Checking up on PP and other headlines

I saw that PP published again after a healthy holiday break (Dec. 25 to Jan. 7) . In the spirit of an industry cohort and friendly rival, I commend Jim for his thoughts on keeping things in perspective for 2009. Jim's sentiments on the blessings we have - apart from 401ks and cash cushions - were dead on.

Here are some headlines to account for the in the world of produce and the world at large:

Agriculture's next big challenge opinion piece by Marshall Matz and George McGovern
While critics attack Obama's Ag Secretary pick, a defense of conventional agriculture... From the piece:

We do not yet see the yields with organic agriculture that would feed a hungry planet of almost 7 billion people. During the recent presidential campaign, Obama, to his credit, often talked of supporting American agriculture, from the small sustainable farms that market to the community to the large commercial farms that feed the world. He was exactly correct. The Department of Agriculture should be supporting research into organic and sustainable agriculture. Clearly, we must be more sensitive to the relationship between agriculture and the environment. But to criticize someone for supporting all sectors of agriculture seems shortsighted.

Big organic behind Vilsack? Gristmill examines street cred of Vilsack

10 hot food trends for 2009 Cooking at home is #1, followed by good nutrition replacing fad diets. Fantastical, I know.....

Moody sees rising defaults Asset backed commercial paper market "in doubt" ; high yield corporate default rates to climb to between 10% to 12%

Kroger uses loyalty cards to target consumer coupons

Food Web site to link farmers to consumers in NY

Grow Montana a profile of efforts for a more local and sustainable model

New York governor speaks on epidemic of childhood obesity From the NYT

Mr. Paterson said he would seek to ban junk food sales in public schools and to lend state money to green markets willing to open in poor communities. The governor has already unveiled a plan to impose an 18 percent tax on sugary sodas.

Sam's Club exec to lead W-M Int.

Doug McMillon, head of its Sam's Club division, will become president and CEO of Wal-Mart International next month as the world's largest retailer increasingly looks overseas to fuel expansion.

Grocers, vendors brace for battle on lower prices From Dow Jones:
SuperValu CEO says the first 6 months of 2009 will be battleground as retailers ask for price rollbacks from food manufacturers. Same store sales decline at SVU.

Chile suffers big trade deficit Falling copper exports caused $684 million surplus in November to fall to a $224 million deficit in December.

SC employers advised to use federal database

Border patrol ready for anticipated illegal immigration surge

Price optimization software for HEB in Mexico Just like the U.S.

Mexico to grow 1% or show no growth in 2009

Over a half million foreclosures in Cali

Don't stimulate me, bro Peter Schiff not a fan of government intervention

Bill Marler and local food

Food safety lawyer Bill Marler is crossing swords with the local food crowd in a holier than thou showdown, mostly over raw milk from small dairies but also touching on fresh produce issues. Here is a link from The Ethicurean. From The Ethicurean:

So to Bill Marler — guy whom I really basically like, a guy who makes me laugh, and a guy who often makes me cheer, and a guy whom I believe represents great hope for our national food safety — I say this: please proceed cautiously as you target small-scale producers. I agree with you: a family who loses a loved one to listeria from a small dairy is just as grief-stricken as one that loses a relative to a fast-food chain. And I know that if I lost my own child to E. coli, listeria, or salmonella, I would be wild with rage. But Bill, as you move forward, please keep me in mind.

I don’t expect my neighbors’ food will be 100% free from pathogens. For me — and I suspect for many of us who buy locally — I am grateful simply to know the farmers, grateful to know that these farmers genuinely make whatever efforts they can to ensure the safety of my food. I can go to the farm; I can see this. I know that if there is an outbreak, it will be swiftly contained, and it won’t require the months-long forensic detective skills that must be employed with national outbreaks. For me, it is enough to know that the supply chain is short, and that companies like Agriprocessors, Nebraska Beef, and Westland Hallmark — who, unlike my farm neighbors, value quarterly earnings statement above the health of their customers — never, ever touched my kids’ food.

Read this link to a post in Barfblog that is friendly to Marler.

Here is the post from Marlerblog about his top food safety challenges of 2009: that generated such a vigorous response: From Marler, the #2 challenge on his list:

2. Local Food: Outbreaks linked to local food and/or farmer's markets. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups and food co-ops need to demonstrate knowledge and practice of food safety, and be inspected. In addition to produce and meats/fish, prepared items are currently unsupervised in some, but not all locations.

What he wrote about local food evoked a couple of quizzical responses. Lynn wrote:

I thought that local food was a good way to avoid some of the questionable food practices of big business and globalization, but this column makes me think twice.

How is a consumer to know if a producer or retailer is practicing good food safety? And is state or federal oversight the best answer, given a record of failures and corrupting political influence?

Devra responded;

It's irresponsible to tell people that prepared food sold at farmers' markets is currently unsupervised. I run a farmers' market food concession and I'm required to pay for permits, operate out of a licensed, inspected, commercial kitchen, and submit to regular inspections by the health department. On days when the health department is not actually present, market managers act as their proxies, checking that our operations are compliant.

Monty Mason followed with this comment:

Although there are groups forming with an interest in tracking fruits and vegetables like the PMA (Produce Marketing Association), standardized food supply chain tracking requirements are in the early stages of development, and I don't think 2009 will be a year for marked progress. From an electronic tracking perspective, today's packaging practices could hinder this effort. Tracking at a pallet level is very feasible and is practiced in a growing number of food supply chains today, but unit-level tracking beyond pallets will require packaging changes that are still under development and consideration. Time and money to develop innovative packaging is needed, and this situation has the potential to drive up food costs for the consumer at the worst possible time: when most food providers are being squeezed to lower costs.

The move toward buying locally could also slow progress with food traceability, and local growers with limited resources will more than likely be the last to embrace electronic traceability to secure the food supply chain. We are starting to see marketing campaigns encouraging consumers to support local food producers. In the past, the benefits to buying locally were pretty simplistic, but with the world;s new focus on sustainability, the reasons to buy locally have expanded to include reduction in supply chain costs for fuel and transportation. Further, it’s also being established that fresh foods lose their nutritional properties when they experience long lead times from farm to fork. As these types of compelling arguments become understood by the public, it's reasonable to believe that consumers will act and buy locally when possible.

Monty Mason
Director of Product Marketing; Supply Chain
Axway Inc.

TK: There were actually 39 responses to The Ethicurean post about Bill Marler. The collision of worlds between the local food movement and escalating food safety expectations will be fascinating to watch, as will be the tension between the halo-wearing Marler and the sainted local food disciples.

The one minute writer

One of the blogs I loosely follow (besides this one!) is called one minute writer. The concept is that we, as writers, don't need to block out hours to work ourselves into a creative frenzy. Rather, we should try the improv of writing (you have 1,440 minutes every day: use one of them for writing). Each day comes with a suggested topic and today's is time. (What do you need to make more time for?) The blog actually features a 60-second timer so would-be writers can honestly comply with the spirit of the blog. Here is my humble answer to the writing prompt:

I need to make more time for: calling my kids, writing thank you notes and correspondence, taking shopping trips with my wife, stopping the erosion of my fast fading basketball skills, reading the Good Book, figuring out our finances and unlocking the secret to six pack abs. Oh, yes, and more time to eat produce.

A decidedly more creative writer said this:


- Remove 1 hour of arguments and substitute with 30 minutes of understanding.
- Skip 3 hours of television and substitute 1 hour with a good book.
- Delete 2 hours of internet browsing and substiture with 30 minutes of family time.
- Remove 3 hours of complaints and substitute with 2 hours of dedicated work.
- Remove 15 minutes of shame and replace with 1 minute of thoughtfulness.

Place all unused time in a large bowl and share with your loved ones. Make sure to save some of the quieter minutes for yourself in a secret spot.

Enjoy!


What do you need to make more time for, other than check this blog morning noon and night? Think about it and spend 60 seconds writing about it, if you can spare the minute.

WIC vouchers begin in New York

Fruit and vegetable vouchers ... here at long last. Here is coverage of one of the first state transitioning to the new WIC food packages, including vouchers for fruits and vegetables. Here is coverage of the issue on the Web:

NY offers healthier food in women, child program From AP:

New York is among the first states offering healthier food choices to low-income mothers and their young children in a national effort to improve nutrition and discourage obesity.

All states will be required to meet new Women, Infants and Children food program requirements by October 2010. And other states are preparing for the changes too, with Delaware making the switch Jan. 1, and Kentucky working through the approval process to do the same.

State health officials say whole grains, fruit, vegetables, tofu and brown rice will now be encouraged under the program that's traditionally provided less healthy options like white bread and whole milk.

Later....

"Over the past three years, the Health Department has conducted programs that showed that WIC mothers will buy fruits and vegetables when they are available," Gov. David Paterson said in a written statement. "Almost one-third of our children are overweight or obese, with higher rates among black and Hispanic children. WIC has a long history of success, and is a great place for nutrition education to start."

Now foods like whole grain cereals and breads, canned or dried beans and jarred baby foods will be available. WIC will also offer cash-value checks for vegetables and fruits.

WIC fresh produce in the works From the Fresno Bee

Central San Joaquin Valley fruit and vegetable farmers, how would you like to get a piece of $80 million or more?