Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Avocados - 11% of produce ads

From the Jan. 30 USDA's National Retail Report:

This week, retailer’s advertisements were focused on this weekend’s Super Bowl. Snacks and beverages for tailgating and parties were widely featured. Some major chains were running 3 or 4-day only sales featuring chicken wings, party platters, avocados, and grapes. Despite the Super Bowl influence on snacks and beverage ads, produce ads managed to hold up quite well even as they were less prominently placed. Avocados took a big jump in the number of stores featuring the product and accounted for nearly 11% of total produce ads. Rounding out the top 5 items were grapes, strawberries, baby carrots, and nectarines. Some West Coast chains also featured Asian produce for the Chinese New Year, which took place this week. Peaches and limes were other heavily advertised fruits. On the vegetable side, tomatoes, red bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions were widely advertised, as measured by the number of stores featuring the product.


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Friday, January 30, 2009

January - Agricultural Prices

The January USDA report for Agricultural Prices has been released. The fruit index is lower than a month and a year ago, but the vegetable index is up. Average price of fresh apples were 28 cents per pound, down a penny from last month and off 8 cents per pound from a year ago. Find the link here.

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UK COOL nightmare and other top headlines

The UK is dealing with a new impetus for country of origin labeling, but food manufacturers there, like here, dread the thought of origin labeling for multi-ingredient prepared foods. From the link.

"In this instance, most consumers don't expect country of origin labelling, unless its absence would mislead them. Creating different labels to reflect the changing origin of ingredients would add further, unnecessary costs to our sector at a difficult time for food producers," she said.

More headlines snatched from the Web:

Most produce recession proof Coverage from The Packer

A recent poll commissioned by the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association finds that over the past six months, consumers have at least maintained consumption levels of 14 out of 15 leading fresh fruits and vegetables.


Organic sector weighs option in fertilizer matter
Coverage from The Packer


Europe suspends plan to censure Kenyan produce

Water: California's new gold rush The Sacramento Union. It's never been more grim.
The giants of California agribusiness are the biggest economic engine in the valley, which produces every cantaloupe on store shelves in summer months, and the bulk of the nation’s lettuce crop each spring and fall.

This year, officials in Fresno County predict farmers will only grow about 6,000 acres of lettuce, roughly half the acreage devoted to greens in 2005.

Later.....

Richard Howitt, a professor of agriculture economics at the University of California, Davis, estimates that $1.6 billion in agriculture-related wages, and as many as 60,000 jobs across the valley will be lost in the coming months due to dwindling water.

Analysts haven’t yet provided any estimates of crop losses this year. But Bill Diedrich, an almond grower on the valley’s parched western edge, said he’s already worried he may lose some of his nut trees in the drought.


What's the Obama agenda for Bush era regulations?
From OMB Watch

A Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulation that sets requirements for country-of-origin labeling on meat and other perishable food items. Although consumers support country-of-origin labeling, critics say the regulation has loopholes. USDA used an overly broad definition of "processed" foods that can be exempt from labeling requirements. USDA published the regulation Jan. 15, and it is scheduled to go into effect March 16.


School officials worry about less fresh food for student lunches From the LA Times. This sounds significant and not welcome news for the industry.

Cafeteria workers may have to rev up those can openers: That's the warning from a slew of school and elected officials who are worried that California will run short of the money it gives school districts to supplement school breakfasts and lunches.

State schools chief Jack O'Connell has been warning since December that the money could run out this spring, and this month Assembly Bill 95 was introduced -- which would provide $19.5 million to make up for the shortfall. The state pays 22 cents for each meal a student gets for free; the federal government provides the bulk of the funding -- $2.17 to $2.57 per every free or reduced-price meal served.

Healthy and cheap Another stretch your budget feature, this published by The Tulsa World. Lots of produce centered advice here.


Nutrient-rich, inexpensive vegetables, legumes and grains are better options than most cheap convenience food, said Sharon Stroud, a certified nutritionist at Whole Foods Market, 1401 E. 41st St. Stroud leads regular tours through the market to show shoppers how to get more nutrition for their money.

"I have people tell me all the time they can't afford to eat healthy," Stroud said.

But the long-term medical expense of eating unhealthy foods is something people should also consider, she said. Many inexpensive convenience foods are loaded with salt, sugar and trans fats that offer little nutritional value and lots of empty calories.

Nutritional guidelines recommend at least nine servings of fruits or vegetables per day, and if you're eating all nine, you're not going to have as much room in your diet for junk food, Stroud said.



Why I love the sneaky chef From NJ.com

The whole concept of her book is to puree fruits and vegetables and add them to foods your kids already love. The hope is that they won't even notice they're eating them.

Valley GOP leaders target pesticide rules
California's state Republicans seek relief from Calif. central valley farmers



Farm to table in Hawaii A look at CSAs in the 50th state

NJ Tomato grower faces nearly $1M fine From Newsday

A corporate tomato grower has been fined almost $1 million for pesticide violations that could have affected the health of its workers, state environmental officials said Thursday.

The Department of Environmental Protection cited hundreds of violations by Ag-Mart Produce, including denying inspectors access to facilities, losing track of a highly toxic insecticide, careless record keeping and using forbidden mixtures of pesticides.

John F. O'Riordan, a lawyer for Ag-Mart Produce, said it was "stunned by the fine and more stunned by the DEP's comments. We will vigorously challenge this, and I believe we will be vindicated and the fine will be dismissed."

Emergency aid to food banks in Obama stimulus bill

The Obama Stimulus Bill in the Senate includes emergency aid to food banks.$150 million worth. Each local pantry could see up to $100,000 in relief.



I say potatoes, you say vodka
From SF Examiner

All of the Karlsson vodkas are made from a variety of new potatoes harvested from the Bjare Cape in Sweden where the product is created. This region is to potatoes what France’s Bordeaux region is to wine. Surprisingly (or at least it was to this wine drinker) most vodkas these days are made from grains, not potatoes. Karlsson’s wanted to bring back the old world flavors that tubers impart to the vodka.

Web site promotes concept of "White House farmer"

Dole announces asset sale transactions


First, Dole has closed the first phase of the previously announced sale of its flowers division. With the closing of the first phase, Dole has now completed the sale of its flowers business and retains only certain real estate of the former flowers division to be sold in the subsequent phases of the transaction. Second, Dole has closed on the sale of certain banana properties in Latin America. Third, Dole has signed a definitive purchase and sale agreement to sell certain property in North America. When the North American property sale closes, towards the end of the first quarter of 2009, Dole will have received net cash proceeds of approximately $84 million from these three transactions.

E-verify: a nightmare for workers

For all of the promise that the stimulus plan passed by the House will help create jobs, a provision tucked into the package could actually push workers into unemployment.

That amendment calls for requiring that any contractors that receive federal dollars must participate in a program known as E-verify. A joint and voluntary program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), E-verify is used to verify employment eligibility.


China looks to jump queue in apple exports to Australia
Prepare to be disappointed, China


The world's biggest apple-growing nation, China, may win entry to the potentially lucrative Australian market before New Zealand apples arrive there.

A draft plan on Chinese apples, released last week by Biosecurity Australia, says they could be imported as long as risks from 18 pests of concern were a "very low level", the Weekly Times newspaper reported.

The pests include mites, oriental fruit fly, mealybugs, Japanese apple rust, apple brown rot, European canker, apple scab, apple and sooty blotch and flyspeck complex - but biosecurity officials said they were satisfied China does not have fireblight.

A spokesman for Australian orchardists - who lobbied against entry of New Zealand apples on the grounds that they might carry fireblight - expressed doubt.

"We're ... yet to be convinced that China is free of fire blight," said the growers quarantine expert, John Corboy.

Great recession of '09

Fresh & Easy produce packs


Jobless numbers rise, durable goods orders fall


Apple juice helps with Alzheimer's?

The ugly math of foreclosures

“What we need is a moratorium on foreclosure while we get a plan in place. We could have five to eight million more foreclosures in the U.S. if we don’t do something about this. Banks have already written down these mortgages.”

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Avocado outrage

Here is a very compelling story coming out of California concerning yesterday's California Avocado Commission's annual meeting in Fallbrook.

Avocado growers express outrage
From the San Diego Union Tribune

Commission Chairman Rick Shade opened the annual meeting by apologizing to growers. Private security and San Diego County sheriff's deputies watched from the edges of the room because Shade said he had received death threats.

“I cannot tell you how embarrassed I am,” Shade told about 300 attendees. “I do have to take responsibility. There's nobody else; it was my job.”

Yet Shade said that after he was elected in 2007, he began asking former President Mark Affleck for information and paperwork, requests that went unaddressed.

He said Affleck ruled by intimidation and forged paperwork to make it appear he had board approval for some spending. Affleck disappeared for days at a time and made some commissioners file state Public Records Act letters for basic information, he said.

Affleck resigned May 15, the morning after he saw Shade reviewing expense reports at the commission's Irvine offices. He nows works at Saddleback Church in Orange County; he did not return messages left there yesterday.

The audit has been turned over to the California Department of Justice, which will decide whether to file criminal charges. The commission recovered some money from Affleck already, the chairman said, and is negotiating for more.


TK: The fate of the CAC could go anywhere from here. Some growers at the annual meeting reminded the audience that they have largely prospered in the 20 years since Affleck first ran the show.

More from the story:

Several large-scale growers and processors stood by commissioners, who serve two-year terms for no pay and little reward.

Bob Witt, who farms 800 acres of avocados and other fruits across San Diego County, reminded other growers that they were collecting just 10 cents a pound when Affleck took over two decades ago.

“You're getting 80, 90 cents, so please don't lose sight of that,” he said. “Before you hang all these people you're criticizing, you'd better take a look at that.”

The California Avocado Commission was created in 1978 to promote home-grown avocados worldwide. It is one of 56 quasi-governmental panels overseen by the state Department of Food and Agriculture to promote various products.

The department began auditing each commission in 2006. Questionable expenses have turned up in reports about several of the groups, including the California Tomato Commission, which was disbanded by growers last year in response.


TK: One DC lobbyist pointed that state commissions in California (and perhaps other states), unlike associations like PMA and United, aren't compelled to file IRS 990 forms. Those IRS 990 forms are available for review online and can be accessed by anyone. Increasing accountability and transparency is important if grower funded commissions expect to have grassroots support and a confident future.

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Rutgers Food Policy Institute weighs in on salmonella outbreak of 2008

Doug Powell of the Food Safety Network passes on this link to Rutgers University's Fodo Policy Institute on the salmonella outbreak of 2008. Here is the link to the 17 page pdf report. While the report doesn't draw any startling conclusions, it is another testament to the less than effective communications effort during the 2008 salmonella outbreak. From the conclusion:

Ironically however, the results of this study show that while the vast majority of Americans heard the federal government’s message to avoid certain tomatoes because of their possible connection with Salmonella Saintpaul, significantly fewer were aware of the warnings concerning fresh chile peppers than tomatoes and that the initial advisories concerning fresh chile peppers were targeted primarily to high-risk consumers.


Later...

A small percentage of the respondents said that they had washed or cooked their tomatoes to make them safe to eat. In their responses to future outbreaks, communications may be warranted from FDA and CDC that specifically address the adequacy of washing and cooking to render potentially contaminated produce safe to eat.


Later....

The data here provide evidence that the communication of the end of this outbreak was only moderately effective, with only some Americans certain that the warning had been lifted. However, by the time of our interview, only a minority reported not having eaten tomatoes since the warning was lifted.

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Google Alerts - the current crop

I have 39 Google news alerts that drop in to my inbox everyday. Does anyone have a legit case for a keyword/news alert that you think I'm not tracking? Let me hear from you. If I don't have it among my chosen 39, I'll send you the oft-promised but never delivered Fresh Talk coffee mug. I'll at least give you big props on my next post...

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Most recession resistant produce item

What is the most recession resistant produce commodity?

That's the question this week. Take your shot at the one-week poll, which I just put up today. Anthony Totta, a contributor in the www.linkedin.com Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group, offers this observation:

Potatoes, Onions, and Carrots because they are storage crops and they are relatively less xpensive (more volume for the dollar) and they are used in so many roasts, soups, etc.




Here are numbers from November to make a case for several commodity options.

Bananas: Data from The Perishables Group indicates that the average price of bananas was 20% higher in November compared with year ago levels (65 cents/lb in 11/08), while the volume per week per store was off less than 1%. Dollars per store per week were up 19% compared with year ago levels.

Potatoes: November data from The Perishables Group shows that average prices were up a whopping 25%, with volume off only 1.5% and total dollars up 23%.

Lettuce: In November, average retail prices were up 1.2%, with volume up 0.3% and total dollars up 2.2%.

Apples: The numbers don't look quite as strong for apples, with the average price in November up 8.7%, the volume for the month off 6.4% and the total dollars up 1.7%.

Onions: Average prices were up 8.4% in November, with volume off 2.5% and total dollars 5.8% above year ago levels.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Organic outrage and other top headlines for Jan. 29

Luis of the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group links to this UK story about air-freighted produce and the organic lobby. From the piece:

The Soil Association proposed last year to ban suppliers and retailers from putting its certification label on fruit and vegetables that arrived in Britain by air, arguing that air-freighting produce generated 177 times more greenhouse gas than sending the same produce by sea. But the association has retreated after being lobbied by supermarket chains including Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and Asda, which want to continue selling air-freighted organic food. The decision to approve air freight, which the association posted discreetly on its website, will provoke uproar in the wider organic movement.

TK: The Soil Association is right. There is no justification for this higher standard for air-shipped organic produce.

China turning to the humble potato
China is the largest producer of potato in the world; they produce over 70 million tons of potato. And the Chinese government is looking to increase that to 120 million tons in the next five years to be able to feed their growing population. So yes consumption is increasing in China.

How green is my wallet? Organic food growth slows From Reuters

Typical growth rates of 20 to 30 percent for organic food sales in the United States eased in the second half of 2008 as middle- and upper-income families felt the strain of layoffs and declining investment portfolios, said Tom Pirovano, director of industry insights at market research firm The Nielsen Co.

Sales in December were up 5.6 percent, year on year, against a 25.6 percent rise a year earlier.

Even though growth is slowing, Pirovano noted that most people who purchased organic foods were very committed.

"I'm not convinced that we are going to see big declines in organics any time soon," he said.

Spinach the cure for citrus greening? From The Palm Beach Post

Gore urges action on economy, global warming

Save money at the grocery story Another in the long line of similar stories
Buy fresh produce in season -- citrus fruits in winter, asparagus in spring, tomatoes in summer and apples in fall. While we're fortunate to have access to most fruits and vegetables year-round, in-season produce is typically less expensive and more flavorful.

Choose canned or frozen fruits and vegetables when fresh is too expensive or unavailable. Just be sure to select those without added sugar and salt.

Trimming fat from the food and budget

14 day shelf life for fresh cut fruits and vegetables Hefestus Ltd. to unveil system at Fruit Logistica

Why more matters? Coverage from Great Falls, Montana

Where does agriculture stand in the stimulus package? Good breakdown of funding, based on Congressional Research Service report

2008 Annual Summary - Vegetables
USDA NASS report
Fresh market vegetable and melon production for the 24 selected crops estimated in 2008 totaled 449 million hundredweight, down 2 percent from last year. Harvested area covered 1.73 million acres, down 3 percent from 2007. Value of the 2008 crop is estimated at 10.4 billion dollars, up 4 percent from a year ago. The three largest crops, in terms of production, are onions, head lettuce, and watermelons, which combined to account for 37 percent of the total production. Tomatoes, head lettuce, and onions claim the highest values, accounting for 32 percent of the total value when combined. For the 24 selected vegetables and melons estimated in 2008, California continues to be the leading fresh market State, accounting for 44 percent of the harvested area, 49 percent of production, and 50 percent of the value.

USDA nears decision on food safety chief
Marler apparently not in the mix

Update on Taiwan's organic regulations USDA FAS report

UN chief warns of food shortages in poor countries

Sheeran said that more people are going hungry as remittances to poor countries fall and exports from developing nations slow because importers are buying less. Credit, which is vital to small farmers for buying seeds and fertilizer at the beginning of the season, has become inaccessible for many, she said.

Retail banana price wars bad for workers Coverage from the UK

Avocado commission to meet in Fallbrook
The California Avocado Commission is to meet in Fallbrook Thursday, its first meeting since a state audit uncovered questionable spending practices by staffers and commissioners.

Commission members are likely to get an earful from local growers angry about a California Department of Food and Agriculture report released earlier this month that outlined more than $1.5 million spent on clothes, ball games, home improvements and other dubious expenses.

236,000 foreclosures in Cali last year
In California, the areas that have been hardest hit by foreclosures include the Inland Empire, the Antelope Valley and the Central Valley, where many first-time homeowners flocked to buy new homes.

Feds again push back E-verify deadline
The federal government has agreed to postpone implementing the E-Verify regulation for federal contractors until May 21, 2009 at the earliest, a business group said today. The regulation requires contractors to check with the E-Verify system to ascertain whether workers are legally eligible to work in the United States.

Federal officials agreed to a request by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to postpone enforcement of the regulation so that the rule can be reviewed by the Barack Obama administration, the organization said in a news release.

Activists keep heat on Obama over immigration
Opponents say Obama is unlikely to tackle comprehensive reform until the second or third year of his term. Advocates say he could raise the issue as early as September if a stimulus package currently before Congress succeeds in stemming the economic slide, and if progress meeting other policy goals such as healthcare reform is made.

U.S. consumers will help determine future world growth
Economists say the fiscal-stimulus packages from Washington to Beijing will cushion the downturn but fall short of preventing a world-wide recession. And global growth, when it comes, will still be powered in part by U.S. consumers -- though they'll spend far less than they did in the debt-fueled years of the recent boom.

New global climate change deal urged
Which is it - global warming or climate change?

"This is almost certainly our last chance to get climate change under control before it passes the point of no return,” said EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas, who noted that President Obama’s early statements on climate change were “tremendously encouraging”.

Mr Dimas was speaking at the launch of the EU’s draft negotiating position, which the commission has prepared for this year’s Copenhagen climate summit, where countries will gather under the auspices of the UN to agree a successor to Kyoto.

The EU proposal, which must still be approved by EU leaders, calls for the creation of an OECD-wide emissions trading system to enable world powers to trade carbon permits by 2015. “It appears Obama prefers cap and trade,” said Mr Dimas, who added that many states, such as New Zealand, Australia and Japan, were already moving in that direction.

Kroger and Cellfire use of digital coupons expands


The food industry made us fat
Review of the book "Stuffed" A fast food nation-esque book about food manufacturers

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Chat - John Toner


Here is a Fresh Talk chat conducted Jan. 28 with John Toner, who is vice president for convention and industry relations for the United Fresh Produce Association. The veteran of United Fresh of nearly 10 years has key responsibility for the April 21-April 24 United Fresh show in Las Vegas.




8:31 AM me: John, are you there?
john.toner.v: yep
8:32 AM me: Great. Thanks for making time for another Fresh Talk chat. First of all, where did you grow up, and what was your hometown "famous" for?
8:33 AM john.toner.v: I was actually born four city blocks away from our office at the GW Hospital. I grew up in Arlington, VA but trace my roots back to Pittsburgh where my grandparents lived and spent lots of quality time on Southside - Go Steelers! I also grew up spending summers at Lake George in the Adirondacks.
8:34 AM What's Arlington famous for? The cemetery, Pentagon, "inside the beltway"
8:35 AM me: We know your Super Bowl pick then, don't we?
john.toner.v: Yep, although I am a bit nervous. The Cardinals know our offense better than we do.
8:36 AM me: This is sort of an off the wall question, but what would you say are the "words of wisdom" or "words to live by" from your mom or dad?
8:37 AM john.toner.v: It's actually from Calvin Coolidge: "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan press on has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
8:38 AM me: I like that. I think Churchill had a quote like that -- keep trying
8:40 AM john.toner.v: Also, I was taught when it comes to business - it's not a quotable quote that I know of - "When doing a deal with that has 4 zeros, shake a hand; when it has 5 zeros, see the office" that's a fundamental part of why we are in the financial mess we are in. Not knowing enough about one's business partners. I am nervous for my generation who thinks everything can be done through the internet. Trust cannot be established through the internet - that has to be face-to-face.
8:45 AM meHow did your career path lead you to United after college?
8:46 AM john.toner.v: How soon did I find United? I was working at Safeway(I worked nights in produce/dairy - double pay for the night shift) and started temping in accounting departments during daylight hours. One of my college fraternity brother's sister friends worked at United and so I knew socially Jeff Oberman. They were looking for help, and one thing led to another and I had a job.
8:47 AM I am a strong believer in joining things for the common good and a trade association seemed like a good fit for me, and so it has.
8:49 AM me: To follow up, you have been at United nearly 10 years by my accounting. What have you enjoyed about working at the association and your interaction with the industry? For the benefit of readers, what is your job title and what does your inbox look like now?
8:54 AM john.toner.v: This is a great industry, it really is a family. I have enjoyed the friends that I have made because for the most part, they dont change. And it's a growing industry - agriculture is part of our roots. And what can be greater than working for grapes, bananas, oranges - things that taste great naturally! My job title? I've had many here over the years but it's now Vice President, Convention and Industry Relations - but I'm not too concerned with titles. My inbox? In actuality it's a mess - I try to stay up on restaurant/foodservice trends, fresh-cut trends, growing trends, expo management trends so it's overflowing with periodicals. As far as email inbox? We have a show coming up in three months so it's full of exhibitor requests, attendance promotion plans, plans for Berlin next week, and alot of emails about how the Steelers are going to win the Super Bowl.
8:56 AM Some of the emails in my inbox right now are about "A penny wise and a pound foolish." You will see our attendance marketing talk about saving pennies. To often our industry is so focused on sales/marketing that they don't realize at trade shows if eyes are open attendees can see ways to save costs. Too often people are looking for the "Red badge" and not looking at other opportunities -it's one of my biggest challenges on a day-to-day basis.
8:57 AM Also, I just got my daily FreshTalk blog update in my inbox.
8:58 AM me: Very nice. You mentioned the show in Vegas. How has the recession impacted what you want to do with the show? It has to be a challenge for anyone responsible for a convention..What are the main selling points you use to convince people of the value of the show?

7 minutes
9:06 AM john.toner.v: Hmm, that's a loaded question. It's a challenge for everyone right now. Obviously people still need to see what's new, connect with trading partners, etc. But at the end of the day it's an economics thing. Sure, in the short run you could costs and cut travel etc. - but that is not a good business plan to long-term profit growth. The economy will turn around an you have to positioned to capture it. Think of it this way: What's 10 sales trips cost a company or someone personally? $1,000 a trip? $500 a trip? Plus the costs of being out of the office. So at a convention you can spend your time and money more efficiently and get a better return on the spend by planning meetings in advance. Too often companies think if I set up a booth, customers will buy from me. That's just not the case. We are investing in exhibitor education to help educated new exhibitors on how to invest their money wisely, as we want them to have an ROI. But at the end of the day, conventions serve a vital role in the economy in the industry, bringing everyone together for a short period of time under one roof. Imagine if you walk away with one idea that can save your company $10,000 it was worth coming...or if you make one new sale it was worth coming.
9:08 AM me: I look forward to what United has planned. Thanks for your time, John.

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Farm flex and other top headlines for Jan. 28

Heard from one lobbyist that Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., is trying to revive the farm flex legislation that would give program crop growers more opportunity to grow fruits and vegetables. So soon after the farm bill?

Here are other headlines snatched from the Web:

Two food managers plead guilty in federal tomato industry investigation of SK Foods
From the Monterey County Herald

Watson, a former senior purchasing manager for Kraft Foods Inc., pleaded guilty to two counts of mail fraud in connection with a kickback scheme that involved accepting $158,000 in bribes from a former SK Foods broker.

Manuel pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and a false tax return in connection with embezzling $975,000 from Morning Star Packing Co. before going to work for SK Foods in 2005. Federal officials said he was terminated from SK Foods on Monday.

The company has said it is cooperating in the investigation, which came to light in April 2008 when its Ryan Ranch headquarters was searched by investigators.


How sweet to be a maroon carrot

"BetaSweet" carrots have more beta-carotene, texture and crunch than a regular carrot. So what's the difference between a regular carrot and a BetaSweet? BetaSweet carrots have a Texas A&M maroon tint, as opposed to the traditional orange color. The purplish color comes from the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is found in blueberries and could be effective in preventing cancer cells.

UK chain bans pesticides that could harm bees

The use of pesticides have been blamed for the collapse and yesterday the Co-operative announced it was banning any foods grown using the chemicals from their own range of fresh products.

The retailer also said it was donating £150,000 for research into why honeybee numbers are falling, and would be trialling a wild flower mix to be planted alongside crops on its farms to support bees.

Members of the Co-operative will be invited to special screenings of a film on bee declines and have access to 20,000 packets of free wild flower seed mix, while bee boxes will be available at a discount.

Co-operative Farms – the UK's biggest farmer with 25,000 hectares – will also invite beekeepers to establish hives on its land as part of a 10-point "Plan Bee."

Stimulus money with E-verify would hurt, not help American workers

Peanut butter manufacturer found salmonella, shipped anyway You're kidding me...this is bad

Recession hits college campuses and endowments Off 25% in 2008

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

General fund reductions to stress inspection programs?

One Fresh Talk reader passes on this letter about fruit and vegetable inspection services in Michigan. The topic: shrinking general funds availability in the state will translate to higher inspection fees. This is an issue that transcends any one state, I believe. Here is the letter:


Jan. 16, 2009
Fruit and Vegetable Partners:
Subject: Fruit and Vegetable Grading Fees
As you are aware from previous communications the Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division has sustained general fund reductions over the past several years. These general fund revenues have been critical to keeping user fees down and sustaining the Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Programs. With the loss of these general funds we have looked at all of our inspection programs and adjusted user fees for those that were important to continue.
Many of you attended a meeting for processors on October 27, 2008 or a meeting for shipping point inspection clients on November 20, 2008, where we shared information on our costs and potential revenue needs. I gathered additional information and attempted to answer any questions you had regarding the future of these inspection programs. We appreciate your participation in these sessions.
After a review of all the information and careful consideration we have arrived at a set of revised fee rates. These rates will take effect on February 15, 2009. A schedule of fee rates is attached. In most areas these rates represent substantial increases. Again, these increases are driven by the loss of general fund revenue support but also by increasing costs and need to cover program costs by users as instructed by the authorizing statute.
For processors, we have offered to provide training, at your cost, in order for you to develop an “in-house” inspection program if that would meet your needs. That offer still stands.
As we concluded the informational sessions we agreed to host a conference call for each client group to provide an opportunity for comment. These conference call opportunities are as follows:
Process Inspection: 9:00am, Friday, January 23rd
Shipping Point Inspection: 10:30am, Friday, January 23rd
CONSTITUTION HALL
P.O. BOX 30017
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909

www.michigan.gov
(517) 373-1104

Fruit and Vegetable Partners
January 16, 2009
Page 2
Conference Call Number: 877-873-8018 (Call in and follow the prompts)
Access Code: 3149559
Our intent with these conference calls is to answer any questions you may have regarding these fee rates.
I recognize that these fee increases are not pleasant news. We have diligently implemented efficiencies in the way we offer inspection services, and have worked to keep these rates as low as possible and yet continue to offer our grading services.
I appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Sincerely,
Kenneth J. Rauscher, Director
Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division
Michigan Department of Agriculture

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Loving Wal-Mart and other top news for Jan. 26

I was in Wal-Mart today with my wife, picking up an order of photos and I struck up a conversation with a sales floor clerk. (I kept my high profile blogging status on the down low) She had much good to say about Wal-Mart ("It's the best kept secret," she told me. "It pays better than any other retail.") She told how well heeled suburbanites who formerly turned up their nose at Wal-Mart are now shopping at the store ("Where have they been for the past ten years?"). And she noted that Wal-Mart will match any advertised special, even in the produce department."Aldi has lower prices for avocados," she allowed, but she noted no other grocery retailer she visits honors the ad prices of competitors. She was such a great PR rep for Wal-Mart ("We get a bonus based on how the store does," she confided.) that I almost wanted to sign on right there on the spot. There is no more important customer to please than your own employee, and Wal-Mart has apparently accomplished that and more with Sue in Olathe.

Other top news for today:

Vilsack withdraws proposed $3 million cut to fruit and vegetable program
From the USDA:
Vilsack also announced that the Department does not plan to implement a proposal developed by the previous Administration that would have cut more than $3 million from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, a popular program that promotes the growth of healthy fruits and vegetables.

Tough times for tators
Coverage from Washington state and KEPRTV.com
Suddenly, growers and processors scrambled to scale back. Dozens of orders had to be re-arranged. And too few acres of potatoes were now too many.

"There's a lot of uncertainty because people don't know what commodity prices going to bring," Clay Allen said, a sales representative for Double L.

Then last week, processors quietly announced they were immediately cutting the amount of potato contracts. French fry demand was way down. They blamed increased costs, a weak economy and changes in fast-food menus.

The big three processors, Lamb Weston (the potato- processing division of Con-Agra Foods), J.R. Simplot and McCain Foods could cut back as much as 20 percent.

Local food plea to supermarkets (UK) From The Press in York

That is the plea from the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber (RFG) It argues that while the recession is affecting people’s shopping habits, buying local food “can bring significant benefits to regions’ economies”.

Jonathan Knight, chief executive of the RFG, listing the benefits, said: “First and foremost local food production creates jobs in the local community, which in turn will have a positive impact on future investment and opportunities in the area.

Future food items may be a challenge to copywriters From Ad Age
We want our food to come with compelling stories, says the Guru of New, aka Sarah Browne. A perfect example, she says, is Dole organic bananas, each one branded with a number you can enter on the company's website and be transported, via Google Earth, to where it was picked -- and discover by whom. The cooler your story (ancient herbs! Long-lost tribes! Rare harvest!), the better.

A seed in time Brief history and appreciation of the apple

Organic options From the story, on "why organic"?

"Basically I see it as premium fuel," Krieger said. "It's better for you. It's better for the Earth, and it's better for the animals that are involved." Studies on the impact of organic foods in the diet have been small and are not yet long-term enough to be a good gage, but the impact on the environment seems to be more immediate.

EU's false insecticide fears post threat to Africa

You might assume that the EU could demonstrate some threat to humans or the environment, that it had found viable alternatives to the banned pesticides and that it had assessed the consequences of this ban to farming, to food prices and to the poor whose only defence against disease is pesticides. But you would be wrong on all counts.

Farmer's market to fight obesity, diabetes From the UPI in Brownsville, Texas:
A voucher system, funded by a grant by the Texas Department of State Health Services, allows low-income families to receive $10 in vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.The vouchers can go a long way at the market.

Citrus workers imperiled by carbon monoxide
forklift apparently left running was the cause.

Obama promises to lead the world on climate change yet some say some damage from climate change is irreversible. Will that fact make more or less eager to sacrifice our lifestyles for lower CO2 emissions?

New Rio Queen citrus packing shed to open soon in south Texas


Two grocery stores label with nutritional information

Markets solve the immigration problem
Sort of.

Vilsack promises to tackle food safety


More cheery news here: California controller discusses budget deficit.


Chile retail sales tumble 9% in December

Roubini: the worst is not over

Retail sales figures just published, Roubini reckons, demonstrate that the debt-burdened U.S. consumer is now panicking as job losses, income losses, declines in home wealth, and a severe credit crunch take a severe toll on their ability to spend.

"The reduction in spending and deleveraging of the U.S. consumer will take years to rebuild," said Roubini.

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GAO High Risk Series - the link

Here is the link to the recent GAO High Risk Series. Here is what the 99 page report says about itself:


The list is updated every two years and released at the start of each new Congress to help in setting oversight agendas. Recent Congresses and administrations have been particularly alert to GAO’s High-Risk List and have used its findings to help tailor agency-specific solutions as well as broader initiatives across government.




On Food Safety


In 2007, GAO added the federal oversight of food safety to GAO’s high-risk list because 15 agencies collectively administer at least 30 food-related laws. Since then, the largest food-borne outbreak in the last 10 years was linked to Salmonella in fresh produce. Also, high levels of imported foods underscore the urgency to revamp this system. About 15 percent of the overall U.S. food supply is imported, as is about 60 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables and over 80 percent of seafood. In addition, more of the population—including older adults, children, immune-compromised individuals, and pregnant women—is increasingly susceptible to food-borne illnesses.


What remains to be done

GAO recommends that the President in the short term reconvene the President’s Council on Food Safety and in the long term consider alternative structures for the oversight of food safety. The executive branch should develop a results-oriented governmentwide performance plan to help ensure agencies’ goals are complementary and to help decision makers balance trade-offs when resource allocation and restructuring decisions are made. Congress should consider commissioning the National Academy of Sciences or a blue ribbon panel to conduct a detailed analysis of alternative food safety organizational structures and enact comprehensive, uniform, and risk-based food safety legislation.

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Noncitrus fruit - USDA NASS report

Go here for the NASS report on 2008 noncitrus fruit. From the summary:

In 2008, the Nation’s utilized production of the leading noncitrus fruit crops totaled 17.7 million tons, up 4 percent from the 2007 utilized production. Utilized production increased from 2007 for CA prunes, prunes and plums (ID, MI, OR, and WA), cultivated and wild blueberries, cranberries, apples, CA dates, grapes, nectarines, strawberries, and CA plums. The value of utilized production for noncitrus fruit crops totaled 11.6 billion dollars, up 2 percent from 2007. The value of utilized production for red raspberries increased 209 percent, CA prunes increased 63 percent, OR black raspberries increased 47 percent, cranberries increased 45 percent, tart cherries increased 21 percent, and prunes and plums (ID, MI, OR, and WA) increased 20 percent. However, the utilized value of production for CA plums decreased 46 percent, CA olives are down 41 percent, boysenberries and ME wild blueberries decreased 34 percent, CA dates decreased 30 percent, and OR loganberries are down 28 percent.

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United applauds USDA reversal on COOL funding

From United Fresh:

At a news conference today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack informed reporters that he was rescinding a decision by the previous administration that would have moved $3.2 million in Specialty Crop Block Grant money to fund oversight and enforcement responsibilities for mandatory COOL.

Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy at United Fresh, released the following statement on this decision:

We are extremely pleased that Secretary Vilsack has made this decision and reversed what would have been bad public policy all the way around. The Specialty Crop Block Grant program is an extremely important tool for producers across the country and was enacted by Congress in the 2008 Farm Bill with mandatory funding. It is incomprehensible that the previous leadership at USDA would place the entire burden of funding COOL enforcement on our sector, when COOL applies to meat and seafood as well. If USDA believes additional funding is required for COOL enforcement, we strongly believe Congress should appropriate funding solely for that purpose.

Vilsack’s policy reversal comes on the heels of former Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer informing House and Senate agriculture leaders in December that he was moving forward with this process despite strong objections by United Fresh and others. On January 6, 2009, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, of which United Fresh is the secretariat, sent a letter to Secretary Schafer expressing strong opposition to this decision. United Fresh also worked closely with President Obama’s transition team to ensure this issue was address early on in the new Administration.


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