Holding pattern

Kate at Sen. Harkin's office said that Senate Republican and Democratic leaders are huddling to see if they can come to terms with ground rules to proceed with debate on the farm bill. The willingness is there to do something, but so far the process is still in a holding pattern. About 115 amendments have been submitted so far, and one lobbyist told me the task is to decide which amendments will be considered and how much time will be devoted to each. We should know more tomorrow, one hopes.

Argentina lemon exporters watch and wait

While the U.S. citrus industry waits for the final USDA rule on movement of Florida citrus fruit from canker infested regions, countries like Argentina wait for access to export lemons to the U.S. Here is a reference to Argentina's outlook in a Nov. 5 report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on the South American country's citrus prospects:


The Animal and Plant Inspection Service of the USDA (APHIS) published for public comment the Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) on Tucuman lemons in August 2007 as part of the process for reopening the market for Argentine lemon exports to the U.S. That document included all the diseases that affect lemons in Tucuman area including Citrus Canker, Black Spot, and fruit flies. The inclusion of fruit flies as a pest that affects lemons was a surprise for the Argentine citrus industry, since lemons had not previously been considered to be hosts of this insect. APHIS requires cold treatment for fruits that are considered to be hosts and this type of treatment damages the quality of fresh lemons. The Argentine citrus industry and SENASA (the Argentine inspection service) are expected to submit comments to APHIS on this issue. Tucuman exported to the U.S. 6,000 tons of fresh lemons in 2000 and 20,000 tons of fresh lemons in 2001. In 2001, a Federal Court in California ruled that the pest risk assessment carried out by APHIS had some mistakes and blocked Argentine exports. APHIS and SENASA have been working since then to reopen the ma rket. The Argentine citrus industry believes that they could export between 50,000 and 60,000 tons per year to the U.S.

Mostly cloudy farm bill outlook

I was talking with one Washington D.C. lobbyist today who said he is skeptical that the Senate will finish their work on the farm bill in time for a conference committee to complete its work by the end of the year. Administration opposition is taking its toll on the process, he said.

Here is coverage in The Washington Times that alludes to the same reality.

Farm bill fight likely in Senate

More food ads - sweet potatoes shine

Sweet potatoes rule the roost of the produce department for this holiday week. Yesterday I began to delve into produce-related food ads in suburban Kansas City for the period of Nov. 14 to Nov. 22. I'll continue the examination of the Thanksgiving week food ads today.

Price Chopper (Nov. 14 to Nov. 22)
Frozen turkey - 78 cents/lb
Louisiana sweet potatoes: 49 cents/lb
New York Fortune apples: $1.29/lb
Ocean Spray cranberries: 2 for $4 (12 oz. package)
Green Giant sliced mushrooms: $1.69/8 oz. package
Yellow onions: 3-lb bag $1.29
Fresh green beans: 2 12-oz. packages for $5
Fresh whole jumbo pineapple: $3.99
Eat Smart Vegetable tray: $8.99/36 oz.
Green Giant baby cut carrots: 2 for $5 (2-lb package)
Suntree pecans: $7.99 for 16-oz. package
Fresh Brussel Sprouts: $1.49/lb
Dole Salads: selected varieties, 5-12 oz.: 2 for $5


Dillons: Nov. 14 to Nov. 22
Private selection whole butter basted frozen turkey: 69 cents/lb
Kroger Russet potatoes: 5-lb bag: $2.69, Buy one, get one free
Red seedless grapes: $1.99/lb
Sweet potatoes: 39 cents/lb
Large crisp celery: 88 cents each
White cauliflower or Kroger baby carrots: 2 for $5
Veggie trays includes organic: $9.99/36 ounces
Fresh cucumbers or green onions: 69 cents each
Korger grape tomatoes or white sliced mushroom: 2 for $5
Jumbo Del Monte Gold Pineapple: 2 for $6
Pecan halves or pieces: $5.99/each
Ocean Spray cranberries; 2 12 oz. bags for $4
Fresh Express cole slaws: 4 for 5 (three varieties)
Herb Thyme organic herbs: 25% off (.66 oz)


HyVee (Nov. 14-Nov. 22)
HyVee Grade A basted whole frozen turkey: 79 cents/lb
Fresh sweet potatoes: 49 cents/lb
Del Monte Gold pineapple: $2.88 each
Disney Garden Fancy Navel oranges: 88 cents/lb
Del Monte Gold pineapple (20 oz) $3.99
Fresh cilantro: 2 for $1 (bunch)
Dole Premium Classic Salad: 2 for $3 (9 to 12 oz. package)
Ocean Spray cranberries: $1.38/12 oz. package
Fresh blueberries: $2.88
HyVee cole slaw mix: 99 cents/16 oz. package
Fresh blueberries: $8.88/ 18 oz. package
Fresh green peppers: 2 for $1
Red Potatoes: 88 cents/16 oz. package
Greenline Microwavable green beans: 2 for $5 (12 oz.)
HyVee Homemade "The Social" Vegetable tray: $12.99 (10 inch)
Earthbound Farm organic salad: 2 for $5
Organic sweet potatoes: $1.48/lb



Wal-Mart (Nov. 14-21)
Fresh turkey: 97 cents/lb
Celery: 78 cents/each
Sweet potatoes: 33 cents/lb
Mixed fresh fruit: $4.50 for 4-lb bag
Large vegetable tray: $28.64

Sen. John Tester of Montana introduced this CBP bill November 5, 2007. Why it requires an act of congress to beef up port of entry services at a small town along the Montana/Canadain border is an example of the differences between what is promoted as advances by an agency and what is really happening on the ground. When CBP fails, agricultural import inspection fails. This is another case for moving the inspection service back to the USDA. At least the USDA could allocate manpower at the port to cover food items while the CBP runs down aliens and tries to achieve other aspects of its monumental mission. It could only help. - Big Apple
========================================================
S 2308 IS
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2308

To improve the efficiency of customs and other services at the Wild Horse, Montana port of entry.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 5, 2007

Mr. TESTER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To improve the efficiency of customs and other services at the Wild Horse, Montana port of entry.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. IMPROVED CUSTOMS SERVICES AT WILD HORSE, MONTANA PORT OF ENTRY.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security, not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall--

(1) designate Wild Horse, Montana as a port of entry pursuant to chapter 223 of the Act of August 1, 1914 (19 U.S.C. 2); and

(2) assign sufficient United States Customs and Border Protection personnel and allocate sufficient equipment to the port of entry at Wild Horse, Montana to accept entries of merchandise, clear passengers, collect duties, and enforce provisions of customs and related laws at such port of entry for 24 hours per day.

Biggest loser

Luis of the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group linked to this column about weight loss that was recently published in The Washington Post. Michael S. Rosenwald, the author of the piece called "Economy of the Scale," talks about the economic incentives to lose weight.
Of course, there is more and more buzz about insurance companies that provide incentives for plan members to lose weight. Here is what Rosenwald says about one company engaged in that tactic:

Tangerine, based in Boston, designs weight-loss programs that employ economic incentives. The company is modeled on recent economic research showing that paying people to lose weight causes their pounds to fall off faster. Eric Finkelstein, an economist with RTI International who has spoken with Tangerine executives, recently conducted a study in which people were paid either $7 or $14 per percentage point of body weight they lost.
After three months, people with no incentives lost about two pounds. The $7 group lost about three pounds. The $14 group: five pounds. Members of the more expensive group were also five times more likely than members of the no-money group to lose 5 percent of their body weight. One person netted $140. Were they more excited about losing weight or about the money? "I think they were most excited by the $140," Finkelstein said.

Now there is a Web site called stickK.com, Rosenwald writes, that will compel individuals to make a contract with themselves to pay money to a charity, friend or family if they don't lose weight. That's pretty fascinating too, and the Web site is expected to go live sometime in December. Not discussed is an economic inventive plan that would involve consumption of fruits and vegetables; why couldn't a brand marketer of produce reward consumers for every ten PLU stickers submitted, for example?

My own economies of scale must somehow involve propping up my own flimsy willpower. For me, I may have to pay Sherri, our administrative assistant at The Packer, to stop her thoughtful gestures to fellow co-workers. Without fail, Sherri brings in miniature peanut butter cups, mini Twix bars, mini Hershey Krackle, Mr. Goodbar and Hershey's milk chocolates daily to restock her candy jar. Her candy jar runneth over, except for the fact I'm taking from it everyday. With free Twix and Mr. Goodbar the economies of scale are tilted against me.