FVIAC

As I mentioned earlier, I missed the Feb. 7-8 fruit and vegetable industry advisory committee meeting, so I'm anxious to read David Mitchell's coverage in the upcoming issue of The Packer. Here is the "just the facts" version that USDA has released about the committee's recommendations.
From the USDA:

Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
Capital Hilton, 1001-16th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
February 7-8, 2008

Recommendation: The Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee recommends that USDA make marketing agreements and marketing orders available to industries to facilitate national adoption and compliance with food safety standards, such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Handling Practices (GHPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

Additional Actions: The Committee also formed working groups to investigate issues and bring findings back to the full group for consideration. These working groups will deal with matters related to food safety and traceability, child nutrition and WIC Reauthorization, produce transportation, agriculture labor, and AMS� Market News and fresh fruit and vegetable inspection programs.

TK: Also find this link to the presentations presented at the committee meeting. This is the 34-page pdf presentation "The State of U.S. Transportation: Implications for the U.S Fruit &Vegetable Industries" by Bruce Blanton Transportation and Marketing Program. This presentation includes a staggering series of visuals about future truck congestion on U.S. highways. Here are Blanton's conclusions:

* F&V production, exports and imports are projected to increase steadily into 2017
* All modes are currently close if not at capacity
* Without changes, congestion is expected to worsen and cause increasing problems into 2035
* National & global influences greater than F&V industry are at play and will influence infrastructure decisions
* There is no shortage of regulatory issues facing trucks; there can be spillover issues for transporting F&Vs
* Increasing challenges require greater communication and collaboration for creative solutions (e.g. shippers & carriers, between modes, etc.)