Inspection trends

I had recently requested - and received - some data about USDA Fresh Products Branch inspections from Jimmie Turner, a spokesman at the agency. I will have the chance to take a closer look at that document - and others - that may help provide perspective on the financial standing of the Fresh Products Branch and what that means to the industry. Bottom line, the FPB faces some fiscal challenges in the years ahead, and current financial reserves are estimated at the end of fiscal year 2007 at $10.6 million, or about 6.3 months of operating revenue. Net losses for the FPB federal market program in fiscal year 2007 were estimated at $4.2 million, up from $3.6 million in red ink reported in fiscal year 2006. Hopefully I will get a chance to visit with Bob Keeney, Leanne Skelton and others about their strategic vision for FPB going forward.
This may be addressed at the next USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee meeting, which is slated for Jan. 14-15, according to Turner.

How safe is your salad?

How safe is your salad? Not safe enough for some, I'll wager. This conclusion is one I reach even before I start reading the article in The San Francisco Chronicle, posted by Luis of the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group. As I read the article, I found it references both industry-instituted and buyer-initiated produce safety practices, and how those demands are opposed by some conservationists. From the story by Carl Nagin, a small excerpt:

Meanwhile, Western Growers' President Thomas A. Nassif has challenged a rival set of food safety standards developed by the Food Safety Leadership Council as "excessive and scientifically indefensible." The council includes representatives from such retail giants and food-service providers as McDonald's Corp., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Publix Super Markets and the Walt Disney World Co. In a November letter to Publix, Nassif warned that the council's standard "marks the beginning of a destructive food safety 'arms race' " with different produce buyers competing by claiming they have safer products than the next and imposing ever more stringent standards on growers. These so-called "super-metrics" are at the heart of the controversy for growers and conservationists. The USDA is now considering national regulations for leafy greens. In response, directors of EPA region 9 and two Regional Water Quality Boards wrote that any such regulation should focus on bagged "ready-to-eat" greens only and cited the FDA data on E. coli outbreaks. The letters also noted that despite acceptance of the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, many chain grocery stores have imposed their own food safety programs that go beyond it. As a consequence "farmers are being put in jeopardy for violating long-standing regulations that protect water quality and threatened and endangered species," wrote EPA Water Division director Alexis Strauss. Small farmers, Strauss added, have largely been left out of the discussion. Their "needs and circumstances must also be considered to avoid the damage of an irrelevant one-size-fits-all approach" to food safety. The EPA calls the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement standards an ideal starting point for a national program; it has also called for caps on what retailers can require of growers beyond the standards. For background on E. coli and up-to-date information on outbreaks: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/ecoli .

FB reaction from SCFBA

Despite the questions that will linger into the first quarter and will only be answered after the House-Senate conference committee, there is reason for the industry to applaud Senate passage of the farm bill. Here is a news release that just slid across my inbox from the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance:



SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCERS APPLAUD SENATE PASSAGE OF THE FARM BILL WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 120 specialty crop organizations representing 350 individual specialty crops, has issued the following statement in connection with the passage of the Farm Bill by the U.S. Senate:"Today's action by the U.S. Senate represents another step in recognizing the importance of specialty crops in national farm policy. This Farm Bill includes important provisions designed to bolster the competitive standing of the industry in today's global marketplace. We strongly encourage Congressional leaders to move quickly to appoint a conference committee so differences between the versions of the Farm Bill can be worked out in a timely manner. In addition, we look forward to working with the Bush Administration in coming together and signing into law a Farm Bill that recognizes the needs and priorities of specialty crops."The SCFBA appreciates the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Reid and his leadership team, Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Chambliss and Senators Stabenow, Conrad and Crapo for their advocacy on behalf of the nation's specialty crop producers.Priorities of Specialty Crop Producers
Expansion of the USDA Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program to all 50 states. The program and others involving healthy foods and community projects help develop life-long health through consumption of fruits and vegetables
Greater investment in research to improve the taste and quality of foods
Expansion of the "State Specialty Crop Competitiveness" projects which are focused on regional and local priorities for specialty crop producers. These projects have been successful with improving food safety, increasing the consumption of home grown specialty crops and supporting research aimed at combating pests and diseases.
Enhanced critical trade assistance and market promotion tools that will grow international markets for specialty crops
Investment in prevention and mitigation protocols to combat invasive pest and diseases, which cost the economy millions of dollars per year

What's up - Last minute add ons

I'll check in with a few Washington sources about the language folded into the farm bill in the manager's amendment. I haven't found the full text version, but Kate Cyrul at Tom Harkin's office did send this summary file. I don't think there was anything particularly dramatic, but here is a quick list of interesting add-ons


Stevens-McCaskill: Amendment 3515: authorizes competitive grants to public tv stations for education and outreach

Casey: Sense of Congress relating to nutrition education initiatives - SA 3522

Cornyn - Modifies public health projects to include ways to reduce childhood obesity - SA 3544

Sanders - Establishes a community gardening project at high poverty public schools

Durbin amend and Baucas/Stabenow amendment - Amendments to trade subtitle F - strikes MAP and removes language under jurisdiction of Senate Finance Committee

Feingold - Sense of Senate on ARS research dedicated to organic agriculture

Menendez - Study on impact of local foods on commerce SA 3607

Roberts - Pilot program to distribute whole grain snacks to elementary students


Feinstein - Modifies Agricultural Adjustment Act includes clementines on the list of items for which quality requirements are established

Stevens - Exempt ag quarantine user fees/trucks from US. to Canada

Harkin - Pilot program for purchases of local commodities

O Christmas tree

A few years ago we purchased an "artificial" (fake) Christmas tree. The tree dresses up quite nicely, with its narrow and symmetrical profile perfectly filling up the spot by the living room window. More than that, I love the fact I can take the tree out to the garage, cover it with a sheet and forget about until next December. However, the utilitarian beauty of this arrangement is lost upon my 17-year old daughter, for every year since we have purchased the "artificial" Christmas tree we have also purchased a real Christmas tree and set it up in the basement. As usual, my daughter gave us numerous entreaties to purchase a "real tree" this year. Foolishly, I resisted, mistakenly sensing the desire would drop away like so many needles of a dried-up evergeen if I simply ignored it. Not so. After another poignant plea - this time a text message on the cell phone - "Pleeeasse can we get a tree?," my wife and I picked up a "real" Christmas tree last night and brought it home to Betsy. It was one of three white pine trees left at HyVee, and a bargain at $20. With minor primping and pruning - and turning the patchy side toward the wall - it is a fine example of natural beauty.

Now it's not quite the same memory as we have enjoyed in the past - visiting a Christmas tree farm on a snowy day, having hot chocolate and a tractor ride before cutting down our own, well-scrutinized, tree - but it is a real tree and I'm glad we got it. I promise myself I won't let a little practicality stand in the way of Christmas spirit again - at least as long as our daughter insists on it.

By the way, the National Christmas Tree Association gives the inside dope on fake trees, and further support my daughter's impulse. Fresh wins again.