The Packer Extra - Sept. 2

The Packer Extra: Sept. 2
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Officials report end to salmonella outbreak
The Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak that affected more than 1,400 Americans and cost the produce industry millions of dollars is over. Go here for the story:

Organic Chilean grapes could head to U.S.
Chilean grapes could be shipped to the U.S. without methyl bromide fumigation under a proposal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Go here for the story:


Head of Idaho grower-shipper group retires
SUN VALLEY, Idaho - Dave Smith, 67, retired from the Idaho Falls-based Idaho Grower Shipper Association after 28 years as president. Go here for the story:

U.S. Apple projection shows tight supplies
CHICAGO - With the pipeline empty and demand soaring, U.S. fresh apple marketers were probably praying for a bumper crop this season. Go here for the story:

Del Monte acquires melon growing operations
The addition of two Guatemalan melon growing operations to its production roster should help Del Monte Fresh Produce NA Inc. expand sales. Go here for the story:

Methyl bromide hanging in the balance (again)

Methyl bromide and other soil fumigants are in the news. On August 29, the EPA agreed to extend the comment period on registration decisions on soil fumigrants, including methyl bromide. From the EPA comes this background:


On July 16, 2008, EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) for the soil fumigant pesticides chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/ potassium, and methyl bromide. The notice also announced a 60–day public comment period. This document is extending the comment period for 45
days, from September 15, 2008, to October 30, 2008.


Here are a couple of industry letters to the EPA describing why growers and others needed more time:

I am writing on behalf of grower’s of The California Strawberry Nurserymen’s Association to request a 45-day extension of the comment period on the Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) for Chloropicrin, Dazomet, Metam Sodium and Methyl Bromide (73 Fed. Reg. 40871). Chloropicrin and other soil fumigants are not only important, but necessary for the successful cultivation of Nursery Strawberry Plants ( which provides the California Strawberry Industry with plants to replant the 30,000 acres of commercial fruit producing acreage annually). Therefore, participation in the public comment process is imperative for all growers. However, since the current comment period has occurred during one of the busiest time of year for growers, we do not have sufficient time to review and analyze the multiple REDs and the extensive technical support documents. Many support documents, including EPA’s response to previous grower comments were made available by EPA for the first time on July 16.

In particular, as proposed, the risk mitigation plans in the REDs will greatly impact growers by adding considerable costs for each fumigation. In order to fully consider the feasibility of these mitigation plans, as well as adequate alternatives, growers must consult with registrants and other stakeholders. Moreover, growers use multiple soil fumigants and must consider the overall affects of the REDs. Growers simply do not have sufficient opportunity to do so in the given comment period.

Growers realize that other affected groups have also requested extensions and we join in their requests to extend the comment period by additional 45-days.

Bob Tipton

Strawberry Nursery Manager

Driscoll Strawberry Associates

22000 Bend Ferry Road

Red Bluff , Calif.

And another letter here.....


We are contacting you today to respectfully request a 60 day extension of the comment period on the Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) for Chloropicrin, Dazomet, Metam Sodium and Methyl Bromide (73 Fed. Reg. 40871). In order to fully consider the economic and practical feasibility of these mitigation plans, as well as adequate alternatives, growers must consult with registrants and other stakeholders. We believe that in order to fully discuss the implications of suggested mitigation measures, the additional time will allow us to adequately consult with growers, commodity groups, and pest management rofessionals. As you are aware, our coalition plans to visit DC in mid-October and would like to discuss our concerns with EPA scientists at that time. Your consideration of this request is greatly appreciated. \

Sincerely,
Lori Berger
California Specialty Crops Council
4500 S. Laspina Suite 214
Tulare, CA 93274


TK: Methyl bromide has been under attack for two decades as an ozone depleter. Here is coverage from Tom Burfield of The Packer from February of this year, describing the challenges strawberry growers face with regulation.


The methyl bromide dilemma has long been a thorn in the side of California strawberry growers. But this season the thorn could cause more pain than ever.
It started in the 1980s when the fumigant used in growing strawberries was classified as a depleter of the ozone layer, which protects the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
In 1987, the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty, called for phasing out use of the compound by Jan. 1, 2005, except in situations where growers could find no alternative. In those cases, growers could request a critical-use exemption.
An exemption has been granted for strawberries each year from 2005 to 2008, and late last year the Environmental Protection Agency recommended that the Montreal Protocol's technical options committee approve 100% of the amount the Watsonville-based California Strawberry Commission requested for 2009, said Rick Tomlinson, the commission's director of government affairs.
"For the first time in the entire process, both the federal EPA and Montreal Protocol acknowledged that 100% of what the industry requested is an accurate, critical need," he said.
Despite the exemption, the amount of methyl bromide that can be produced is reduced each year. The U.S. has transitioned more acres of methyl bromide to alternatives than any other country, and California's strawberry growers have invested more in emission reduction than any other commodity, Tomlinson said.
Reducing inventories
But just as strawberry growers thought they were set through 2009, another division of the EPA decided to change the rules, Tomlinson said.
"U.S. EPA wanted to reduce the amount of inventories that registrants have in their possession," he said.
To do that, the EPA ruled that manufacturers would have to use existing supplies to fill 40% of growers' authorized needs this year. The agency is allowing production of only 60% of what was approved by the protocol and the EPA itself, "purposely creating a shortage," Tomlinson said.
Theoretically, there should be enough methyl bromide on hand to meet growers' needs, but since these are pre-2005 inventories, manufacturers don't have to sell it.
"They can hold it as an investment, or they can choose to sell it," Tomlinson said.
As a result, "We expect to start seeing shortages in methyl bromide this year," he said. "The farmers are the ones that are stuck in the middle."
The U.S. District Court in Sacramento has ordered the state cut back pesticide emissions by 20% from 1991 levels in areas that did not meet national health standards for smog in 1994, Tomlinson said.
But Tomlinson sees two problems with the order.
According to a 2004 news release from the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District and other documents, Ventura has met the standards since 2002, he said. But the court has failed to acknowledge that.
Also, the EPA has mistakenly classified methyl bromide as a reactive, volatile organic compound that needs to be regulated, Tomlinson said.
The case is being appealed but could take years to resolve.
Despite the multi-pronged methyl bromide crisis, Tomlinson remained optimistic.
"We have big issues, but we also have smart farmers," he said. "We're dedicated to finding solutions."

Irradiation: the opposition

The Fresh Talk poll this week was solidly in support of irradiation. But a check of the consumer press headlines reveals the issue is fairly divisive. Here is an excerpt of edit against irradiation in the SF Chronicle:

Irradiation isn't just expensive and unwieldly, it's a distraction from what we really need to be doing to secure the food supply. Beefing up the FDA's regulation team, for instance, would do a world of good when it comes to catching the next outbreak before it spreads too far. It's also time to start encouraging farming methods that won't encourage contamination. The 2006 spinach recall, for instance, was due to infected cattle feces that had tainted the local water supply. The cattle operation was located far too close to the produce operation. It's as simple as that.

Escalating food prices and escalating instances of food-borne illness should have woken the FDA up to the fragility of our food system. Unfortunately, they're still pushing policies that are safe for business but not for the rest of us.

TK: On the other hand, some readers have chimed in to voice support. The Montreal Gazette opinion piece is called "Irradiation is the answer." From that piece:

Augmented use of irradiation technology, used in conjunction with other handling and processing safeguards, would go a long way to preventing future contamination of our food by E. coli, salmonella, and listeria bacteria.

It is a practice endorsed by the World Health Organization. Rational debate on this topic has been undermined by the popular but utterly false belief that foods thus treated become radioactive. Isn't it time to give health-conscious consumers a choice? Personally, if irradiated food is safe enough for NASA astronauts, it's good enough for me.

Michael Wiener

More irradiation headlines:

Would you buy irradiated spinach or lettuce?

Fear not: salmonella outbreak shows benefits or irradiation

TK: For me, it is not a question of whether I would buy irradiated spinach or lettuce, it is whether I would pay the premium demanded for irradiated spinach or lettuce. Probably not....

Wide world of produce - Sept. 2 headlines

Got a message from Gary Fleming about the time line for the Produce Industry Traceability Initiative..developing. Meanwhile, what's on the Web this morning related to produce?

Apple moth quarantine expands

Small farms chafe under big demands

USDA FAS: Mexico ag news

USDA FAS: India's almond imports

USDA FAS: US food safety Web site in China

USDA FAS: Canada Ag Biotech report

Outbreak ends, mystery remains

Landec Corp. conference call

Excess tomatoes

Keep children healthy with fruits, veggies

Wal-Mart rolls on

Recent salmonella outbreak shows benefits of irradiation

About gleaning

UK: more forecasts predict recession for next 18 months

Arizona called ground zero in immigration fight

NYT: End immigration incentives

Obesity society hails Republican platform

UK: Schools should lead obesity fight

UK: Aldi enjoys sales boom

Your wages are working harder

Growing produce to save cash

Wal-Mart delays Md. DCs

State food banks face staggering needs

Meijer, Marsh answer questions on local food

Hydroponics offers sustainability

Apple festival in NC

Florida tomato conference

The Fresh Talk calendar at the bottom of the page notes the major industry event this week as the joint Florida Tomato Committee/Florida Tomato Exchange meeting from Sept. 2 to Sept. 7 in Naples. Check out the calendar for more details about the meeting. On tomorrow's program will be a couple of presentations that should draw attention from the industry.


State of the Industry – Reggie Brown, Florida Tomato Committee, Maitland
Food safety update – Martha Roberts, UF/IFAS, Gainesville:

Produce promotions data found in new spot

Find the updated spreadsheet of retail produce promotion trends on the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group link here. I update weekly stats on average retail promotion prices/average number of stores promoting for 20 fruits and vegetables, gleaned from the USDA's National Retail Report issued every Friday. The spreadsheet used to be at the bottom of the blog but now is available through a link at the discussion group.

Among other trends, the spreadsheet shows that retailers are losing their enthusiasm for promoting higher priced apples, with 2001 retail stores tracked by the USDA promoting red delicious apples on May 30 compared with 195 stores on Aug. 29. The average promotion price for red delicious for those promotions has climbed from $1.33 per pound on May 30 to $1.99 per pound by Aug. 29.

Expansion of harvest for the 2008 crop should start to pull those promotion numbers back up by the middle of this month.