of it annually and the rural region from Baden-Württemberg to Brandenburg where the plant is cultivated becomes a pilgrimage trail for asparagus aficionados. The grand tradition of Spargelzeit in 2024 and the white asparagus that we bring into America this year to New York City, Chicago, Illinois and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania via Lufthansa remind us that EMO Trans is a family-owned business that simply loves what it does and, as we grow, we work hard to keep the same family values and ethics in every aspect of our business.”
     As we shall see EMO’s effort is also made possible by resorting to Lufthansa’s wings.
     Jillian Daza, (left) Lufthansa Cargo Sales Manger for New York and Connecticut, who leads a team of highly experienced sales representatives that work to sell hundreds of tons worth of capacity each week concurred: “Asparagus season in Germany is a time of celebration and togetherness, and we at Lufthansa Cargo are proud to play a part in bringing this beloved vegetable to people around the world. Our commitment to handling white asparagus with the utmost care and attention reflects our dedication to preserving and promoting German culinary traditions. Supporting the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) in their efforts to promote German white asparagus is a natural fit for us, as we understand the cultural and culinary significance of this tradition. We are honored to be a part of bringing people together through the joy of food, and we look forward to continuing to support and celebrate this important aspect of German culture.”
     Karin Frigger continued, “We are a multi-national, privately owned company, deeply invested in understanding and internalizing the needs and goals of our customers. Our goal is to forge partnerships, ensuring that we are able to facilitate the most efficient, effective supply chain solutions possible.” “Global Logistics,” said her son Sven Frigger,Vice President Compliance “is what EMO Trans loves doing. Some of our customers have been with us for decades.” His sister Jenni Frigger, VP Corporate Strategy/Innovation added, “People have stayed because they recognize that beyond rate tariffs and automated processes, the relationships we build offer added value.”

The Pride EMO People

     Alexander Hendrix, Route Development Manager USA-Germany based in Chicago said: “Working for EMO Trans I did transfer from Germany to Chicago in February 2023.
     “My responsibility is to develop organizational growth in the U.S.-German trade lane. Being aware of EMO Trans’ involvement in supporting the annual White Asparagus Dinners in various cities in the U.S., I thought let’s add Chicago (GACC May 23).
     “Thankfully, there was strong mutual interest among my colleagues and the team from the GACC Midwest got onboard as well. We started discussions about a year ago, and the positive energy and support from everyone involved was amazing.
     “Growing up in Germany, I personally am very familiar with white asparagus dishes. I’m thrilled to now be able to provide an opportunity here in the Midwest to experience this unique flavor.”
     “EMO moves the harvest from Spargelhof Schulze in Weisenheim, Germany said, Dominic Cruz, EMO Trans NY/NJ Branch Manager.
     “I’ve worked in the logistics industry as a forwarder for 30+ years and almost a decade on the EMO Team beginning in January 2015.
     “One of the traditions was EMO's annual sponsorship of the German American Chamber of Commerce – GACC and specifically handling the transport of the “White Asparagus” itself.
     “I am proud to say this tradition continues today as we (EMO) will once again handle the collection of the harvest from Germany and proudly deliver to the GACC event site in NYC.
     “It's an event I look forward to every year where we get dressed up and enjoy a wonderful evening with clients, colleagues, and industry members.”
     We know only too well that the services EMO Trans immaculately provided in all previous Spargelzeit events has been a strong element in building the confidence and trust that their customer relationships require. As EMO founder in America, the late Joachim Frigger always said: “We measure our Success by Performance, period. In fact, those words are both our motto and our method. Constant investment and focus on customer needs has brought us to where we are in terms of today and will continue to carry us into the future.” Joachim was particularly careful to get the Spargelzeit logistics in gear and was one of the most enthusiastic beneficiaries, together with us, as we were often invited: that was the time we became accustomed with some of the subtleties of the preparation . . .
     Fielding a first-class global team of logisticians under the watchful eye of President & CEO Marco Rohrer and Chairwoman Karin Frigger, a solid, experienced and continually successful team at the top, matched by up and down the line professionalism in every aspect of the EMO Trans offering, insures the succession and carries on the solid growth of EMO Trans founded in Germany nearly 60 years ago in 1965.
     Today EMO is a world force in all the shipping disciplines. Especially dynamic has been the rise of the company activities throughout their global footprint. There is no doubt that the EMO Trans team, together with their colleagues in Lufthansa will deliver the much anticipated white asparagus from Germany to start 2024 springtime Spargelfest in the USA. We suppose the only other thing you need now is an invitation. If you are among their customers, you have surely already received it.
Geoffrey

FlyingTalkers

Bruce McCaffrey Did Not Back Down

     As we mentioned above, EMO Trans Customs Logistics USA founder & CEO, the late Joachim Frigger set up an arrangement for shipping this annual delicacy before many people had ever heard of farm to table.
     Today EMO is up before the roosters, down on the farm, moving the fresh-picked delicacy to a Lufthansa flight; total hands on and the vegetable is delivered to the U.S. locations almost before the morning mist burns off the fields at home.
     To say Asparagus Stalks At Midnight is no boast, but a lead pipe cinch certainty, when EMO Trans is moving the shipment.
     Speaking of farm to table, Chef Sybille Milde Schoenberger (pictured above) at one time was the young phenom-chef heading up the kitchen of the renowned Hessler Restaurant in Maintal, now closed, that was located on the river Main, between Frankfurt am Main and Hanau, a place that by 2005 had earned not one, but two Michelin stars. During that time she co-authored a book of Asparagus recipes called The Asparagus Cartoon Cookbook: Asparagus and Wild Garlic Recipes.
     More recently in addition to working to create healthy, visually exciting children’s meals for Lufthansa Catering, Sybille authored or co-authored several books including "Lust for life: Cooking against cancer with feel-good recipes," available on Amazon.
     “The Greeks used asparagus as a medicinal plant,” she writes. “Hippocrates presented it around 400 BC. and found that it had a constipating and diuretic effect. The Romans first cultivated asparagus around 200 BC. Asparagus was very popular among the Roman chic. It was not until the 17th century that the first asparagus was finally grown in Germany. I took the classic asparagus off the menu. No more watered down asparagus with the classic side dishes like cooked ham etc. Asparagus can do sooooo much more!! I love the raw version and every now and then a stick disappears into my mouth - which is equipped with a very useful chewing tool - while peeling. Very tasty on its own!”
     Not only has asparagus made it big in Germany right now, on her blog Sybille has gone way beyond the most accepted way to serve the delicacy into some wonderful variations.
     Here is Sybille’s recipe for Sweet and Sour Pickled White Asparagus:

8 stalks of peeled white asparagus (cut away the woody ends). 8 stalks of green asparagus (peel only the lower third and cut away the woody end), 1 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds, 1 crushed garlic clove, 1 chili pepper cut into strips, 1⁄2 bunch of fresh coriander, 1⁄2 red onion in strips, 500 ml white balsamic vinegar, 250 g blossom honey, 200 ml water.
Bring water, vinegar, coriander seeds and honey to the boil once. Add the asparagus and let it bubble up again, remove from the heat and add the remaining ingredients.

“The asparagus should marinate in the broth for at least 8 hours,” she advises.

Bruce White, Eddie O'Neill, Brendan Furlong, Nabil Sultan, Ed Chism, Hiran Perera

     Pictured on November 15, 2013, almost 11 years ago at Emirates SkyCargo at JFK, is newly named Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo. Others in the picture included L to R—Bruce White, Reservations Mgr.; Edward O'Neill, Cargo Operations Mgr. USA; Brendan Furlong, Cargo Business Development Mgr. USA; Mr. Sultan, Edward Chism, Cargo Manager USA and Hiran Perera, Senior Vice President Freighters.
     Nabil, at the beginning, was out on the hustings doing a FAM tour as the new face of leadership at SkyCargo.
     Born in Dubai, and educated in Dubai and the United States, Nabil had achieved a Bachelor of Computer Science and Management Information Systems from the University of Portland, Oregon.
     Nabil smiled and admitted to loving “every day it rained in Portland, after a life in the desert.”
Pradeep Kumar, Prakash Nair, Ram Menen      Nabil Sultan took over for Ram Menen, who along with Peter Sedgley and some others built a first-class team that included Pradeep Kumar, Hiran Perera, Prakash Nair and others that pioneered the start up, and then ran it right to the top of the air cargo industry for nearly two decades.
     By 2013, SkyCargo was delivered to air cargo as a jewel of a global logistics power.
     In one sense you can say that Nabil Sultan had it handed to him on a silver platter and not be wrong.
     You can also say that Nabil took over an enterprise and not only ran it, but also lasted 11 years on the job into 2024.
     As this is written, Mr. Sultan, while he may no longer wish for more rain in the desert, as Dubai is still recovering from those terrible floods from last month, now has moved to a top job at Emirates passenger where we wish him well.
Nabil Sultan, Geoffrey Arend     At this point no replacement for his job in SkyCargo has been named.
     And Ram Menen?
     Well Ram with his lovely wife Malou, both well, reside in Luxemburg surrounded by loved ones, comfortably retired and are “home on the range, where never is heard a discouraging word,” to quote the tune "Home On The Range".
     In the header picture above, where the rubber meets the road, the late Bruce White, (ex-Pan Am), an absolute trove of cargo operational knowledge, sadly was an early casualty of Covid; Eddie O’Neill and Ed Chism, a consummate sales professional (Pan American Clipper Cargo) are now retired. Ed who clocked 48 years in the cargo business is often seen at Miami cargo events.
     Brendan Furlong is still at Emirates as Northeast Regional Manager Sales. Of all the people I have ever known in this business, he is the best, a quiet guy who simply loves this business and does it better than anyone else, period.
     We met Brendan when he was working at JFK for China Airlines Cargo, and Peter Yap, who was top executive in Taiwan for China Airlines Cargo.
     Brendan was always hands on and you could believe what he said was Emmis, so when he told me to go to Taiwan and see Peter, I did and that only got better.
     Peter said he was looking for new markets (to meet seafood demand in Taiwan), so we suggested Miami.
     Peter thought about the fish imports, then made a bigger deal with fledgling ACMI provider Atlas Air founder Mike Chowdry to rent some freighters and both Miami Airport and Atlas were spurred into a bigger air cargo business.
     Later when Brendan was recruited into Emirates SkyCargo, he set the standard for being not only the face but also the integrity of that airlines’ air cargo offering.
     Finally Hiran, we remember fondly as "the kid", when he took over as SVP Freighters and filled the skies with lift for SkyCargo. Hiran retired from EK after a stellar career and recently joined Stan Wraight’s SASI World in April 2024, serving as Senior Advisor.

Peter Yap, Michael Chowdry, Geoffrey Arend

     Geoffrey and the late Peter Yap in Taipei at China Airlines HQ in 1995.      From this meeting came the first Asian cargo carrier, China Airlines Cargo with scheduled flights into Miami.
     Friendship A Perfect Blendship . . . Two complete originals in our business together—Peter Yap with Atlas Air founder Mike Chowdry at MIA for the Miami/ Taipei cargo flights launch in the summer of 1997. At one time when it really counted, China Airlines Cargo was biggest Atlas ACMI customer, and, as it happens in life, Mike and Peter became solid best friends. Sure, it was business, but as their contact deepened, the duo would often share a personal passion at the Midway Theater over on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, New York. Together with a tub of popcorn, they would sit and watch the latest Jackie Chan movie.
     I sometimes think of the two of them having departed this dimension, still sitting together watching movies in the sky.

GDA

If You Missed Any Of The Previous 3 Issues Of FlyingTypers Access complete issue by clicking on issue icon or Access specific articles by clicking on article title
Vol. 23 No. 21 FIATA IATA Side By Side Chuckles for May 1, 2024	Vol. 23 No. 22 ICAO Cargp Workshop Chuckles for May 6, 2024 LAACA Proud Bird Moves Its Tail Remembering Bruce McCaffrey	Vol. 23 No. 23 ICAO Cargo Action Peru Bob Arens Is Fondly Remembered

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