Killer bees are coming ...slowly

The USDA has just released a map that shows year by year spread of Africanized bees. The first Africanized bees arrived in south Texas in 1990. With the AHB in central Oklahoma now - as I sit here in northeast Kansas - I figure we have another 10 to 15 years before they arrive, ready to sting us with extreme prejudice when disturbed. This ARS effort didn't go in great detail about the ag impact from the AHB, but it appears the entire honeybee industry has numerous challenges, as noted in a previous post.

Indian anticipation

India is getting closer to being able to ship irradiated mangoes to the U.S. I enjoyed reading this article about the topic for its quirky style.

Here's an excerpt:

When US President George Bush tasted Indian mangoes during his visit to New Delhi last year, he so liked the fruit that a deal for its export to the US was quickly rustled up.

The Americans are so eager to bite into the alphonsoes by April that the USDA-APHIS has mooted a proposal to amend its fruit and vegetable regulations and welcome the king of fruits. Two teams of US experts have already visited India to inspect the irradiation facility.


TK: Dare I say I had no idea I was so eager? I'm not sure what that second paragraph meant. Still, these alphonsoes must be darn good.

Avocado redemption

Press reports from Mexico reveal glee by avocado growers that they finally have access now to all 50 states. From the USDA FAS is this Mexican press report:

After more than two years of waiting, on February 1, 2007, the United States finally allowed Mexican avocado growers to export their product to all 50 states including California, Florida and Hawaii. The three states had been exempted when the U.S. Department of Agriculture first brokered a deal back in January 2005 that allowed Mexican avocados to enter the United States all year-round. The ruling will mean a 25-percent increase in U.S. exports for the nation’s avocado farmers and puts an end to a long-running trade saga. according to Alfredo Rodriguez, the owner of Agro-Export, which oversees 5 percent of all avocados grown in Mexico, the increased access should translate into bumper profits for Mexican growers. "We are predicting an increase in U.S. sales of at least 25 percent and we think that figure will grow an additional 15 percent within the next three years, " Rodriguez said. Agro-Export currently exports 150 tons a week to the United States, the majority of which goes to McAllen, Texas. The United States first prohibited Mexican avocados in 1914, claiming they carried pests. The ban was partially lifted in February of 1997 when avocados from Michoacan were allowed into 13 northeastern U.S. states, but only from November to February. In November of 2001, 19 more U.S. states were allowed to import the avocados, and the season was lengthened from October 15 to April 15. By January 2005, all U.S. states accepted Mexican avocados all year-round with the exception of California, Florida and Hawaii. (Source: El Universal; 02/02/2007)


TK: Now if Mexico would play fair with U.S. potatoes and apples, even more goodwill would breakout.

A call to action

I recently asked Rick Bella of America's Second Harvest what was the group's biggest obstacle in getting fresh produce to distribute to food banks, and how that can be overcome.
Here are some thoughts of Rick's:

EDUCATION... by far. We have a toll-free number that any warehouse, distribution center, trucker, broker, etc. can call so we can quickly act to any donation. Naturally, we don't take bad produce, but as long as the product still offers value, most of our members can take the donation.

Transportation is another obstacle... so have a trucking firm work with us would be helpful... in other words, we can pay to transport; but once a product is off-loaded and sitting on a dock, it is difficult to move out of a DC, etc. By having those dock inspectors have the knowledge that they can call; or instruct the "seller" to call us when the rejection of the load is made is key.

800-771-2303 x6507

Call goes to me directly or my voice mail. We have full-time staff that is here to assist with moving the produce to a member location. We (Second Harvest) pays the trucker, then invoice the receiving member for their share of the costs. We assist members with packaging AND transportation costs.

Fiscal year to date data: (July 1, 2006 to 2/2/07)
63,000,000 pounds moved through the Chicago national office by national produce donors/suppliers
Second Harvest has assisted members by paying $431,549 in transportation costs, or 28% of the total spent.
Members (food banks) paid $1,126,460 to move produce
Second Harvest also paid $2,102,840 in packaging fees (really low priced F.O.B. costs) to assist members with produce costs
Members also paid $2,489,638 in packaging fees or 54% of the total.
This is data from 31-weeks worth of operation.

Total program costs f.y.t.d.= $6.1M
Projected spending for the remainder of this fiscal year (ends June 30th) another $2.5M

This is no longer a small program!!! Your thoughts are welcome.
Thanks, Rick

From a previous email, Rick said:

We current ship 2.1M pounds of fresh produce EACH WEEK to our network members. Wow, it has really grown. This is all new found business for the produce industry. We currently work with the following companies who make up about 85% of our total produce distribution each week. Just sharing:
Western Veg-Produce; Bakersfield, CA
Columbia Fresh Produce; Yakima, WA (apples, pears)
P and K Services, Orlando, FL (assorted Vegetables)
Mountain King Potatoes, Houston, TX


TK: Rick's passion for this good work is evident, and all should be aware of the opportunity to get involved, just as the above companies have done. Here is a link to David Mitchell's Packer 25 feature about Rick that published in March 2006.

Try try again

Florida citrus industry leaders' quest for $18 million from the general revenue fund was shut down in the governor's budget, but the battle will continue.
From The Ledger:

The department had asked for general revenue money to bolster a budget depleted by damage from the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes. Citrus production has dropped by more than a third since the hurricanes, which has resulted in less revenue from the box tax. But Ryan maintained the proposed budget released Friday is not the governor's final word on the $18 million request. It included $13 million for marketing and $5 million for scientific research, particularly on projects to fight citrus canker and citrus greening, two bacterial diseases considered the top threats to the industry's long-term health.

TK: The economic impact of agriculture in Florida should make the state's investment in the citrus industry a no-brainer. However, I note the funds requested were $13 million for marketing and $5 million for research. Considering the urgency to get beyond canker and citrus greening, I may have flipped that request to $13 million research and $5 million marketing.

Tesco's Fresh and Easy approach

Here is some coverage from The Arizona Republic that gets into details of Tesco's plan to open Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets in that state.
From the story:

The chain's emphasis will be on fresh produce and healthful, ready-to-eat meals sold for affordable prices, Mason said. It will stock common American brands and Tesco's private label products, plus beer and wine, but not British food. "It is not a funny specialty store that sells imported things that a few Brits have a hankering for," Mason said. "It is very deliberately designed to meet the needs of the 21st-century American consumer."


TK: No Yorkshire pudding or steak and kidney pie? We're crushed. Tesco plans about 20 of the Fresh & Easy markets in the valley of the sun.

Western Growers

WG has applauded the certification of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement by the CDFA.


The California Leafy Green Marketing Agreement will require handlers of leafy greens produce, which includes spinach and 12 other commodities, to accept produce only from those growers who follow specific food safety procedures. The State of California will oversee and enforce the agreement.State authorized inspectors will certify that procedures are being followed and a certification seal, or "mark", will be designated and affixed to product to confirm compliance with the Marketing Agreement. "We are proceeding to dramatically boost food safety in the fresh produce industry and we hope these efforts, and others, point the way for further action as we proceed," said Nassif. "This is just a first step.There will be others."


TK: Tom Nassif of Western Growers references the "intense and timely" response to a consumer call to action. There will be other steps, as Nassif said, but this first one is perhaps the most critical.