More on Honduras

More headlines on Honduras melons. Links from the Food Safety Network.

Honduras melon company lays off workers From the AP: A Honduran melon company says it has laid off 1,800 workers after the U.S. blocked imports following a salmonella outbreak in places such as Ohio. The company, Agropecuaria Montelibano, estimated that ts losses will reach $21 million. Honduran officials are demanding the United States compensate the company. They say there is no scientific proof the fruit was first infected in Honduras.


Honduras sends top ministers to lobby U.S. against melon ban From IHT:
The Honduran government says it has sent three top ministers to Washington to lobby against a U.S. decision to block its melon exports in the wake of a salmonella outbreak. Honduran President Manuel Zelaya says the ministers of agriculture, trade and health will meet with U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials to tell them about the quality of melons his nation produces. The officials traveled to Washington on Wednesday

The throng at the gates and looking for Mr. Daschle

While United Fresh lobbyist Robert Guenther said tenuous progress is reported in farm bill negotiations, nothing is certain yet. Meanwhile, I read in some farm bill coverage that the process needs a "stopper" to get this thing to an end game, much like Tom Daschle, former Democratic Senator from South Dakota, did in 2002 farm bill negotiations. From Delta Farm Press:

Where’s Tom Daschle when you need him? The last time Congress wrote a farm bill, Daschle, or so the story goes, called agriculture committee leaders in at one point and told them to pass a farm bill. Period. End of story.
House and Senate conference committee members went back to work, compromised on some tough issues, voted out a conference report that was passed by both Houses and signed by President Bush on May 13, 2002.
By the time Daschle, the then-Senate majority leader, took action, House and Senate conferees had been meeting from January until April — longer than they’ve been negotiating the current bill. The conference committee for this farm bill has yet to meet.
That’s not the only difference. In 2002, the Bush administration played the role of observer, providing deputy undersecretaries to answer questions about how USDA mght implement provisions of the bill.
Then-Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman made general statements about administration policy on the farm bill but did travel around the country telling groups how the president would veto the farm bill if it (1) contained tax increases or (2) did not include reforms such as a lower adjusted gross income ceiling on payments.
Both Secretary Ed Schafer and Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner, have missed few opportunities to get out and claim the House and Senate farm bills raise taxes and “do not target support to producers who need it the most.”
In response, House and Senate agriculture leaders claim the bills are more about closing tax loopholes and requiring royalty payments on offshore oil wells. And they note they are paying for the farm bill as they go rather than simply increasing spending as the administration has done with the economic stimulus package.
The House and Senate conference committee could reconcile the two versions of the farm bill within a matter of days — once House leaders actually name the House members. Instead, committee leaders have spent most of the last three months trying to compromise with the White House.
Reps. Collin Peterson and Bob Goodlatte, the chairman and ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, and Sens. Tom Harkin and Saxby Chambliss, chairman and ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, reportedly have agreed on a spending figure of $10 billion over the baseline projected for the farm bill.
But that has caused other committee members such as Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Budget Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., to call the compromise “dead on arrival” because other spending priorities will not leave the $5.5 billion they need for their permanent disaster program.
For now, Congress is working on a new deadline of April 19 to replace or extend the current law. After that, the fall elections will begin to prove more distracting. If farmers are to have a new law in 2008, it’s time for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid or House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to step up and do a “Tom Daschle.”

TK: Farmers aren't the only ones upset at the process. This column Ditch this farm bill by Deroy Murdock, takes a more acidic view of the farm bill and the "family farm."

In short, Congress shakes down taxpayers (many in foreclosure) for $286 billion to subsidize farmers already in cornucopian bliss. Their record crop prices, in turn, fatten supermarket and restaurant tabs, which squeeze taxpayers' wallets yet again. Frightfully, these factors stir Third World hunger and chaos.

If this were Bourbon, France, citizens would be at Versailles' gates, justifiably screaming for justice.

FDA - Firm Press Release

Again, from the FDA:


Recall -- Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
T.M. Kovacevich International, Inc. Recalls Cantaloupe Because of Possible Health Risk

Contact:
T.M. Kovacevich International, Inc.
(215) 336-3160

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Philadelphia, PA -- March 25, 2008 --- T.M. Kovacevich International, Inc. of Philadelphia, PA is recalling cantaloupes which it purchased from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer, because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has determined, based on current information, that cantaloupe fruit from this company has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled product was distributed to wholesalers and processors in Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey, and may have reached consumers through grocery stores, restaurants, or other similar channels. Whole cantaloupe fruits subject to this recall carry a “Mike’s Melons” sticker or may be unlabeled because this sticker has fallen off. Whole cantaloupe fruits subject to this recall were sold in boxes marked with the following text: “Cantaloupe, Mike’s Melons, Produce of Honduras, Grown, Packed and Shipped by Agropecuaria Montelibano, San Lorenzo, Valle, Honduras”.

We are unaware to date of any illnesses that may be associated with any cantaloupes sold by our company.

This recall has been initiated based on the FDA’s determination, based on current information, that cantaloupe fruit from the referenced grower/packer appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada.

Consumers who have recently bought whole cantaloupes from this specific grower and packer should destroy these products immediately. Consumers with questions may contact George Manos of T.M. Kovacevich International, Inc. at (215) 336-3160.

Part II - Growing and Shipping Calif. cantaloupes

Good Agricultural Practiecs for the California Cantaloupe Industry Part 2. Developed by the CA Melon Research Board and The Regents of the University of Calfifornia.
Scientific Studies
Worker Hygeine
Equipment Santiation
Shed Packing Sanitation
Conclusion
Credits

GAPs for cantaloupe - Calif.

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for the California Cantaloupe Industry. Developed by the Regents of the University of California and the California Melon Research Board.
Introduction
Cantaloupe Packing
CA Environment

Farm Bureau's market basket should be rebalanced

The price trends of Farm Bureau's "market basket" of food items are reported below. What strikes me is that potatoes are the only produce commodity tracked among the 16 items. Throw a little broccoli or apples in with the flour, white bread, cheese and bacon.


Retail food prices at the supermarket increased in the first quarter of 2008, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 basic grocery items in the first quarter of 2008 was $45.03, up about 8 percent or $3.42 from the fourth quarter of 2007.
Of the 16 items surveyed, 11 increased, four decreased and one stayed the same in average price compared to the 2007 fourth-quarter survey. Compared to one year ago, the overall cost for the marketbasket items showed an increase of about 9 percent.
A 5-pound bag of flour showed the largest retail price increase, up 69 cents to $2.39.
Other items that increased in price were: cheddar cheese, up 61 cents to $4.71 per pound; corn oil, up 58 cents to $3.01 per 32-oz. bottle; a dozen large eggs, up 55 cents to $2.16; vegetable oil, up 38 cents to $2.63 per 32-oz. bottle; mayonnaise, up 22 cents to $3.14 for a 32-ounce jar; Russet potatoes, up 18 cents to $2.47 for a 5-pound bag; a 20-oz. loaf of white bread, up 16 cents to $1.78; apples, up 13 cents to $1.40 per pound; whole fryer chickens, up 9 cents to $1.37 per pound; and ground chuck, up 4 cents to $2.73 per pound.
Bacon was the only item in the survey that stayed the same in price, at $3.35 per pound.
Items that decreased in price were: whole milk, down 10 cents to $3.81 per gallon; pork chops, down 8 cents to $3.31 per pound; a 9-oz. box of toasted oat cereal, down 8 cents to $2.97; and sirloin tip roast, down 5 cents to $3.80 per pound. “More than a third of the increased cost reported this quarter is attributed to the two oil products and mayonnaise, which is oil-based. As expected, the drop in price for vegetable and corn oil observed in the last quarter of 2007 appears to have been temporary,” said Jim Sartwelle, an AFBF economist. “Continued strength in the wheat and cheese markets also contributed to the overall price increase for the basket of items.”
In addition, “It is important to note the contribution of runaway energy prices to the retail cost of food,” Sartwelle said. “Transportation, processing, and packaging all cost significantly more now than in prior years.”
As retail grocery prices have increased gradually, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped over time.
“In the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures on average. That figure has decreased steadily over time and is now just 22 percent, according to Agriculture Department statistics,” Sartwelle said. Using that percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this quarter’s $45.03 marketbasket total would be $9.90.

Safe cantaloupe video

Doug Powell, food safety professor at Kansas State University, gives us the whys and wherefores of cantaloupe safety in this video.

Recall - Firm Press Release

From the FDA this morning:

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Tropifresh, Inc. Recalls Whole Cantaloupe Products Because of Possible Health Risk

Contact:
Luis Alvarado
213-745-8111

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Los Angeles, CA -- March 26, 2008 --- Tropifresh, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling Agrolibano’s Produce Brand whole Cantaloupes because they appear to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Whole cantaloupe fruits subject to this recall carry a “Mike’s Melons” sticker or may be unlabeled because this sticker has fallen off. Whole cantaloupes fruits subject to this recall were sold in approximately 1100 pound cardboard bin containers and were distributed to wholesalers in Southern California, Pennsylvania and Canada.

No illnesses have been reported to Tropifresh, Inc. to date.

These cantaloupe products were supplied from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer, to Tropifresh. This recall was initiated when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an import alert regarding cantaloupe from this grower, because, based on current information, fruit from this company appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase. Customers with questions may contact Luis Alvarado of Tropifresh, Inc. at 213-745-81111.

On Honduras cantaloupes

The Honduras melon recall seems to have entered the public consciousness at a fairly high level. Consider this blog coverage from the NYT and follow on reader comments. From the blog by Mike Nizza:

Adding his own twist to the Latin American strongman railing against American policies, President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras began talking to journalists on Tuesday. “Here I have the box of melons,” he said, according to CNN. “Permit me to make a demonstration.”

He “cut open the fruit, sliced off a chunk, put it in his mouth and chewed vigorously,” CNN continued, and then unleashed his fiery anti-American punchline:

“I eat this fruit without any fear,” he said with his mouth full. “It’s a delicious fruit. Nothing happens to me!”

To sharpen the F.D.R. echo in other words: the only fruit to fear is fear itself.

The Food and Drug Administration strongly disagrees. On Saturday, it issued an urgent recall of cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a grower in Honduras that sends more than 2 million boxes to the U.S. each year:

TK: Here are some wide-ranging reader comments to Nizza's post:

This is no joke.

I bought one of these cantaloupes last week and ate it on Saturday. Within hours I was sick - nauseated , headache, intestinal pain, vomiting - general malaise - I slept for hours in the middle of the day, when I wasn’t moaning out loud. I had no idea what could have caused my symptoms until I heard about the cantaloupe recall.

— Posted by Ellen

I may not be part of the official “statistics” as I haven’t reported it to anyone. But I got seriously ill after eating Honduran cantaloupes about ten days ago. -before the first article was published.
Wonder how many other cases were unreported or attributed to something else.

— Posted by Wilder

Poor little Honduras. It is one of the most economically depressed countries in this hemisphere. I was there in the Peace Corps in the early 70s. I have nothing but the warmest memories. You couldn’t find a nicer country or people. Over the years, they have been a staunch and loyal friend of this country. I would hope such a rich country as ours could provide some form of economic assistance.

— Posted by Allen from Boston

Umm,

I have a cantaloupe on my table, should I throw it away now? Its really strange that this post is the first that I’ve heard about this, thanks for the heads up.

— Posted by Jose

Salmonella and other harmful bacteria can be found on any type of melon - from anywhere in the world. The bacteria or other contaminant is then transfered to the flesh upon slicing. It should be a common practice to wash the outside of all melons well before slicing.

— Posted by Scott

this is sad, what could cause this fruit and maybe other produce to be contaminated like this, is it in growing, packing, handling, cleaning solvents, please clarify.
looks like we have totally lost control of things when these calamities happen to fruits.
I have heard of these from say, ground beef, meats, etc.
Thank you
Ramon

— Posted by R.M. delosReyes

I think it must be a big coincidence or something that in Alamosa, Colorado the city had to close down the water system because of salmonella poisoning. Many people were poisoned and they had to clean the water system. Did you also know that Alomosa is right in the middle of the area that produces Rocky Ford Cantaloupes that are sold nationwide? Hopefully they didn’t somehow get mixed up with the ones from Honduras.

— Posted by Marv

Immigrants and Oklahoma

Losses in the billions are predicted as a result of Oklahoma's immigration law. So says this report from The Tulsa World, quoting from an estimate from a bankers' group. While the bankers' group says it isn't taking a position on the law, it is surely clear they see economic harm to the state and their interests. From the story:

If 50,000 immigrants leave Oklahoma, the state would lose about $1.8 billion annually in productivity and wages, according to a study released Tuesday by the Oklahoma Bankers Association.
The group does not take a position on HB 1804, the state's new immigration law, said President and Chief Executive Officer Roger Beverage.
The study was commissioned after the association began hearing stories about banks seeing impacts such as loan defaults and halted housing developments.
"Bankers asked the question, 'Can we afford to do this? Does this make sense?' " Beverage said. "That is a question for the Legislature or someone other than us. It is information we think makes sense to consider. Reasonable people will disagree whether it's worth the savings."
House Bill 1804 makes it a crime to knowingly hire, house or transport illegal immigrants and took effect Nov. 1.
Economists Russell Evans and Kyle Dean, of Economic Impact Group in Edmond, wrote and researched the study. The model used is similar to one in Texas created about two years ago.
We're not saying that it is a good bill or a bad bill," Evans said. "We have no comment on that. But from a purely economic standpoint, we wanted to see look at what the cost would be of removing them."
The Federation for Immigration Reform has estimated Oklahoma spends about $207 million a year in public funds for illegal immigrants, mainly for education, emergency health care and incarceration.
The economists assume the number to be correct, Evans said.
Between 50,000 and 70,000 undocumented immigrants are estimated to be living in Oklahoma, the study states. The study gives a range of impacts based on the number of immigrants who leave.
In the short term, the impact ranges from a $786 million annual loss if 25,000 immigrants leave, up to a $3 billion annual loss if 90,000 migrate elsewhere, according to the study.
In the long term, Oklahoma would lose between $637 million to $1.9 billion annually, the study states.
"If you don't enter the impact of losing those workers into the discussion, then I think the discussion is somewhat distorted," Evans said.
"All we are trying to provide is what the lost outcome of productivity and lost income of those workers would be."
More House Bill 1804 impact studies are expected, Evans said.
"The academic community was a little behind with everybody else," Evans said. "The bill happened so fast and became law so fast that the discussion about the impacts of the bill didn't begin until after it had been implemented and signed."
Rep. Randy Terrill, who sponsored House Bill 1804, disagrees with the study's conclusions including the impact of unemployed legal residents being able to assume those jobs.
Terrill, R-Moore, said the immigration issue is about more than just economics.
"It is about a fundamental respect for the rule of law, upholding our state and national sovereignty and about the immorality of employing cheap, illegal alien slave labor," he said in a press release.
Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, also disagreed with the study. Williams said the Oklahoma economy is showing no evidence of a negative impact from the law.
Beverage said Oklahoma banks remain strong in spite of the challenges of the national credit crunch, depressed housing market, subprime mortgage meltdown and the Federal Reserve predictions that some community banks will fail in the next couple of years.
"In addition, Oklahoma banks have had to deal with the practical ramifications of the economic impact of 1804," Beverage said.
"You cannot confine the economic impact of 1804 to one sector of society or one classification of workers. Rather, it has an impact to workers in a number of different areas."

Also in Canada?

This report from Canada talks about the scope of the April 1 truckers' strike in the U.S., and the likelihood that Canadian truckers will join in. From the News1130.com:

SURREY (NEWS1130) - There might be fewer big rigs on the road April 1, if Canadian truckers jump on board with their American counterparts. A plan to strike started when a truck driver in Missouri decided he needed to take a stand against high fuel costs.

Pat Potter with Orca Logistics in Surrey says email and chatter on CB radios has gotten the message to local truckers, who are looking at joining the 1,000 estimated drivers who will strike in the states, "We need some help in getting freight rates up in the US and in Canada, I mean the price of fuel here is killing us. The US dollar, the exchange rate between the dollars is hurting us." Potter says fuel taxes on trucks are putting independent drivers out of business. He says the plan is to stop the industry for a day in hopes of making governments aware of the increasing problem.