Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

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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