Farm bill markup and immigration debate

The immigration debate is beginning in the Senate, though a final vote isn't anticipated until after the Memorial Day break. From United today:

The U.S. Senate is debating comprehensive immigration reform right now on the Senate floor! The bill being debated, “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007”, S. 1348, would address: 1) enhanced border security, 2) increased enforcement of employer prohibitions in hiring illegal immigrants, 3) a transition to legal status of the 12 million illegal aliens currently in the U.S., and 4) provisions for future temporary worker programs to fill jobs where there are insufficient U.S. workers.

This is a tremendous accomplishment as key leaders from both parties who have been divisive on so many issues finally found enough common ground to support the compromise. Surveys confirm that a majority of Americans believe the current immigration system is broken and they support reasonable accommodations for legal immigration. This moderate perspective is not being heard by your member of congress and the future of comprehensive immigration reform is at risk.

It is imperative that your Senators hear from you immediately or this rare opportunity to actually find solutions to our broken immigration system will be lost. TAKE ACTION NOW!


TK: Here is full text of the legislation.


Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee began work on marking up the farm bill legislation, though as John Keeling pointed out, it was mainly dealing with already existing programs Here is the link to the House Ag Committee home page. The specialty crop industry won't be settling or mythical authorizations to fund proposed programs, but it will be difficult to wrest mandatory funding from the Agriculture Committee.

Setting the market

While mangoes have been known to trade well below $5 per carton, that reality is not touching the irradiated Indian mango deal.

Chicago, Ill., based Patel Bros. is distributing Indian mangoes for Philadelphia-based Savani Farms, and a spokesman at Patel in Chicago said they expect about 3,000 total boxes this year. Price for the Kesar variety in the U.S. now and the Alphonso expected next week are quoted at $35 per 8-pound box of 12 count fruit. The deal is expected to continue for several more weeks, though I received no ending date for imports.
So far, the Indian mango is a no show on USDA terminal market price reports.

United's play for organic exhibitors

As expected, United Fresh Produce Association has officially announced that there will be an organic pavilion for next year's show in Las Vegas. How successful will be United be in luring away fresh produce marketers from the All Things Organic show? The All Things Organic Show will be held in Chicago from April 26 to April 29 in Chicago. Can both shows - mere days apart - successfully lure a critical mass of organic produce marketers? I have calls into OTA on this issue but haven't gotten a call back yet.

Here is the United release:

Washington, D.C. - With the shift of the United Fresh Marketplace and FMI shows to Las Vegas, May 4-7, 2008, a new Organic Produce Pavilion will be added to the Marketplace show floor for the convenience of produce buyers to visit with companies offering organic produce.

“We have enjoyed our partnership with the All Things Organic show the past four years, and wish them well with their continued location in Chicago,” said United Fresh President Tom Stenzel. “But, it is clear that supermarket retail management and produce buyers will be looking for organic produce in Las Vegas at our produce marketing and merchandising event.”

“Organic produce is bought by produce buyers and merchandised by produce teams, not generic organic buyers of meats, packaged goods and clothing,” said United Fresh Executive Vice President Jerry Welcome. “Our new Organic Pavilion in the middle of the produce show floor in Las Vegas will make it easy for produce buyers to see the best of organic produce conveniently located in one event,” he said.

Produce exhibitors in the 2007 All Things Organic show in Chicago will be offered a priority waiting list for the new Organic Pavilion at United Fresh Marketplace in Las Vegas, with space assignments beginning June 15. In addition, in recognition of their support of the past Power of Five shows, ATO exhibitors will be offered a discounted rate similar to returning exhibitors in United Fresh Marketplace.

For more information about opportunities for organic produce at United Fresh Marketplace, please contact Jeff Oberman in the United Fresh Salinas, CA office, joberman@unitedfresh.org, 831-422-0940