Who owns Pica Pica Candy?
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THE Texas based candy company was established over three years ago in 2018.
Pica Pica is a Mexican candy brand that has gone viral on social media and is popular among Latinx influencers.
2 Amanda Castillo is the CEO and owner of Pica Pica candy Credit: Instagram / @amanda.cste
Who owns Pica Pica Candy?
Many wonder who is behind the Texas-based Pica Pica candy brand that became popular on Instagram in 2018.
The business was founded by Amanda Castillo, a mother who was creating a candy table for her son’s birthday party.
In a post from July 2021, Castillo shared a photo of her posing with her candy.
“Tomorrow is @picapica.tx’s Birthday! 3 years ago I was planning my sons birthday party and decided to chile coat candies for his snack table,” Castillo wrote.
“Everyone enjoyed them so much and I opened a little IG store for delivery in my town. It got to the point that I had so many orders that I needed to ship packages because delivering was not enough. And the rest is history!”
The company’s Instagram has gone viral with nearly 600K followers on the social media app.
Castillo herself has also gained a massive social media following with nearly 30K followers on her personal account.
2 The mom and entrepreneur started the company in 2018 after making a candy table for her son’s birthday party Credit: Instagram / @amanda.cste
Is Amanda Castillo married?
The Pica Pica CEO is married, her and her husband also have one son together.
According to The Focus News Castillo is married to Eusebio Salazar who is also a director of Pica Pica.
“They met at a Gamestop branch in a mall when she was 16. The couple tied the knot in 2014 and celebrated their seventh anniversary on 27 December 2021,” the outlet reported.
Where can I buy Pica Pica candy?
Pica Pica candy is sold exclusively online via their website.
The candy brand has collaborated with many Latinx influencers on social media to promote the brand.
The brand’s Instagram bio calls themselves “The original dulces enchilados.”
Castillo is the CEO of not only Pica Pica candy but also of Pica Pica Candy Bar, and Happy Daze CBD according to her social media bio.
Businessman Caleb Max announces run in 10th District, which now includes Rappahannock
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Cavit reaps rewards of vineyard innovation
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By Gabriel Stone
One of Italy’s largest wine producers has won a prize from the country’s main business innovation platform for a new vineyard mapping tool that is already having a major impact on quality, productivity and sustainability.
Trentino co-operative Cavit started developing its PICA (Piattaforma Integrata Cartografica Agriviticola) tool back in 2010 and spent the next decade refining and expanding the scope of this system in collaboration with the local San Michele Agricultural Institute and Bruno Kessler Foundation research institute. The result was hailed by business innovation organisation Smau as “the first technological platform of this type developed in Italy” as it awarded PICA its Innovation Prize 2021 at an event in Milan last month.
PICA allows Cavit to collect soil and climate data across the 6,350 hectares of vineyard farmed by its 5,250 grape growers, who together account for 60% of the entire Trentino grape growing area. The tool is particularly valuable in this mountainous province, where the geology – Cavit has identified 174 soil types – climate, altitude and exposition of many small vineyards can vary considerably.
Although the software allows for highly complex analysis of large amounts of data from across the Cavit members’ vineyards, crucially the system has been designed to be simple for users. Growers can upload data and photographs direct from the vineyard via the app, which will also send alerts about anything from an imminent hail storm to reminders about treatments. 92% of Cavit growers have now signed up to PICA and the tool is also used by the company’s team of agronomists.
Highlighting the improvements PICA has already made possible, Andrea Nicolini, Cavit export director for Europe & Asia, commented: “Most of the Cavit member vineyards have been mapped, allowing us to identify – and in cases replant – the most suitable variety of grape for every soil and every vineyard.”
Nicolini also emphasised the value of increased efficiency, both commercial and environmental. “PICA enables us to manage every vineyard without wasting resources,” he explained. “For example, by combining soil characteristics with weather forecasts, vineyard irrigation can be more efficiently planned, calculating the real needs of the plant without wasting water.”
While the impact of PICA gives Cavit a valuable competitive edge for its portfolio of large volume brands, the company has also deployed this software to support a growing range of high-end wines. One of these, Brusafer Pinot Nero Trentino Superiore 2018, won a Gold medal in The Global Pinot Noir Masters 2021.
“Without PICA, there could be no Rulendis and no Brusafer – our top Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir wines,” remarked Nicolini. “PICA helped identify the best high-altitude vineyards in non-classic areas, considered extreme for these varietals, for growing premium Pinot Grigio and Pinot Nero grapes with enhanced varietal characteristics.”
For all the benefits of PICA already in evidence, Cavit’s oenologist Andrea Faustini – now known as “Papa PICA” thanks to his work as the driving force behind this project – has additional ambitions for this tool. “We are currently working on forecasting models to manage resources and monitor harmful pests,” he explained.
Nor is it only Cavit that is able to raise its game as a result of this initiative. Faustini confirmed: “We have made PICA an open-source technological platform to benefit other wineries at national level and currently around 20 other wineries are using the programme to map their territory.” Thanks to companies like Cavit, Italy is one of the world’s largest wine producers and exporters; thanks to tools such as PICA, both company and country look set to maintain that dominance.
The following Cavit wines won medals in The Global Pinot Noir Masters 2021. See below for tasting notes on the wines by Patrick Schmitt MW.
Bottega Vinai Pinot Nero DOC Trentino, 2018
Medal: Silver (The Glolal Pinot Noir Masters)
Approx RRP (UK): £12-14
A very pale red with notes of sweet cherry, redcurrant, orange zest and a touch of dried flowers and vanilla on the nose. In the mouth, there’s toast and red berry fruit, a hint of fresh hay, and then cherry stone and plum on the finish, along with fine, dry mouth-coasting tannins. It’s a delicate, light style of Pinot with plenty of flavour.
Brusafer Pinot Nero DOC Trentino Superiore, 2018
Medal: Gold (The Glolal Pinot Noir Masters)
Approx RRP (UK): £15-20
An impressive, top-of-the-range Trentino Pinot, with a pale appearance and inviting aromatics of creamy vanilla, strawberry, redcurrant and dried flowers. The palate is light in body, but rich in flavour, with layers of fruit, from cherry to cranberry, along with notes of toast and vanilla, dried rose petals and hay, then orange zest, and some lingering dry tannins, giving it a mouth-watering finish.
Ask this: Why did many flocks survive or thrive in pandemic, while others were hit hard? — GetReligion
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Does anyone remember typewriters?
Long ago, I took my very first reporting class at Baylor University. The legendary Jprof David McHam ran this lab as a mini-newsroom. McHam would sit in the “slot” of a U-shaped desk, working with students as we turned in our rough drafts.
I heard him say this many times: “The story is all here, but you wrote it in the wrong order,” or words to that effect. McHam would take his copy-desk pica pole (the birthday cake cutter of choice in newsrooms) and rip our typewriter copy into multiple horizontal pieces, before putting them in a new order, secured with a long strip of clear tape. Then he would say: “Go write the story in that order.”
More often than not, the wise Jprof found crucial information and pulled it higher in the story — if not into the lede itself. In many cases, this was information that created a tension with a simple version of the “news” in the lede. In other words, he was pushing us to acknowledge that many stories were more complex than we wanted to think they were.
With that in mind, let’s look at an important COVID-tide story from the Associated Press: “At many churches, pandemic hits collection plates, budgets.”
Note the word “many” in that headline. I think many readers would assume that the coronavirus pandemic has caused disasters in pews and pulpits and that is that. The evidence, in this story, is more complex than that — especially with a little bit of cutting and pasting. Here is the overture:
Biltmore United Methodist Church of Asheville, North Carolina, is for sale. Already financially strapped because of shrinking membership and a struggling preschool, the congregation was dealt a crushing blow by the coronavirus. Attendance plummeted, with many staying home or switching to other churches that stayed open the whole time. Gone, too, is the revenue the church formerly got from renting its space for events and meetings. “Our maintenance costs are just exorbitant,” said the Rev. Lucy Robbins, senior pastor. “And we just don’t have the resources financially that we used to have to be able to do the kind of ministry work that we would like.”
Here comes the summary material:
Biltmore is just one of an untold number of congregations across the country that have struggled to stay afloat financially and minister to their flocks during the pandemic, though others have managed to weather the storm, often with help from the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, and sustained levels of member donations. The coronavirus hit at a time when already fewer Americans were going to worship services — with at least half of the nearly 15,300 congregations surveyed in a 2020 report by Faith Communities Today reporting weekly attendance of 65 or less — and exacerbated the problems at smaller churches where increasingly lean budgets often hindered them from things like hiring full-time clergy.
The first time I read this story I zipped write past these words — “though others have managed to weather the storm.” One reason I missed that was that this summary statement was followed by another massive chunk of material about struggling churches of various sizes and traditions.
Hear me say this: All of that material is valid.
But way, way down in this long feature is the following information. What I am saying is that the story would be strengthened — refocused, even — if this information was pulled higher and placed after that “summary material.” Here’s the information that, with a digital pica pole and tape, I would pull higher.
More broadly, various other surveys and reports show a mixed picture on congregational giving nationwide. Gifts to religious organizations grew by 1% to just over $131 billion in 2020, a year when Americans also donated a record $471 billion overall to charity, according to an annual report by GivingUSA. Separately, a September survey of 1,000 protestant pastors by the evangelical firm Lifeway Research found about half of congregations received roughly what they budgeted for last year, with 27% getting less than anticipated and 22% getting more.
At this point, it would be logical to offer readers some “bad” news — from that 27% — and some of the “good” news from the nearly 75% of churches that were meeting their budgets and-or doing better.
This raises a question that I am pretty sure would be impossible to answer at this time, but it still needed to be asked: Why did some churches struggle, while so many didn’t?
In my own tradition, I know that some Orthodox parishes have struggled during the pandemic, while others have actually grown — even if there were painful challenges to meet.
This AP report notes a hopeful case in a progressive congregation in the city that many Texans refer to as The People’s Republic of Austin. Right church in the right marketplace? Here is some of that material:
Hope Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, a largely upper-middle-class congregation of about 400, is among those that have enjoyed relative stability despite the pandemic. The Rev. Josh Robinson had expected contributions to drop off when in-person services paused for more than a year, but they remained steady. So have member pledges for upcoming gifts in 2022. Some in the congregation even donated their government stimulus checks to the church, which used them to set up a fund to provide direct financial assistance to those who lost income due to the pandemic. … Even before, the church had embraced frugality in order to pay down its debt, which has fallen from $2 million in 2013 to less than $300,000 today.
This is a church from the “steady” 50% or so. What churches managed to grow? Were there church-growth experts with any theories as to why this happened?
My predictions: Look for children and converts.
FIRST IMAGE: A copy-and-paste illustration from Giphy.com
Is iron deficiency anemia genetic?
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Iron deficiency anemia is a condition in which there are insufficient red blood cells in the body due to a lack of iron. In some cases, iron deficiency anemia can be genetic, as alterations in a person’s genetic code can pass to their child. The common causes of iron deficiency anemia include dietary factors, blood loss, and underlying health conditions. When doctors diagnose iron deficiency anemia, they will confirm the cause so that they can determine the best course of treatment. Read more to learn about the link between genetics and iron deficiency anemia.
Can people inherit iron deficiency anemia? Share on Pinterest KTSDESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images Blood-related genetic abnormalities can pass from a person to their child. In some cases, these abnormalities may cause iron deficiency anemia. Doctors call this genetic form iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA). This rare condition stems from a deficiency of iron in the bloodstream. The symptoms of IRIDA may appear similar to those of other forms of anemia, but they may not respond to treatments in the same way.
IRIDA causes IRIDA is a hereditary condition that results from changes to the TMPRSS6 gene. This gene is responsible for giving the body instructions on creating a protein called matriptase-2. Matriptase-2 helps with regulating iron in the body. Factors that affect this protein can alter the levels of iron in the body. IRIDA has an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, which means that both parents must have the recessive trait, and the child must receive both copies. As each parent carries only one copy of the recessive trait, it is possible that neither will have any symptoms.
IRIDA symptoms The symptoms of IRIDA are similar to those of other forms of anemia, but they tend to be mild. Common anemia symptoms include: fatigue
weakness
pale skin
shortness of breath
fast heartbeat
orthostatic hypertension, which causes dizziness when moving from sitting to standing
pica, which refers to cravings for nonfood items
changes to the skin, hair, or nails
headaches
difficulty concentrating IRIDA should not interfere with a child’s growth. The Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) notes that growth and development in children with IRIDA are usually normal.
IRIDA diagnosis Confirming a diagnosis of IRIDA can take time. Doctors will first order blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) to check for signs of general iron deficiency anemia. They will then carry out other tests to determine the underlying cause. If a CBC test or another specific blood test shows that the person has iron deficiency anemia, doctors will need to rule out other causes of anemia. They may do this by testing for: heavy menstrual periods
gastrointestinal disorders, such as celiac disease
blood disorders
inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease and chronic kidney disease
inflammatory bowel disease chronic kidney disease colon cancer
a deficiency in vitamin B9 or vitamin B12 After ruling out other possible causes, doctors will look for identifying factors of IRIDA. Some key characteristics of IRIDA include: the presence of anemia throughout a person’s life
very low iron levels in the blood
low absorption of iron, including little or no response to iron supplements or intravenous iron
slow utilization of iron
a potential family history of the condition, such as other relatives with anemia or known IRIDA If doctors suspect IRIDA in a child, they may recommend an oral iron challenge. This involves taking a blood sample, providing the child with an oral iron dose, and then taking another blood sample after about 90 minutes. Usually, the iron levels would rise significantly after the iron dose. If they do not, this may indicate IRIDA, difficulty absorbing iron in the intestine, or chronic blood loss. Doctors generally diagnose IRIDA in childhood, as the condition can resolve with age. As people get older, their red blood cell count can increase, eliminating their symptoms. A doctor may recommend gene sequencing to check for the TMPRSS6 gene and confirm the diagnosis. If the tests reveal that the person does not have mutations in this gene, the doctor can look for other inherited causes.
IRIDA treatment Although doctors may treat anemia with iron supplementation, IRIDA is iron-refractory. This means that there is a partial response to treatment, so high-dose iron treatments are necessary. Doctors will still start by recommending oral supplements, but they will advise taking these alongside other ingredients, such as vitamin C, to boost iron uptake. Research from 2019 found that 10 weeks of iron and vitamin C supplementation was enough to lead to significantly improved iron levels in children with IRIDA. If oral supplements do not improve anemia, the person may need to receive regular infusions with intravenous iron. Regular infusions can help improve anemia and iron stores, but if a person discontinues these infusions, the iron levels may drop down again and cause anemia. The GARD notes that red blood cells often increase on their own in adulthood. In adults with IRIDA, anemia may no longer be a problem, and the person may not require treatment.
Other possible causes of iron deficiency anemia To diagnose and treat IRIDA, doctors will need to rule out other causes of iron deficiency anemia. This condition has various possible causes, including: low dietary iron intake
bleeding from heavy menstrual periods
pregnancy
endometriosis
chronic internal blood loss, such as blood loss from an ulcer or colon cancer
inability to absorb iron from underlying conditions, such as celiac disease
medications that interfere with digestion or iron absorption, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists
medications or interactions that cause bleeding, such as warfarin
Genetics and other anemias IRIDA is not the only type of inheritable anemia. Other genetic conditions that affect the blood may lead to other types of anemia or red blood cell conditions. Examples of these genetic conditions include: Thalassemia : This condition affects the body’s ability to make hemoglobin and red blood cells.
This condition affects the body’s ability to make hemoglobin and red blood cells. Sickle cell anemia : This condition causes the red blood cells to become misshapen and clump together.
This condition causes the red blood cells to become misshapen and clump together. Fanconi anemia: This type of anemia stems from a blood disorder that prevents the bone marrow from making enough new healthy blood cells.
This type of anemia stems from a blood disorder that prevents the bone marrow from making enough new healthy blood cells. Congenital pernicious anemia: This genetic type of pernicious anemia is linked to a deficiency in vitamin B12 and an inability to absorb the vitamin.
This genetic type of pernicious anemia is linked to a deficiency in vitamin B12 and an inability to absorb the vitamin. Hereditary spherocytosis: This condition causes the body to create abnormal red blood cells that cannot flow as easily as normal cells and get destroyed, causing anemia.
This condition causes the body to create abnormal red blood cells that cannot flow as easily as normal cells and get destroyed, causing anemia. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: This rare blood disorder can cause small clots to form in the blood vessels throughout the body.
When to consult a doctor Anyone who suspects that they or a child has signs of anemia should consult a doctor. A diagnosis takes time, and it is preferable to detect anemia at an early stage and begin treatment before any severe symptoms appear. Anyone with a diagnosis of anemia who feels as though they are not responding to treatment should also consult a doctor. There may be other underlying causes to consider or other treatment options.