Grape and other fresh produce shortage due to Chile earthquake - Examiner

Grape and other fresh produce shortage due to Chile earthquake - Examiner


hole Foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic grocer, has announced a shortage of grapes due to damage from recent earthquakes in Chile.

Chile’s Sixth Region, where grape production was peaking, has been hard hit. Electricity and the capacity to cool and hold fresh fruit has been disrupted. Boxes of fruit lie spilled and rotting where packing plants, storage facilities, and shipping ports have been destroyed.

Vineyards have collapsed, shaking fruit to the ground, and root systems may also have been impacted by the movements of the earth so the grape shortage is expected to extend through April and perhaps into May.

Since the season is autumn south of the equator, the fall apple harvest was also just beginning so apple supplies, as well as other fresh produce, may be scarce as well.

Disruptions in power and water limit farm workers productivity but recovery efforts are progressing and hopefully normal operations will resume soon.

In the meantime, it may be a good idea to sample some new tastes in fruit. Houston area Whole Foods Market is offering alternative suggestions of yellow ataulfo mangoes, maradol papayas, a new super sweet variety of pineapple from Costa Rica, murcott and pixie tangerines, and strawberries.

CDC Successfully Uses Supermarket Data Cards in Salmonella Tracking - Health

CDC Successfully Uses Supermarket Data Cards in Salmonella Tracking - Health

For the first time, CDC has successfully used data from supermarket shopper cards to track the source of a national salmonella outbreak to a Rhode Island salami manufacturer and two companies in New York and New Jersey that make a seasoning used on the meat, the AP/Ventura County Star reports.

After conducting interviews with people infected with the salmonella, CDC officials suspected that an Italian meat product might be the source but were uncertain what brand was responsible.

Researchers with CDC then asked supermarkets for information from seven victims in Washington about suspect products they had purchased.

CDC did not disclose how many customers from whom it sought information or how many consented. However, CDC noted that it only used information from customers who agreed and that most customers who were asked consented.

Still, some consumer advocates fear that the practice could switch from a voluntary to a mandatory system (Mercer, AP/Ventura County Star, 3/10).