Cherry bargain

Unleash sales to Cuba

The American Farm Bureau and other ag business groups are supporting a bill in Congress that would less restrictions on sales to Cuba. The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont, and and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, , and in the House by Reps. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo.

Here is an explanation of the legislative fix sought, from the National Foreign Trade Council:

For four years, Cuban buyers made cash payments (through third-country banks, as required by TSREEA) to U.S. sellers in advance of taking title or physical control of the goods. The goods were often at sea or in Havana at the time the seller received payment, and then released the goods to the Cuban buyer. In 2005, the Treasury Department issued a final rule that in order to comply with TSREEA, sellers would need to receive payment before the goods shipped from a U.S. port. Many in Congress objected to this interpretation of cash-in-advance payment. If Cuba had paid for goods sitting in a U.S. port, the goods could be at risk of seizure to satisfy unrelated private claims against the Cuban government. Since the rule was implemented, Cuba has not bought U.S. agricultural products on a cash basis, and total U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba have dropped for the past two years. This section (identical to language in S.328, 109th Congress) would define cash-in-advance payment as payment made before the seller will relinquish title or physical control of the goods to the Cuban buyer.

Tesco: the new Starbucks

I don't claim credit for that word association. The story quoting a Tesco executive using that comparison is written by Quinn Eastman of NCTimes.com, and found here.

From the story:

"There are plenty more to come," said Tim Mason, CEO of Tesco's new American division, at a launch event at the San Diego Gaslamp Marriott.Mason said Fresh & Easy has pledged to have no trans fats or artificial colors and flavors in any product and will not sell cigarettes or other tobacco products.About half of the products in the store will come from Fresh & Easy's own brand.Retail analysts have compared Fresh & Easy to Trader Joe's because of the stores' size -- roughly 10,000 square feet of sales space.But Mason said he wanted to avoid demographic categories and rejected the comparison, adding that he was aiming for a higher standard: being everywhere, like Starbucks Coffee."We want to appeal to the neighborhood in the same way as Starbucks," he said.

TK: This market positioning is brilliant if Tesco can pull it off. But will consumers of any supermarket, manhandling shopping carts and pressed for time, view the experience remotely similar to a visit to Starbucks? And what about the drive through window?

Friday headline roundup

Dream of fresh produce in the arctic Growing f/v in the most unlikely of places

Bottled water or f/v; which is better for family's health? "Clever" beverage marketers are usurping the health message of f/v

Boiling vegetables impairs antioxidants So says UK study

Senate wants reform minded farm bill, Harkin says From ABC Sen. Tom Harkins says "It's an ideal time to do some reform, to rearrange our priorities and to look ahead," said chairman Tom Harkin, who wants to expand land stewardship programs, spend more on public nutrition, boost biofuels and aid specialty crop growers.

Killer amendments could threaten immigration deal Debate to resume next week

Supermarkets fail to reach labor accord Strike vote Sunday

Wal-Mart unveils new packaging policy in Canada eco friendly policy discussed

FTC tries to block Whole Foods access to competitors data From the Chicago Tribune


Tomato on the vine grade standard comment period extended


China promises food safety reform Produce safety a key concern