California's loss

How will the lack of citrus from California impact retail promotions this winter? That's a question that is worth asking in view of the continued cold in the West Coast citrus belt. Winners could be Florida and Texas citrus, apples, pears, imported citrus and Chilean fruit. Imported melons are a nonstarter for retail promotions, with prices nudging $20 in south Florida. Watch for The Packer's Jim Offner's coverage on collateral impact in the produce department.

Check out the weather links on the right; South Texas is getting a little chill, too, with temps in the 30s last night in Harlingen.

Chile's season seems to be going splendidly, but one fly in the ointment could be a change in the effective date for California's desert grape marketing order. The effective date of the marketing order determines the start of mandatory inspections for Chilean grape imports upon arrival to the U.S. Many exporters believe it is too risky to ship to the U.S. when the marketing order is in effect.

David Holzworth, lawyer for Chile's exporters, told me today that he anticipates that if the USDA were to make a decision on an interim rule to change the effective date of the marketing order for California desert grapes this season, it would have to be soon. California grape growers want to scoot the date up to April 1 from April 2o, to prevent what they say are poorer quality grapes from Chile being sold from storage in their shipping season.

Holzworth said Chile would likely challenge any change in the date, even if it is not moved up a full 20 days.

"If it is going to be the April Fool's date, then I would think they would want at least 60 days of lead time,' he said. That would mean Feb. 1 would be the date of the final rule, but Holzworth said he has no indication from the USDA "one way or the other" about what the agency will do.