Inland Empire, CA: The Inland Empire's first ever (I think) food truck festival is coming

Newly-elected 2nd District County Supervisor Janice Rutherford is looking to bring the rapidly expanding food truck industry to San Bernardino County.

She has asked San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services staff members to look into other nearby jurisdictions' (i.e. L.A. and Orange counties') food truck regulations and operations to examine reversing a long-standing prohibition.

She has also announced what I believe is the first ever (apart from a few smaller events) food truck festival in the Inland Empire.

The Chino Valley Foodie Festival is scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Don Lugo High School, 13400 Pipeline Ave., Chino.

It's a great idea, and it'll be the first exposure for lots of folks to these gourmet mobile eateries.

Another big plus: It's a fundraiser for the Chino Valley Unified School District.

We've all read the stories about their budget woes.

Confirmed to roll in for the event:

The Buttermilk Truck: Breakfast any time

Frysmith: Fresh fries and delicious toppings

India Jones Chow Truck: Indian street food

The Greasy Wiener: Jersey-style fried hot dogs and curly fries

Don Chow Tacos: Chinese Mexican fusion

Fishlips Sushi: Rolls and temari

The Sweets Truck: Cookies, cakes, bars and coffee drinks

BACON MANia: Bacon, bacon and more bacon!

The only one of these trucks I've tried is Frysmith, and I'm looking forward to exploring other items on their menu.

Apparently the event is being allowed because (according to Rutherford), even though the food trucks are currently illegal in San Bernardino County, the trucks will remain stationary.

Go figure.

Admission to the event is $6 in advance or $8 at the door. Children age 5 and under are free. You're encouraged to bring beach chairs or blankets to sit on.

Because this is at a school, there is no smoking.

To purchase advance tickets, call Angela R. Turner from Launch Lady Marketing Group at 909-569-1818 or Julie Gobin from the Chino Valley Unified School District at 909-628-1201, Ext. 1616.

Future of Troubled Meatpacker in Doubt

The Inland Empire meatpacking plant that's at the center of the largest beef recall in US history remains shut down. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recalled 143 million pounds of meat processed at the Westland Hallmark Meat Company. It also suspended production there. A video showed workers at the company apparently forcing sick and injured cows to slaughter.

Steven Cuevas: A slaughterhouse is, by its very nature, not the most welcoming of places. Even less so if it's in the kind of trouble that Westland finds itself in. On this morning, the facility's cattle chutes are empty. A row of big rigs sit idle in the parking lot.

Cuevas: Good morning, I'm just a reporter.

Security guard: Yup... Wait, say that again?

Cuevas: A lone security guard, bundled in a thick black jacket, keeps sentry outside Westland's main gate. He won't give his name. It's a pretty lonely job. He's one of the few workers that didn't get laid off.

Security guard: Yeah, they laid 'em all off. They gave 'em their applications for unemployment and everything. They're all gone. Counting the cattle drivers and everything.

Cuevas: Westland was a major supplier of beef to the National School Lunch Program and a pair of major fast food outlets. The USDA suspended production at Westland three weeks ago after the Humane Society released an undercover video recorded inside the Chino plant. It shows workers using forklifts, hoses, and electric prods to force cows that appear unable to stand to slaughter. That practice is banned by state and federal law because of food safety concerns.

[Sound of Humane Society video]

Cuevas: Westland's president Steve Mendel has issued one statement since the video was aired. He said he was shocked and horrified by the images, and he said his company is cooperating with USDA investigators. Two Westland employees seen in the video were fired. Both now face criminal charges. About 200 other workers face unemployment. It's unclear when, or if, Westland will reopen.

John Husing: Those employees will be in trouble.

Cuevas: Economist John Husing says the job outlook is not good right now for workers who had low wage, minimal skill jobs.

Security guard: We are at the point in the Inland region where, for the first time in the 44 years that I've studied the area, that we are seeing negative job growth. The slowdown in housing means fewer people moving to the region and transferring their income, wealth, and spending into it. So if they're going to get jobs, it's not gonna be in the Inland Empire.

Cuevas: That guard at Westland who wouldn't give his name? He says fewer and fewer employees come by the front gate to ask when they might get their jobs back. He says the company looks like it's getting ready to shut down for good.

Security guard: Yeah, they're just getting all the paperwork done they gotta get done. And the security, we're here because of the property they have here until they sell it or do whatever they do with it, then we're outta here too.

Cuevas: Westland did not return phone calls seeking comment. A USDA representative would only say that the agency's investigation is ongoing.