Cantaloupe market look in

Saving you $2,500 per year, one way or another

Wal-Mart's claim that is saves families $2,500 per year is supported, sort of. From the story:

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. needs to change its advertising to avoid suggesting its shoppers save an annual US$2,500 per family, the advertising industry's self-regulatory body said in a report Monday.
But the report accepted Wal-Mart's claim that its efficiency and size drive down consumer prices across the entire U.S. economy, generating that $2,500 savings regardless of where consumers shop.
The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus singled out what it called implied claims in the retailer's ads that consumers who shop at Wal-Mart can realize that much in savings while people who shop elsewhere do not. Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart said in response it never meant to imply the savings were only for its shoppers.

TK: Wal-Mart doesn't want to say Americans can save just as much money at Target, but that's closer to the truth of the matter, I suppose.

Organic acreage way up in Cali

The Packer's sister publication, The Grower, reports organic acreage is way up in Calif. From the story:


The Santa Cruz-based California Certified Organic Farmers report that the number of acres it has certified as organic has surpassed 500,000 since it was started in 1973.

During the past two years, the group reported 129 percent growth in certified organic acreage along with a 141,317-acre increase in 2007 alone.

The group's 501,066 organic acres is split roughly evenly between livestock and produce operations.

Certified pasture and field acreage has risen from just 38,611 in 2004 to 241,511, reflecting the growth in the organic dairy and livestock sector.

The main areas of growth in crops have been oats, rice, table and winegrapes, wheat and alfalfa.
Table grape acre, for example, increased by 39.3 percent.

The number of small to medium-sized growers who are expanding their operations to include post-harvest activities, such as organic processing, handling or packaging, also has grown.

"Much of our current growth is attributed to existing members adding acreage, facilities and products", says Peggy Miars, CCOF executive director.

In 2007, CCOF completed more than 2,300 on-site inspections of land and facilities to ensure comply with the National Organic Program. That's about 10 inspections per work day, says says Jake Lewin, certification services director.

In addition, the organization expanded its geographic reach to 29 different states, as well as five foreign countries.

Recall - Firm Press Release

From the FDA:

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.

JARD Marketing Corp. Announces Recall of Some Fresh Cut and Foodservice Fruit Products Containing Cantaloupe Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination

Contact:
JARD Marketing Corp.
(978) 681-8900

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Lawrence, Massachusetts -- March 28, 2008 -- JARD Marketing, Lawrence, Massachusetts is recalling selected fresh cut fruit products which contain cantaloupe which has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. On March 26, 2008, JARD marketing was requested by its supplier T. M. Kovacevich International Inc, to recall products produced with cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano. Foodservice products are packed in plastic pails or jars, and retail products are packed in plastic cups and trays. This recall affects all packs and sizes. Products under this recall were distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Food Service products containing cantaloupe packed in plastic pails and jars include the following brands: Pebble Beach, Festival Of Fruit, Cornucopia Sweet, Jambo Chef, Fowler Fruit Mix, Instantwhip, Syracuse Banana and City Line Food Dist. Pails under this recall are coded with an expiration date from "Exp Apr 7, 2008" to "Exp Apr 22, 2008 or with a Julian Code of "08067" to "08082". Plastic jars under this recall are coded with an expiration date of "Exp Apr 22, 2008" to "May 7, 2008" or with a Julian Code of "08067" to "08082".

Retail products containing cantaloupe packed in plastic cups and trays include the following brands: Frosty Fresh, Fresh Hand Cut, Fruit On The Go, Highland Park, Bruegger’s Bagels, Sid Wainer & Son, Hannaford Brothers and Garden Highway Plant # P-005. Plastic cups and trays under this recall are coded with a sell by date of "3/29/08" or earlier.

Symptoms of food borne Salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.

We are unaware to date of any illnesses that may be associated with any products containing cantaloupe, sold by JARD Marketing Corp., or its distributors.

Establishments who have any of the products involved should contact their supplier for disposition instructions. Consumers with questions may contact JARD Marketing Corp. at (978) 681-8900.

Agricultural Prices - March 28

Here is the link to the USDA's March 28 Agricultural Prices report. From the report, some excerpts:

The March All Farm Products Index is 150 percent of its 1990-92 base, up 2.0 percent from the February index and 13 percent above the March 2007 index. ALL CROPS: The March index is 171, up 4.9 percent from February and 20 percent above March 2007. Index increases for food grains, commercial vegetables, feed grains & hay, fruits & nuts more than offset the index decrease for cotton.
Potatoes & Dry Beans: The March index, at 138, is up 3.0 percent from last month and 1.5 percent above March 2007. The all potato price, at $7.82 per cwt, is up 31 cents from February but down 11 cents from last March. The all dry bean price, at $32.20 per cwt, is unchanged from the previous month but $6.50 above March 2007.
Fruits & Nuts: The March index, at 156, is up 4.0 percent from February and 4.0 percent higher than a year ago. The price increase for oranges more than offset price decreases for strawberries, grapefruit, lemons, and apples.
Commercial Vegetables: The March index, at 131, is up 9.2 percent from last month but 32 percent below March 2007. Price increases during March for lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower more than offset price declines for snap beans, cucumbers, and onions.

A record number on food stamps

The number of Americans using food stamps has hit a new all-time high, according to an article from the New York Times.

From the article: "Recent rises in many states appear to be resulting mainly from the economic slowdown, officials and experts say, as well as inflation in prices of basic goods that leave more families feeling pinched. Citing expected growth in unemployment, the Congressional Budget Office this month projected a continued increase in the monthly number of recipients in the next fiscal year, starting Oct. 1 — to 28 million, up from 27.8 million in 2008, and 26.5 million in 2007."

Keeping in mind that you can use statistics to paint just about any picture, or headline, the article also includes this line: "The percentage of Americans receiving food stamps was higher after a recession in the 1990s, but actual numbers are expected to be higher this year."

The swelling ranks of food stamp users may have a nominal effect on the produce industry. They may view fresh produce as a luxury item that they can't afford, and instead choose to fill up on Wonder bread, Oreos and Doritos.

Fresh produce is an applicable purchase under food stamps, however. As long as retailers feature some good loss-leader ads, even cash-strapped consumers will have some options in the produce aisle.

Poll - truckers' strike

From www.thetruckersreport.com, this poll:



Results: Would You Support A Truckers Strike?
I Am A Trucker: YES 449 52.95%
I Am A Trucker: NO 37 4.36%
I Am NOT A Trucker: YES 265 31.25%
I Am NOT A Trucker: NO 11 1.30%
Truckers Will NEVER Stand Together 86 10.14%


TK: Interesting that 53% of truckers say they would support a strike and 4% would not. What about the other 44%? We probably will see some strike activity and some news coverage of this on April 1, but it does not appear the impact will be wide and deeply felt.

Keith Eckel video - on immigration

Thanks to whoever posted this on Youtube. From the Youtube descriptor:
Pennsylvania farmer Keith Eckel of Lackawanna County, the largest producer of fresh market tomatoes in Pennsylvania discusses why he will no longer grow labor intensive food.
Mr. Eckel will discuss how the lack of a reliable immigrant farm worker program has impacted his farm enterprise and will affect Pennsylvania's economy, agriculture, agribusiness and our nation's food supply