Russia's economy

Luis shared this powerpoint recently in the discussion group regarding growth prospects for Russia's economy and I will share it here, for those exporters doing business in Russia now or in the future.

New files on the board

I've added several new files to the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Board. The "files" part of the discussion group is used by various members to share useful source material with other members, and represent another good reason to join the group. The new files:

Rural Plan for California Barack Obama's agricultural vision for California, and by extension, the U.S.

Status report : California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement From the report: During the 368 audits conducted in 2007 by government inspectors, a total of 457citations were issued. Most of these were Minor Infractions or Minor Deviations with corrective action taken either immediately or within a few days of the citation being issued.


APEAM complaint against the CAC A few points raised in the legal complaint:In response to the federal opening of the California market, the CAC, acting in concert with the CDFA, undertook a massive effort to stop the import of Mexican grown avocados into California including, but not limited to, 1) the unrelenting disparagement of the quality of Mexican avocados; 2) the reckless and untrue attribution of phytosanitary risks to California agriculture from the armored scales found on some avocados imported from Michoacán; 3) the promotion of an imaginary and self-serving “conflict” between state and federal regulatory standards (i.e. to exclude Mexican avocados from California because of armored scales and “invasive, unknown species” of dangerous pests)


Obama letter asking the Administration to hold off on reform to H-2A program

Produce promotions - Feb. 27 - March 4

Slouching toward spring in the midst of a cold winter, produce promotions featured asparagus, oranges, bananas, Chilean fruit and more.

Here are the latest produce promotions in the suburban Kansas City market this week. For the period of Feb. 27 to March 4:

Price Chopper
Dole bananas - 29 cents/lb
Fresh asparagus: $1.09/lb
Jumbo cantaloupes: 2/$4
Blueberries: 2 4.4 oz. for $4
Dole salad kits: 9.5 oz. to 12 oz. 2 for $5
Mann's Veggies: 12 oz. selected varieties: 2/$3
Cucumbers or green onions: 2/$1
Washington premium fuji apples: $1.49/lb
Green giant baby cut carrots: 2/$3
Large baking potatoes: 2 lbs for $1
Jumbo sweet 1015 yellow onions: 69 cents/lb

Hen House
Sweet peaches and nectarines: 99 cents/lb
California jumbo artichokes: 2 for $4
Sweet Sun World black plums: $1.69/lb
Blueberries or blackberries: 2 for $5
Green Giant russet potatoes: 2 5-lb bags for $4
Pinata apples: $1.99/lb
Jumbo cantaloupes: 2 for $5
White or seedless grapes: $1.69/lb
Large Idaho baking potatoes: 2 lbs for $1


Wal-Mart
California navel oranges: $2.50/4 lb bag


HyVee
Asparagus: $1.68/lb
Dole Iceberg lettucde: 77 cents each
Disney jumbo navel oranges: 68 cents/lb
New red potatoes; 77 cents/lb
Fresh green beans: $1.28/lb
Mini sweet watermelon: $2.99 each
Monterey whole white mushrooms: $2.88/16 oz package
Chile red seedless grapes: $1.88/lb
Dole celery: 98 cent/lb
Fresh snow peas: $1.99/lb
Grimmway Farms carrot chips: 99 cents/16 oz.
Apple Sweets: 3 5 or 6 oz. packages for $4
Stemilt cameo apples: $1.18/lb
Sunkist pummelos: 2 for $4
Pro Health russet potatoes: 2 for $1
Melissa's shallots: $1.99/3 oz.
Capital Brand mixed color peppers: 4 ct. $3.29

Supermarket secrets - Part II

Luis of the discussion group provides this link, with special focus of this episode looking at cosmetic standards of produce. Supermarkets are the villains for their standards for "perfect produce," so says Supermarket Secrets. "Critics claim supermarkets have British farmers by the short and curlies."