USDA FAS - Argentina deciduous

Here is the link to a recent USDA FAS report on Argentina deciduous. Here is the summary below. Don't miss this 13 page report.

Argentina's CY 2009 total fresh deciduous fruit production is forecast at 1.845 million MT, up 45,000 MT from the previous year, due to higher yields. The total fresh deciduous fruit crop for CY 2008 is expected to decrease to 1.8 million MT, primarily due to frost damage in 2007 which affected apples and pears. Total exports in CY 2009 are estimated to decrease to 800,000 MT as a consequence of the international economic crisis which will affect world demand. Domestic consumption is expected to remain stable, and imports will continue to be negligible.

Harkin statement: nutrition programs in the economic downturn

Statement of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) from today's hearing

Promoting Health, Preventing Chronic Disease and Fighting Hunger, Assessment of USDA Food Assistance and Child Nutrition Programs In the Economic Downturn

“We are here today because our nation’s system of health care and for promoting the health and wellness of Americans is in crisis. We simply cannot continue any longer into the 21st Century suffering under a system that was outmoded in the past century. Families across America have understood the failure of our nation’s health system for years – they suffer through it daily.

“Now, with the strong commitment and leadership of a new president, and with bipartisan interest, we have before us the best chance, along with perhaps the most urgent and compelling need, we have ever had to reform our health care system – if we will seize it. Today’s hearing deals with a crucial part of reforming our American health system: promoting health and wellness, and preventing health problems, through better nutrition. Scientific studies are confirming what commonsense has told us for generations. Good childhood nutrition and healthy eating habits learned in childhood determine health for a lifetime.

“By all accounts, the health of our children is in tremendous need of improvement. Multiple factors - too many calories, too little exercise, heavy marketing of unhealthy foods, communities that discourage walking, lack of education about health diets - combine to undermine the health and nutrition of our children.

“One quarter of children ages 5 to 10 show early warning signs for heart disease, such as elevated blood pressure or high cholesterol. Type-2 diabetes, previously known as adult onset diabetes, has also increased dramatically in recent years. Current estimates suggest that, among children born today, the lifetime risk of developing type-2 diabetes is 30 percent for boys and 40 percent for girls. Among African-American and Latino children, the risks are even higher.

“Childhood overweight and obesity have been increasing steadily in recent years, especially the past two decades. According to the Institute of Medicine, obesity rates among American children and youth have increased dramatically. Between 1963 and 2004, obesity rates quadrupled, from 4 to 19 percent, for older children, those ages 6 to 11 years, and tripled, from five to 17 percent, for adolescents ages 12 to 19 years. Between 1971 and 2004, obesity rates nearly tripled among 2- to 5 year olds, rising from 5 to 14%.

“Research shows strong association between obesity and chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease occur with greater frequency among obese children than do they among normal weight children.

“The second challenge is a rapidly deteriorating economy, with no end in sight. Just last week, a federal economic board declared what has been obvious to American families for some time - that the economy is in deep recession. Unemployment is rising rapidly. Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, has reached record highs. According to a recent paper by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, if the current recession follows the pattern of past recessions, the number of Americans in poverty will likely rise by as many as 10 million people, including approximately 3 million children. Recently released food insecurity data from USDA shows that, between 2006 and 2007, the number of children experiencing severe food insecurity increased rapidly.

“But these are not just abstract statistics. We are seeing low-income families doing whatever they can to stretch their budgets as far as possible.

“Earlier this month, national news agencies carried a story about a Tampa mother who watered down her infant’s formula in order to save money. Her baby nearly died from water intoxication and malnourishment. This sad story underscores the reality that low-income Americans are having a hard time supporting the health and well-being of our nation’s children, particularly during this downward turn in the economy.

“These two challenges - poor nutrition and economic distress - are not independent phenomena, but are closely intertwined. As work and income erode, families find it increasingly difficult to purchase the healthy and nourishing foods that they need for their children. Why? Because research shows that healthy foods tend to cost more than those with high caloric density and few nutrients. As a result, a poor economy and reduced family income are likely to increase the nutritional challenges that our children face, further driving up obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

“This hearing marks the beginning of this committee’s response to these challenges as we undertake the reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs, including the School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, the WIC Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Programs. I have been involved in many of these reauthorizations and I’m proud of the bipartisan stewardship that the committee has provided over the years.

“These are the considerable challenges that we face. This committee alone cannot solve them, but we must do our part. Federal child nutrition programs provide a ready mechanism by which we can address both hunger and poor nutrition, but they can and must be strengthened to respond to the realities that we face. I look forward to working with my committee colleagues on the child nutrition reauthorization and hearing from the witnesses who have travelled here today and who will begin to point us forward.”

Doha - now more than ever?

Is the sliding global economy another reason to push for a world trade deal? Maybe, but lawmakers still say a bad agreement would be worse than no agreement.

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Chairman and Ranking Member respectively of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today led a bipartisan group of 22 senators in urging a balanced agreement in the Doha Round agricultural trade negotiations in Geneva. In a letter to President Bush, the lawmakers said that if substantial improvements are not made to the July framework, any modalities agreement will not benefit U.S. agriculture, the economy and will not have Congressional support.

“We continue to support a successful completion of the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations, begun in 2001, but only if it achieves the principal objectives of the United States and the ambitious goals of the original ministerial declaration for agriculture, which ‘aimed at substantial improvements in market access; reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support,’” wrote the lawmakers. “A sound and balanced agreement should contribute significantly to global economic recovery, growth, and development.”

The full text of the letter can be found here: http://harkin.senate.gov/documents/pdf/DecemberMinisterial.pdf

The Packer - Issue of Dec. 8

Scanning the Dec. 8 issue of The Packer this morning ( a luxury not many of you share, I know) here is a quick rundown of some selected highlights this week.

Page 1

Produce may avoid 2009 export drop off: by Tom Karst
Looked at the USDA's trade projections and get some reaction from importers and exporters. South Korea has fallen down as an export market of currency problems, and importers are looking for quality control to bring consumer satisfaction.

Washington Apple names president: by Andy Nelson
Todd Fryhover, 46, is named to the post. Todd brings 25 years experience to the post and is expected to spend the majority of his time on export issues.

Spain's Almeria region looks across the ocean: By Jose Escobedo
Nice coverage from Spain's greenhouse industry, including a pic of of a facility exporting tomatoes on the vine to the U.S.

California strawberry volume keeps growing: By Andy Nelson
About 1.8 billion pound of strawberries expected in 2008, up from 1.7 billion pounds in 2007.


Page 2

Show touts south Europe agriculture: Jose Escobedo

Sen Chambliss win seen as good for agriculture: Tom Karst

Bonipak Produce names sales director: Brian Frederick

WTO again criticizes EU banana tariff policy: Ashley Bentley

Three sons take over Capital City Fruit: Andy Nelson



Page 3

Expect changes next year: Column by David Babcock

FDA food protection plan work in progress: Tom Karst

USDA hits roadblock for sliced apple program: Tom Karst

U.S. Defense Logistics Agency awards wholesalers service contracts: Ashley Bentley

CH Robinson expands to Corpus Christi



Edit page

FDA's progress report inappropriate: Edit

Food charities face hungrier times in rough economy: Larry Waterfield

Change of habit achieved by change of choice: Guest column: Don Goodwin


Sections:
Potatoes Marketing
Florida Tomatoes



Ads of note:


Front page ad by Stemilt: Pinata apples

Back page: Chilean Hass avocado

Other color ads:
Oso Sweet
Tanimura and Antle
Tom Lange Co.
Brooks Tropicals
Avocados from Mexico
Birds Eye Fresh
Easterday Farms
Southern Exposure 2009: March 5-7, 2009
Progressive Produce
Idaho Potatoes
Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
Cavendish Farms
Russet Potato Exchange
Nodak
Spud City Sales
Burch Farms
Okray Family Farms
Santa Sweets
West Coast Tomato
Sakata
Taylor & Fulton
East Coast Growers and Packers Inc.

Dec. 8 Top headlines

Monday morning's top headlines snatched from the Web.....


When good food goes bad Interesting story on just patented BARDOT quick detection method for food pathogens. Named Bacteria Rapid Detection, the system uses electromagnetic wave and "essentially instantaneous."

Aquifer storage could ease water shortage The proposed Umatilla Recharge Project will transport 50,000 to 100,000 acre feet from the Columbia River to create the largest agricultural aquifer storage and recovery system.

Giant Eagle open Valu King in Ohio Stripped down 28,000 square foot prototype is Aldi fighter. No further stores planned at this point, but Giant Eagle will watch its performance.

Bearing fruit Edit about farm preservation efforts in Long Island

10 gunmen, soldier killed in Mexico More violence in Mexico

Organic vending machines YoNaturals make push, but do they get a free pass on nutrition?

$2 trillion in credit could be cut Credit cards will cut credit lines dramatically in the next 18 month

Ultimate confidence killer Layoffs could thwart efforts to revive housing market