Fresh Talk Wiki

I have a created a page called Fresh Talk Wiki. Like the Fresh Produce Discussion Group, it is another resource for Fresh Talk readers. Anyone can edit on the site, and I've created a "guest" page that readers can sign and leave any comments. Also, feel free to create other pages - such as a page of your favorite links, etc., if you would like.

From Wikipedia: definition of "wiki"

A wiki is software that allows users to create, edit, and link web pages easily. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites. These wiki websites are often also referred to as wikis; for example, Wikipedia is one of the best known wikis.^[1] Wikis are being installed by businesses to provide affordable and effective Intranets and for Knowledge Management. Ward Cunningham, developer of the first wiki, WikiWikiWeb, originally described it as "the simplest online database that could possibly work".^[2]

Stop Gap

Can the Administration get Congress to approve the U.S. Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement? Agriculture Secretary Schafer offers this on the signing of the Andean Trade Preference Extension Act.


"The signing of the 10-month Andean Trade Preference Extension Act (H.R. 5264) by President George W. Bush is an important interim measure while we work to secure Congressional passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and to implement the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. Now we need both chambers to move forward with the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.

"The U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will replace one-way with two-way free and fair trade by providing U.S. farmers, ranchers and businesses with duty-free access to that market. Opening the Colombian market and increasing our two-way trade will strengthen our economic ties and also promote increased stability that will benefit all the nations of the Western Hemisphere.

"For the past 16 years, the Andean Trade Preference Act provided Colombia and Peru with duty-free access to the U.S. market for nearly all products and generated economic opportunities in those countries. Last fall, Congress took a critical step toward allowing U.S. exports to benefit from two-way trade by approving the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. Now, it is time for Congress to provide U.S. farmers and ranchers with duty-free access to an even larger market by approving our agreement with Colombia. Over 90 percent of U.S. imports from Colombia enter our country duty-free. This agreement will provide U.S. companies and farmers with duty-free access to the Colombian market."

National Retail Report - Feb. 29

Here is the summary graph from the National Retail Report of Feb. 29:

Advertised Prices for Fruits & Vegetables at Major Retail Supermarket Outlets 02/23 to 03/061, 2
Retail grocery ads continue to be minus a national theme. However, according to region, there were ads featuring potatoes for National Potato Lovers Month, fruit items from Chile featuring “A Taste of Summer” for commodities from Chile, and items from the floral department in connection to Easter. The Easter ads also included Items from the candy department. The next national theme besides Easter is the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday in which cabbage is expected to be featured prominently. Fruit ads continue to be titled towards fruit items. The overall breakdown was approximately 60% fruit and 40% vegetable. The leading fruit item was grapes while asparagus was the leading vegetable. “Buy one-Get one free” and “Buy 10 for $10” promotions were prominent in all regions. Items for these promotions included baby peeled carrots, blueberries, broccoli, cantaloupes, D’Anjou pears, mangoes, navel oranges, yellow all purpose onions, russet potatoes, and strawberries.

Fruits as Percentage of Total Fruit Ads February 29, 2008
Strawberries, organic 0%
Watermelon, mini 1%
Limes 1%
Lemons 1%
Mangoes 5%
Oranges, navel 3%
Nectarines, yellow flesh 7%
Pears, bartlett 3%
Peaches 7%
Pineapple 5%
Clementines 0%
Cantaloupe 5%
Bananas 1%
Bananas, organic 2%
Blueberries 6%
Avocadoes, hass 6%
Apples, red delicious 5%
Strawberries 14%
Plums 7%
Honeydew 2%
Grapefruit, red 3%
Grapes, green/red 15%


Vegetables as Percentage of Total Vegetable Ads February 29, 2008
Lettuce, romaine 2%
Potatoes, russet 4%
Onions, yellow 5%
Onions, sweet 5%
Peppers, bell red 3%
Peppers, bell green 1%
Sweet Potatoes 0%
Mushrooms, white 4%
Tomatoes 5%
Squash, zucchini 4%
Tomatoes, grape 4%
Tomatoes, grape organic 3%
Tomatoes on the vine 6%
Lettuce, iceberg 3%
Corn 0%
Cucumbers 9%
Celery 3%
Carrots, baby organic 4%
Carrots, baby 12%
Cabbage 3%
Broccoli, organic 1%
Broccoli 5%
Beans, round green 1%
Asparagus 13%