Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Fresh Talk Poll - It's the economy stupid

Fresh Talk readers, by a majority count, believe the recession impact on the industry is the top story of 2009. I agree.


What will be the biggest story of 2009?
New food safety rules
2 (15%)
Immigration reform
0 (0%)
Recession impact on industry
7 (53%)
sustainability
1 (7%)
local food movement grows
3 (23%)


Votes so far: 13
Poll closed

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Guest bloggers and Jan. 6 headlines

It was great to see another Jay Martini post today. If you are a newcomer to the blog, Jay started contributing last year in the midst of the tomato-linked salmonella outbreak and dazzled with straight from the gut reality rants and thoughtful wordsmithing. By the way, the door is open to others out there who would like to be "guest bloggers." Notoriety awaits...

Some headlines snatched from the Web

Organic demand leveling off

A survey by TABS (The Analytical Business Solution) finds demand for organic products has leveled-off. The market research group found less than 40% of adults say they have purchased anything from the major organic categories in the last six months. TABS says of the 1,000 respondents age 18 and above, “Organic fresh fruit had the highest purchase incidence, at 27%, with organic fresh vegetables a close second, at 26%. Organic eggs and milk were bought by 18% and 17% of American adults, respectively. Frozen organic products such vegetables, fruit, and ice cream had low purchase levels, however, at 5 to 6%.

In contrast, nonorganic products for all of the categories included in the study had household penetration levels of well over 70 percent.



Simple ways to eat healthier in 2009 5 fruits and vegetables a day is #2 on the list

Time for supermarkets to stress nutrition
SN edit

It's easy for shoppers to see the benefits when they save money at their local supermarket. It's not as easy for many consumers to see the health benefits of eating well, but now is a good time for supermarkets - perhaps with a helping hand from an activist government — to connect the dots.

Crisis saps hunger for U.S. beef


Vilsack confirmation hearing next week
Harkin says Jan. 14

Payday tips to save grocery money
using food co-ops to save money

Honeybee disorder still stumps researchers

Honeybees add $15 billion each year to U.S. agricultural output, the newspaper said


This is going to hurt Credible game plan needed by Obama, gloomy economists say

Shoppers urged to "Buy British" Voluntary COOL in the UK

Canadians more prudent than U.S. counterparts


Economic crisis confronts Congress

E-verify causes concern in Arizona


More Americans with multiple chronic diseases

Car sales worst in 49 years for GM Domestic automakers together account for fewer than 50% of U.S. car market for the first time


Homeland security reality show ready to air

Housing push for Hispanics spawns wave of foreclosures Rep. Joe Baca and his district spotlighted

24 of 25 cities see foreclosures rise, property values decline Gloom, despair and agony on me...

Foreclosures rise dramatically in Bakersfield

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A Healthy Paranoia

‘I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round, I really love to watch them roll.’---John Lennon, ‘Watching The Wheels’

That’s what I’ve been doing the last couple months, as fantasy has become reality. The Grim Reaper of job security, sickle in hand, has been creeping into our unconscious minds of late. The financial gridlock has forced every one of us reassess our value, our worth, in relationship to the employment landscape at large.

And you know what? Compared with other industries, I’m pretty darn glad to be peddling produce, a healthy food, in this environment. My dad always said ‘people gotta eat’, and although that could be construed as a simplistic view, he’s absolutely right. But let’s get into the meat of it. Sure, they gotta eat. But the consumer is scrutinizing everything price-wise, and making decisions based on that. In Chicago, that means the middle-to-high end restaurants are dying. Also, the produce departments of major supermarkets, with their hardwood floors and track lighting, are sucking wind.

Conversely, the fast food emporiums are ringing the bell. McDonald’s stock finished up for fiscal 2008. And indigenous to Chicago as well as other metro areas, the chains’ alternative for consumers—the ethnic-based food stores—are kicking tail and taking names. Big business. Of course, it might have something to do with these establishments buying product from the terminal market on a day-by-day basis. By doing this, they catch the lulls in the market and only tend to mark it up 50% or so, drawing the business away from the hand-outstretched, contract-laden, billback-convoluted 300-600% profit credo of the chains.

We supporters of the terminal markets have been screaming at the sky about this disparity for 10 years, 20 years, heck, as long as I can remember. The difference now is that the sky is listening.

On another note, before President-Elect Obama has even taken office, he’s been hit by numerous political snowballs, most recently the resignation of appointed Commerce Secretary Bill Richardson, ostensibly because another one of those pesky ‘pay to play’ scandals have come to light. While it probably won’t be as drama-filled as the current comedy being played out in my state of Illinois, it does leave an opportunity to give a blatant plug for someone whom I think is one of our own:

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) http://delauro.house.gov/

No, not because she’s Italian (although that can’t hurt), but mostly because of the way she was up close & personal during the Salmonella scare last summer and fall. Rep. DeLauro demanded accountability from the FDA & CDC, and frankly was one of the few political allies to the produce industry during the crisis that wasn’t out to better herself first. Her appointment as Commerce Secretary would be a breath of fresh air, and a good ear as well. Cross your fingers, and I’ll put the Sicilian hex on her competitors.

Finally, I’d like to wish a Happy 84th Birthday to my dad John, who taught me the correct morals, ethics and tenets of a dog-eat-dog business. As long as I put that stuff at the forefront of my mind while doing business every day, I’ll be all right. Salut, Dad.

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