Reed's Dairy scores with non-homogenized milk

For decades, small family dairies have been disappearing from rural America, but Reed's Dairy of Idaho Falls has managed to buck the trend.

Owner Alan Reed has kept the business local and kept the middle man out of the equation. He's also been attentive to what customers want, such as non-homogenized milk, which the dairy began offering Feb. 1.

"We've got a group of people who really like it," he said. "Some are saying it's easier to digest or it helps with their allergies. Others just like it because it's the more natural kind of product."

With non-homogenized milk, the cream rises to the top. If you're a real stickler for the old-school presentation, you can get it in returnable 1/2-gallon glass bottles. "We've got some people who say it tastes colder and fresher in glass bottles," Reed said.

Reed said sales have leveled off after a month, but the product has a broad demographic, from people in their 20s to senior citizens.

Overall, it's a challenge staying in the business. The price of milk is dropping to where it was in 2008, and feed and hay prices are as high as he's seen them. Reed's had to raise their price $1 a gallon on Feb. 1, but so far there has been drop-off in sales. That's due to customer loyalty.

"Our customers are really understanding about the increase," he said. "We lose some and we pick up some. It's been steady over the past few years."

Reed is partners with his cousin Mike Reed. The dairy, at West Broadway and Bellin Road, was started by their grandfather, Charlie, and then operated for years by his sons, Roy, Larry and Dave.

Will the tablet replace the PC?

I still have a manual Olympic typewriter that I like to bang on now and again. I like the sound, the feel and the touch. I wrote book reports on it in high school and term papers on it in college, and even used in my early days with the Post Register, 30 years ago.

Nevertheless, I'm under no illusion that the typewriter is going to make a comeback. Technology marches on, and I found this article in today's New York Times interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/technology/as-new-ipad-debut-nears-some-see-decline-of-pcs.html?_r=1&hp

Tablets have a long way to go before they replace the PC, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens faster than some people think.

I decided to drill down into some BizMojo Idaho to see what's happening locally. It was interesting.

Between the first of the year and yesterday, this BizMojo Idaho has had 5,036 visits. Of those visits, 604 have been on mobile devices. That's roughly 12 percent. More than half of those visits -- 366 -- have been on iPhones and iPads.

Somebody ought to be able to make sense of those numbers. If you do, drop me a line.

Vietnam pursues nuclear program

Given the interest here in all things nuclear, I thought this item from the Vancouver Sun might be worth sharing.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Vietnam+defies+post+Fukushima+qualms+pursues+nuclear+generation+program/6249377/story.html

Undeterred by Fukushima, Vietnam is planning to build its first nuclear reactor by 2020 and 13 more in the ten years that follow. It appears they are getting help from Russia and Britain, but the story makes no mention of the United States.

As a student of history and a fan of irony, I have to wonder whether they are going to name their power station after Ho Chi Minh. Still, I don't hear talk these days of bombing anyone back to the Stone Age, at least in that part of the world. Maybe someone (John McCain?) is talking about sending a few B52s over, just for old time's sake, but I doubt it. After all, your Nikes and the Vox guitar amplifiers I sell at the Piano Gallery are now made in Vietnam. Those factories need electricity.

A lot can change in 40 years, eh?

FHA closing costs to rise April 1

This was posted on Facebook this morning by my friend Chris Pelkola Lee of Keller-Williams East Idaho, and I thought it worth sharing here.

In a nutshell, the Federal Housing Administration on April 1 is going to raise the up-front insurance premium it charges borrowers by 75 basis points to 1.75 percent of the base loan amount. That means for a $100,000 loan you will have to bring an extra $750 to closing. If you're thinking about a home loan, it might be a good idea to move fast.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/27/real_estate/FHA_mortgage/index.htm

Chris' Facebook page, always a good source of information, is http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/IFListings

Kiwi Loco helps EITC Foundation

With the snow falling and the roads covered with ice, one may be forgiven for not thinking of frozen yogurt right off the bat. But guess what? It's delicious any time of year, and if you want to support a good cause Kiwi Loco will be donating 10 percent of its sales this Saturday to help the Eastern Idaho Technical College Foundation.

The foundation helps fund student scholarships and college programs, and sponsors such fabled fund-raising events as the Great Race for Education.

Stop in between 2 and 6 p.m. if you want to help. Kiwi Loco is at 3198 S. 25th East, in the Sagewood Plaza, near the corner of Hitt and Sunnyside roads.