Latest news with #AVA
The Courier
4 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
Fifers enjoying bumper early strawberry harvest - but 'wee shortage' of berries looms
Nothing says summer like a punnet of strawberries – and our recent sunny weather has seen this year's crop start early and strong. But the current bumper harvest could lead to a dip in supply later in June, according to one of north Fife's leading producers, Fife farmer Keith Adamson owns 240 polytunnels, spanning some 40 acres in the north of the Kingdom. The public have been able to purchase this fruit via his popular shop, The West Friarton Farm Strawberry Shed, since Monday May 19 with customers raving about the berries' exceptional size and flavour. All told, Keith hopes to harvest approximately 400 tonnes of strawberries this year. But his plants' early burst of productivity might come at a cost later this month when they could produce less fruit. 'There could be a wee shortage of strawberries come the middle of June,' Keith told me on a visit to West Friarton. But strawberry fans shouldn't panic, he assures me. At least not yet. Read on find out why. Keith sells most of his fruit to the supermarkets. The very best berries, however, are sold at the Strawberry Shed – at the Forgan Roundabout, off the A92 – which is open seven days a week, 10am to 7pm. Thanks to being picked at the peak of their ripeness and sold on the same day, these strawberries are much more flavourful than those sold in the supermarkets. 'People always taste our strawberries, and their first reaction is: 'Man, this is what I remember as a child',' Keith says. 'You can't go into a supermarket and experience that.' Although many customers don't realise it, they likely eat several strawberry varieties over the course of the summer. 'A strawberry is not good for the whole season,' Keith tells me. For this reason, he grows several varieties on the farm, including magnum, favori and AVA. (He also grows a small number of white strawberries that always get customers talking.) Each of the varieties taste slightly different. AVA has what most would deem a classic profile – sweet and with a fruity aroma. Magnum strawberries are even sweeter and are celebrated for their juiciness. While Keith's personal favourite is Malling centenary, most of his customers are fond of AVA. 'People come in and ask for AVA,' Keith says. 'That's because AVA was the original strawberry we started with 20 years ago.' Regardless of the variety, all of Keith's strawberries are picked by hand. They are also pollinated by British bees. A small hive, about the size of two shoeboxes, sits in every polytunnel. 'They love the strawberry flowers, and they pollinate everything – every flower becomes a strawberry, as long as it's pollinated,' Keith says. The warm and sunny spring has caused strawberries across the country to fruit incredibly well during this early part of the season. However, the plants' current productiveness could be an issue in the future. Plug plants (those grown in a polytunnel) usually fruit for around six weeks. Because of this, farmers are in the habit of planting their strawberry crops at set intervals. In normal conditions, this ensures one crop is coming in while the other is on the way out. The warm, sunny weather has meant an intense early harvest. This threatens to throw this schedule out of sync. This is slightly ironic given that last year it was cold weather that played havoc on the season. On a positive note, the sunshine has meant that this year's crop is incredibly sweet. During my visit to both the Strawberry Shed and West Friarton Farm, I have an opportunity to fact check this for myself. After Keith shows me how to properly pick one – pinch the stalk between your thumbnail and forefinger – I quickly gorge myself on the vibrant fruit. No matter how many I eat, each provides a wave of summer feeling that even a bout of rain fails to dampen. With strawberries like these around, this summer can't fail to be a sweet one. So my advice is get them before they're gone. Even living without them for a couple of weeks seems too much.
Belfast Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
New stage to debut at 2025 AVA Festival on Titanic Slipways
The two-day event kicks off on Friday with a new stage, The Dock. Watch: AVA Festival returns to Belfast Event organiser Sarah McBriar said: 'It's looking amazing, we've got so many new additions to the festival this year and sunshine is forecast for Friday.' The Dock features layered platforms for dancers, a Funktion-One sound system supplied by Hertz-U Audioand a custom audiovisual rigfrom Visual Spectrum Studio. She added: 'It's a mixture of dancing and live shows, it's that kind of an amphitheatre-style stage as well, and we have built lots of shipping containers and scaffolding stuff around it. 'So, it's still got the industrial feel of AVA, but the intimacy of an epic stage.' The Dock is an 'homage' to Belfast. She explained: 'I think that's what we've always done, both with who we programme and who we book, but also, like, the scenery and the location. 'It's an amazing site here on the slipways, and the fact that we've got the Titanic (museum) and the cranes as a backdrop. We've got the city, the water, the boats come in, the sunsets over the city... it's a gorgeous location.' This year's festival promises 'something for everyone'. Ms McBriar added: 'If you're into bands, we've got Chalk, we've got obviously Underworld playing live, and Overmono, all the way through to lots of local acts like DJ Time of the Month, Reger, Mark Blair... and also, if you're into techno, we've got 9x9. 'So yeah, it's pretty much like a massive bill. But I think also just the atmosphere and the people and the crowd and the energy... you know, even if you're not massively into the music, it's also just the atmosphere and the whole experience.' The AVA team is working hard to ensure festival-goers enjoy a quality experience. She said: 'We've got 'chill out' spaces, a really cool hospitality space with Wing It, lots of amazing local food traders, a new Be Perfect bus, where people can go and get a facial, and then obviously all the amazing stages as well. 'You can chill, you can dance, you can rave, you can get lots of amazing drinks from our bars.' AVA will run from Friday to Saturday with tickets still available online. 'Our weekend tickets are actually really close to selling out. So if you haven't already got your ticket, get onto it ASAP,' she said. 'And then we've got a handful of day tickets remaining.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Avista Corporation (AVA) Is Falling This Week
We recently published a list of Energy Stocks that are Losing This Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) stands against other energy stocks that are declining this week. The energy sector was among the largest beneficiaries of the truce between the United States and China this week, resulting in the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price rallying aggressively to cross the $63 mark, up from a multi-year low of $57.13 it hit last week. However, despite the gains, oil's upside potential remains limited due to an abundant supply following a decision by OPEC+ to further increase output in June. Moreover, prices still remain below the $65 break-even mark for most producers operating in the prolific Permian Basin in the US, forcing them to potentially stop drilling and cut jobs. Additionally, despite Beijing cutting its levies on American goods to 10% for a 90-day period, it is unlikely that the agreement will do much to increase its import of US energy. China's import of American energy commodities was effectively gone as soon as Beijing put an initial 10% tariff on crude oil and 15% on LNG and coal in early February, so these commodities will remain uncompetitive in the country even at the lower 10% tariff for the next 90 days. According to commodity analysts Kpler, no American crude oil is scheduled to arrive at Chinese ports this month, while only three cargoes were unloaded in April. The imports of American LNG have also suffered a similar fate, with Kpler showing no cargoes since February. A vibrant skyline illuminated by the lights of the electric utility company. To collect data for this article, we have referred to several stock screeners to find energy stocks that have fallen the most between May 6 to May 13, 2025. The following are the Energy Stocks that Lost the Most This Week. The stocks are ranked according to their share price decline during this period. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (). Share Price Decline Between May 6 – May. 13: 9.26% Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) is an energy company involved in the production, transmission, and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) had a tough Q1 2025, reporting an EPS of $0.98 and missing expectations by $0.05. The company's revenue of $617 million also fell short of estimates by $14.85 million. Moreover, AVA disclosed that to help improve its liquidity, the company expects to issue up to $80 million of common stock in 2025, including the $16 million issued during the first quarter of this year. Overall, AVA ranks 2nd on our list of the energy stocks that lost the most this week. While we acknowledge the potential of energy companies, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AVA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Optimum expands collaboration with Google Cloud
Optimum has expanded its collaboration with Google Cloud to introduce intelligent, AI-driven customer service using generative AI technology. The partnership aims to create an intelligent and personalised customer experience across web interactions, mobile apps, call centres, and in-person kiosks. As part of the multiyear agreement, Optimum will implement Google Cloud's generative AI tools, including the Customer Engagement Suite, Vertex AI platform, and Gemini models. The goal is to develop a more personalised and responsive customer service system, said Optimum. The initiative's central aspect is the development of human-centred tools using Google Cloud's generative AI technology and Optimum's virtual AI agent, AVA. These tools are intended to assist customer service representatives by offering real-time support and relevant suggestions. Optimum expects the integration of Google Cloud's generative AI to help meet customer needs through an automatically updated knowledge base. Customers are also expected to benefit from seamless interactions across various channels. The technology will support the continuation of conversations across platforms such as websites, messaging apps, and social media - even over multiple days, with AI guiding the next best actions, Optimum added. Additionally, the new tools will offer analytical insights to identify areas for service improvement and enhance the understanding of customer behaviours. Optimum Business Services, News & Advertising president Keith Bowen said: 'By leveraging Google Cloud's AI technology, we are not only improving efficiency but also fostering deeper, more meaningful customer relationships, while simplifying how our teammates serve our customers. 'We're excited about where this partnership can take us in our journey to be the connectivity provider of choice for consumers and businesses in every community that we serve.' Google Cloud Global Generative AI GTM vice-president Oliver Parker said: 'By using our AI-powered solutions, Optimum is ensuring that its customers receive the support they need, when and where they need it, making interactions more intuitive, and ultimately, more satisfying.' "Optimum expands collaboration with Google Cloud" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cavallo Expands Profit Max Platform with New AI-Driven Insights for Distributors
Profit Max Platform identifies and delivers actionable insights by uncovering profit risks, margin changes, and business trends GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cavallo, a leader in AI-driven profit maximization, today announced expanded anomaly detection and predictive analytics capabilities for its Profit Max Platform. These capabilities surface clear, actionable insights, eliminating the need to sift through complex datasets. The Profit Max Platform enables distributors to identify hidden revenue opportunities, maximize profits, and adapt to volatile markets. "Too often, distributors are forced to hunt for insights buried in complex systems and reports," said Mike Biwer, CEO of Cavallo. "Cavallo surfaces the most important actions you can take to increase profitability—automatically—so you can spend less time searching and more time driving results." Cavallo's new Profit Max Platform capabilities, powered by proprietary AVA Insights, simplify profit analytics by presenting a daily Top 10 list of risks and opportunities—helping distributors make informed decisions to protect and grow their margins. The latest release of the Profit Max Platform also includes 'What If' scenario modeling, which helps distributors easily simulate the impacts of tax increases, cost fluctuations, or pricing adjustments. Last, it includes new customer churn prediction capabilities that flag at-risk customers, highlight the value at stake, and help teams focus retention strategies where they'll make the biggest difference. Cavallo will showcase its Profit Max Platform capabilities and demonstrate how to turn ERP data into powerful, actionable insights at its "Actionable Insights for Maximum Profitability" webinar on May 29, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET. To register, please visit: "Data is only as valuable as the actions it drives," said Jesse Clem, Cavallo's Chief Revenue Officer. "With AI-powered insights, distributors can take immediate, informed action to protect and grow their profits." Cavallo's Profit Max Platform enables CFOs, CEOs, and sales leaders to make informed business decisions and access and share actionable data without requiring external assistance. It eliminates the need for complex business intelligence (BI) tools by providing purpose-built dashboards, visualizations, and actionable insights focused on increasing margins and profitability. Cavallo will demonstrate its latest Profit Max Platform capabilities August 18–20 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at its ELAVATE'25 profit maximization event. The conference offers hands-on training, live customer panels, and expert insights from industry leaders, all focused on strategies to drive growth and profitability. To learn more and register, please visit About CavalloCavallo is a leader for AI-driven Profit Maximization. Its platform integrates with top ERP systems to ensure flawless orders and deliver actionable insights to optimize revenue streams for distributors, manufacturers, and product-centric brands. Its real-time analytics and advanced workflows also help businesses enhance customer retention and align sales and marketing initiatives. Cavallo's mission is to help customers to maximize profits at scale. For more information, visit Media ContactJacob HarveyCatapult PRjharvey@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Cavallo
