Empire Wind Resumes, Cucumber Recall Hits Florida, and China Shifts Oil Imports
Welcome to The Workday Dash—your daily hit of supply chain headlines, powered by wind, cucumbers, and a little international intrigue.
Today’s lineup is anything but boring:
🌬️ Empire Wind is back on track—construction’s spinning up again off Long Island (with some mysterious politics still in the air).
🥒 Cucumber recall alert! 26 sick, 9 hospitalized, and a whole lot of questions about labeling and traceability.
🛢️ And over in China, crude oil trade just got spicy—Russian barrels are down, Malaysian shipments are up, and shadow fleets are making waves.
Stay sharp, stay fresh, and maybe double-check your salad.
“Fear of failure is a powerful motivator, but it should never paralyze you. Embrace the risk and learn from every setback.”
Empire Wind Is Back—But the Drama Isn’t Over
Construction is rolling again on Empire Wind, the massive offshore wind farm off Long Island. Great news, right? Sure... but let’s not ignore the sketchy pause that came out of nowhere in April, courtesy of the Dept. of the Interior. The reasoning? Allegedly a “rushed” approval process. The receipts? None.
Now the project’s back on, with no clear explanation—just a vague trail of speculation about natural gas pipeline politics and behind-the-scenes deals. Meanwhile, developer Equinor ate serious costs during the delay.
Why This Matters:
Projects like Empire Wind are the backbone of tomorrow’s port power, clean fuel corridors, and electrified freight. When a major infrastructure build gets paused for vague reasons, it’s a huge red flag for those of us planning long-term around energy access and sustainability goals.
🔥 Hot Take:
If a wind farm can get ghosted mid-build, don’t assume your green freight corridor’s safe. Infrastructure doesn’t run on vibes—it runs on trust, timelines, and transparency.
Florida-Grown Cucumbers Recalled—And the Supply Chain Lesson Is Brutal
The FDA just dropped a recall on cucumbers from Bedner Growers, Inc. after 26 illnesses (and 9 hospitalizations) were linked to Salmonella contamination. The kicker? The cucumbers had no labels and were sold across 15 states through both local markets and wholesale channels.
Now Fresh Start Produce Sales is scrambling to notify customers, and the rest of us in logistics should be paying close attention.
Why This Matters:
If you’re moving perishable goods, this isn’t just a farming issue—it’s a cold chain nightmare. No labels = no traceability. No traceability = no control. And when the FDA comes knocking, “we didn’t know” won’t cut it.
🔥 Hot Take:
If your supply chain can’t tell a cuke from a crisis, you’re not just behind—you’re one headline away from disaster. Track it or regret it.
China Shuffles Oil Sources Amid Sanctions & Stockpiling
In April, China’s crude oil imports from Russia dropped 13%, while imports from Malaysia nearly doubled—raising eyebrows since Malaysia is a key pass-through for Iranian oil via shadow fleets. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia slid to third in China’s supply list.
But this shift isn’t about a spike in fuel demand—it’s about stockpiling. With prices low and U.S. sanctions tightening, Chinese refiners are stacking barrels like it’s Costco prep day.
Why This Matters:
This isn’t just oil politics—it’s a freight and fuel forecasting headache. Changing oil sources = changing shipping routes, unexpected delays, regulatory minefields, and potential fuel cost volatility. If your logistics planning doesn’t account for how China moves its barrels, you’re flying blind.
🔥 Hot Take:
China’s not just hoarding oil—they’re shifting the global freight board. If you're not watching the backchannel barrels, you're already behind.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for June 26, 2025, from iLevel Logistics Inc.