Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Friday, April 2, 2010

South Bronx Epitomizes Paradox of Hunger and Obesity

South Bronx Epitomizes Paradox of Hunger and Obesity
(The New York Times, March 14, 2010)

New York's South Bronx reported the highest rate of "food hardship" in a recent report released by the Food Research and Action Center. The area also has one of the nation's highest obesity rates. Experts note that hunger and obesity are not "parallel problems persisting in side-by-side neighborhoods, but plagues often seen in the same household, even the same person." "Hunger and obesity are often flip sides to the same malnutrition coin," said Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. "Hunger is certainly almost an exclusive symptom of poverty. And extra obesity is one of the symptoms of poverty." According to the FRAC survey, nearly 37 percent of residents in the 16th Congressional District - which includes the South Bronx - reported that they lacked money to buy food ("food hardship") in a recent 12-month period. This percentage is much higher than the national average of 18.5 percent. Part of the problem lies with the fact that poverty-stricken areas often lack grocery stores. In nine of the Bronx's 12 community districts, there are too few supermarkets, reported a 2008 city government study. Those stores selling food carry mostly high calorie, more "unhealthy" foods. "[T]he strategic response needs to be linked in various ways," said Linda I. Gibbs, deputy mayor for health and human services. "We tackle the challenge on three fronts - providing income supports, increasing healthy options and encouraging nutritious behavior." Experts say additional factors play a role since poor people "often work longer hours and work multiple jobs, so they tend to eat on the run," said Andrew G. Rundle, an epidemiologist at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Other areas in New York City also posted high food hardship rates - the 10th Congressional District ranked sixth in the FRAC report. Newark (NJ-10) ranked ninth, with 31 percent of respondents reporting food hardship. Nationally, Mississippi is the hungriest state at 26 percent, with Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, the Carolinas and Oklahoma following close behind. New York's 17.4 percent ranks the state 27th; New Jersey, at 15.5 percent, is 41st, and Connecticut is 47th, with 14.6 percent reporting food hardship.

News release: Center for Produce Safety

News release: Center for Produce Safety


We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Center for Produce Safety’s Produce Research Symposium on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. The Symposium will highlight the results of the first eleven produce safety research projects awarded through CPS. Panel members will help translate the technical and scientific outcomes of the research projects. After each session, open discussion will help elaborate how the information may be applied throughout the produce supply chain. Event details, including registration and hotel information, are available at the CPS website: http://cps.ucdavis.edu.

If you have questions or need assistance, contact Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli at bfernandez@cps.ucdavis.edu or (530) 757-5777 after April 2, or Leslie Maulhardt at lamaulhardt@cps.ucdavis.edu or (530) 757-8311.

Thank you!



Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli, Executive Director
Center for Produce Safety
University of California, Davis
279 Cousteau Place, Suite 100
Davis, CA 95618

Austin, Texas, Tops Bundle’s First ‘How America Spends

Residents of Austin, Texas, are the No. 1 spenders in the United States, according to Bundle, a new social money comparison site, which recently released its inaugural annual consumer spending report, “How America Spends.” The report features rankings of the top 25 and bottom five spending cities in the nation, as well as a 50-state ranking of household budget behavior and a data analysis of trends by marital status/kids, income level and age.

The No. 1 spenders in Austin laid out an average of $67,076 in overall household expenses over 2009 (excluding mortgage and rent, which aren’t included in Bundle’s breakdown). The city’s annual spending is 77 percent higher than the national average of $37,782, Bundle’s report found.

“We always hear about ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ types spending big in New York City, but when you remove housing costs from the equation, it’s not just the stereotypical cities where residents spend big on items like shopping, dining out, groceries or travel," said Janet Paskin, managing editor of New York-based Bundle. “Austin tops New York City in shopping, and Bakersfield spends more than San Francisco on health care and pets. Our behavior as spenders in America doesn’t change, but we do spend our money in very different ways.”

The lowest-spending American city is Detroit, where recession-struck residents spent $16,446 on such items as food and drink, shopping, gas, travel, and entertainment.

For all 50 states, Connecticut residents lead the nation in spending, while West Virginians are last, spending 35 percent less than the national average last year. New Canaan, Conn., residents averaged $25,486 on dining out in 2009, more than the average West Virginian spent in total ($24,517).

Rankings were based on consumer spending behavior across the food and drink, shopping, travel and leisure, getting around, health and family, and house and home-related expenses excluding mortgage and rent.

The report’s other findings included:

—The Average American Household Spent $37,782 in 2009: Last year, U.S. residents averaged $8,668 on shopping, $6,514 on food & drink, $8,026 on health and family expenses, $5,477 on getting around, $2,699 on travel and leisure, and $6,398 on house and home expenses.

—New York City and Los Angeles Didn’t Make the Top 25: New York, N.Y., with its five boroughs, came in at No. 53 with an average of $37,435 spent in 2009, 0.9 percent lower than the national average. But if Manhattan was counted as its own city, it would have come in at No. 3 on the list ($59,602), just behind Austin and Scottsdale, Ariz. Los Angeles ranked 42nd, with $39,422 spent in 2009, 4.3 percent higher than the national average.

—Marriage and Kids Boost Yearly Spending: Bundle’s breakdown by household status found that married couples with children spend more on just about everything, but not always as much as you’d think: having kids raises annual grocery spending only by about 8 percent, on average. Also, young parents spend less on eating out and transportation costs than childless people, but after age 36, the trend reverses.


The top 25 highest-spending cities were as follows:

1. Austin ($67,076)
2. Scottsdale, Ariz. ($64,687)
3. San Jose, Calif. ($59,022)
4. Arlington, Va. ($52,085)
5. Plano, Texas ($56,738)
6. Raleigh, N.C. ($53,398)
7. Nashville, Tenn. ($52,964)
8. Tucson, Ariz. ($51,857)
9. Irvine, Calif. ($51,286)
10. Durham, N.C. ($51,114)
11. Washington ($49,431)
12. Dallas ($47,920)
13. Seattle ($47,336)
14. Reno, Nev. ($47,273)
15. Corpus Christi, Texas ($46,311)
16. San Antonio ($46,122)
17. Honolulu ($46,087)
18. Oklahoma City ($45,449)
19. San Francisco ($45,291)
20. Madison, Wis. ($45,275)
21. Henderson, Nev. ($45,220)
22. Wichita, Kan. ($44,810)
23. St. Paul, Minn. ($44,579)
24. Chandler, Ariz. ($44,470)
25. Lubbock, Texas ($44,122)

The bottom five, meanwhile, were Boise ($28,006); Toledo ($26,962); Chula Vista, Calif. ($21,424); Hialeah, Fla. ($19,397); and Detroit ($16,446).

Numbers for “How America Spends” were culled from sources including Citi and U.S. government spending data, and third-party research. Further details are available at Bundle.com/bundlereport2010.

Wal-Mart's Grocery Sales Expand

Wal-Mart's Grocery Sales Expand

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for the first time has drawn more than half its annual U.S. sales from groceries, as the retailer's aggressive push in food and other consumables is paying off.

Groceries accounted for 51% of Wal-Mart's $258.2 billion in U.S. sales last year, up from 49% the year before.

Wal-Mart has been ratcheting up efforts to convert existing stores into supercenters, 100,000 square foot stores that sell consumables in addition to clothing, electronic products and household furnishings. Last year was the first year in memory that Wal-Mart did not open any standard discount stores. It instead converted 86 existing locations into supercenters as well as opening 49 new supercenters.

The retailer now operates 2,750 supercenters in the U.S., while paring back its traditional discount stores to 803 from 1,350 five years ago. Wal-Mart also has been lowering shelves and widening aisles throughout its stores as part of a program to make the shopping experience more appealing.

The drive to offer more groceries is appealing to certain retailers, especially as consumers are still a bit skittish about discretionary purchases. Target Corp. is making a big push into groceries by converting existing stores to sell food and incorporating fresh produce and food at newer ones.

"Food goes up as a percent of sales in a recession when sales of everything else are in a slump," said Bernard Sosnick, retail analyst at Gilford Securities. "In an economic recovery you may see a bit of a see-saw as spending grows for more discretionary items."

Wal-Mart is still determined to keep groceries a priority because they are such a powerful draw, Mr. Sosnick said.

While Wal-Mart's U.S. grocery sales as a percent of revenue rose, apparel, which includes clothing and jewelry, dropped 1% to 10% of U.S. sales, the retailer said in its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Hardlines, consisting of merchandise like sporting goods, automotive accessories, and hardware, also fell by 1%, to 12% of sales, Wal-Mart said.

Entertainment, which includes electronic products and toys, health and wellness, and home goods, were all unchanged from 2009, at 13%, 10%, and 5%, respectively, Wal-Mart said.

Press release: Varsity Lounge : Blue Devil Short Ribs

Press release: Varsity Lounge : Blue Devil Short Ribs

Steps away from Duke University, the Millennium Hotel Durham is celebrating their hometown team making it to the Final Four! The Varsity Lounge, the hotel’s restaurant, is serving Final Four themed drinks and appetizers to help root on the Blue Devils.

Can’t make it to the Varsity Lounge? No need to worry, the executive chef has created a signature dish and is sharing the recipe to create at home. Now fans from all over can chomp on a delicious North Carolina inspired meal while they cheer on their team!

Below you can find the recipe for Blue Devil Short Ribs from the Millennium Hotel Durham, for more information or hi res images, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks!
Jaclyn




Blue Devil Short Ribs with Garlic Confeit

For the Beef Ribs (6-8 lbs raw beef ribs):
• Season beef ribs heavily with kosher salt and black pepper on both sides.
• Place seasoned beef ribs into a large roasting pan and cover with your favorite cabernet wine.
• Add 2 large rough chopped Vidalia onions, 3 chopped carrots, and 1 bunch of rough chopped celery.
• Add a handful of whole peeled garlic cloves.
• Cover roasting pan with foil or lid
• Cook at 275 to 300 degrees for 3 ½ to 4 hours
• Remove ribs from oven, carefully uncover and check for doneness. If meat is falling off the bone, the ribs are perfect! If not, place back in oven for another 30 minutes.
• When ribs are done, set them aside.
• Strain what is left of braising liquid into a sauce pot.
• Discard onions, carrots, celery and garlic.
• Over medium heat, reduce braising liquid and equal parts beef stock until it just coats the back of a spoon.
• Serve beef ribs with mash or roasted potatoes and your choice of grilled vegetables.
• Place reduction sauce and garlic confeit directly on top of meat.

For Garlic Confeit:
• Place whole peeled garlic cloves in a small baking dish.
• Cover completely with a good olive oil.
• Cover dish completely with lid or foil and slow roast garlic at 325 to 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Garlic should be fork tender.
• Strain off excess olive oil and reserve for dipping bread.

Press release: for immediate release - Fresh Event

Press release: for immediate release - Fresh Event

FRESH, Europe's leading fresh fruit and vegetable conference event, coming to St. Petersburg, Russia on 13-15 April, announces exciting new updates to its programme.

Speakers Pavel Malyshev of Agropak (Russia), Jack Stroeken of Groenten Fruit Bureau (Netherlands) and Jana Djokic of ROMIR Holding (Russia) join the FRESH programme, furthering discussion on the changing markets and emerging trends in the Russian fresh produce trade.

Speakers Boris Planer from Planet Retail, Oleg Rogozin of Bavaria and OKEY’s Dmitriy Sharikov will open the conference, paving the way for key industry representatives Bruno de Canson of Dow AgroSciences, Alberto Volpano of the EU Embassy, Andriy Yarmak of Fruit-Inform and Tatiana Crooijmans of Rabobank to offer delegates advice on how to better business prospects within the Russian market.

Keeping a close eye on Russia’s emergence as a major import hub for fresh fruit and vegetables will also be Elena Malkova (The Greenery), Damian Kozlowski (Agro Alians Sp. z.o.o.), Bostjan Kozole (Evrosad) and Nicholay Asaul (St. Petersburg City Government).

Organised by Eurofruit Magazine and Freshfel Europe, FRESH will take place at the Corinthia Hotel, the new five-star business and conference hotel on St. Petersburg’s famous Nevsky Prospect. This year’s programme focuses on the exciting changes already under way in Russia, as new opportunities open up to the fresh produce business on the back of the continued growth in consumer spending power and sale of more produce through major supermarkets.

Register online at www.freshcongress.com to ensure your participation on 13-15 April in St. Petersburg, Russia. To keep up to date with the latest registration, speaker and programme news, join the mailing list at info@freshcongress.com or visit www.freshcongress.com

News release: Feeding and Fueling Our Planet, How Food Prices Are Affecting Our Society

Feeding and Fueling Our Planet, How Food Prices Are Affecting Our Society


Feeding and Fueling Our Planet, How Food Prices Are Affecting Our Society

New book from FT Press explores how food prices are more important and volatile than ever before


New York, NY– The volatility of food prices impacts us all including the average consumer, farmers, commodity traders and our government policymakers. The increasing growth in biofuel production means that energy markets and food markets are more closely linked than ever before. The economics behind these peaks and valleys will affect what consumers pay at the grocery store and at the gas pump.

In The Economics of Food: How Feeding and Fueling the Planet Affects Food Prices (FT Press, ISBN-13: 9780137006106, $25.99, 256 pps., hardcover, April 2010), leading agricultural economist Patrick Westhoff gives readers an inside look into what really causes large swings in food prices and what factors are likely to cause them to rise and fall in the future. The increased demand for crops not only to feed people but to power society puts an additional strain on world food supplies.

“On top of biofuels, it’s also weather, income growth, exchange rates, energy prices, government policies, market speculation—a wide variety of factors that come together to affect prices,” Westhoff says. “Food prices touch every part of society, and consumers from all walks should understand how the basic economics behind them work.”

The Economics of Food addresses critical questions about the future of food-related industries and tackles issues including:

• The basics of agricultural economics—for everyday consumers to policymakers • How the weather affects food harvests and prices around the globe • How government food policies affect your bottom line • The effect of oil prices on food prices, as we move toward increased biofuel production

Westhoff untangles these complex global relationships among food, energy and economics and helps readers come to their own conclusions about the future of food. He walks through several, very possible scenarios for the future, offering insights that will become indispensable to consumers, commodity traders and policymakers alike.

Visit http://www.ftpress.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0137006101 to download a chapter from the book and learn more.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of The Economics of Food: How Feeding and Fueling the Planet Affects Food Prices or an interview with the author, please contact Laura Czaja at 212-641-6627 or laura.czaja@pearson.com.

About the Author
Patrick Westhoff grew up on a farm in Iowa, just a few miles from the "Field of Dreams." He spent two years in the Peace Corps in Guatemala, working with small-scale farmers, later earning a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Iowa State University. From 1992-1996, he served as an economist with the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, working on legislation including the implementations of WTO and NAFTA and the 1996 Farm Bill. He now co-directs the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri, whose analyses are relied on by the U.S. Congress and international institutions worldwide.

State Laws And Employer I-9 Employment Verification Responsibilities



State Laws And Employer I-9 Employment Verification Responsibilities

Wed, 31/03/2010 - 12:08am
Many states have enacted mini-I-9 laws. Employers, especially companies that operate in more than one state, must closely monitor their compliance with the employment eligibility and verification laws for each state in which they do business.

The most common regulation states have imposed on businesses in recent years is requiring employers to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm workers immigration status and employment eligibility or work authorization, specifically illegal immigrant employment eligibility, work authorization and immigration status.

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by Department of Homeland Security (DHS/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is currently free to employers and is available in all 50 states. E-Verify provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility or work authorization of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

Employers or "Designated Agents" (e.g., payroll companies) must register online and agree to the terms of participation to use E-Verify. [Registration includes agreeing to the DHS/Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). A discussion of the ICE E-Verify MOU is outside the scope of this post.]

E-Verify will soon be required of all federal contractors. DHS is now promulgating "final" E-Verify regs. I present an E-Verify overview and update in this post.
(The National Conference of State Legislatures does a remarkable job of monitoring these new developments and I include a variation of their chart and summary of the new state legislation below.)

Review of Relevant State Laws

State Laws Requiring Use of E-Verify


Arizona
Arizona
The Arizona Fair and Legal Employment Act (HB 2779), enacted in 2007, prohibits employers from knowingly hiring unauthorized workers and requires all employers to use the Basic Pilot Program to verify employment eligibility. It establishes substantial penalties and threatens noncompliant employers with suspension and potential revocation of their business licenses. Effective date Jan. 1, 2008.

Colorado
Colorado HB 1343 (signed 6/6/2006) prohibits state agencies from entering into contract agreements with contractors who knowingly employ illegal immigrants and requires prospective contractors to verify legal work status of all employees. The contractor must confirm that the Basic Pilot Program has been used to verify the status of all employees. If the contractor discovers that an illegal alien is employed, the contractor must alert the state agency within 3 days.

Georgia
The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, SB 529, covered employment, enforcement, and benefits and was signed by the Governor on April 17, 2006. The bill requires public employers, contractors and subcontractors with 500 or more employees to participate in E-Verify for all new employees beginning July 1, 2007. The law is phased in for public employers, contractors and subcontractors with 100 or more employees effective July 1, 2008; and for all employers by July 1, 2009.

Idaho Executive Order
On December 13, 2006, Governor Jim Risch issued an executive order requiring that state agencies participate in the E-Verify system. Also, all workers employed to the state through contractors must also be from companies that have been verified to have eligible employees.

Minnesota Executive Order
Governor Tim Pawlenty issued an executive order on Jan. 7, 2008, stating that all hiring authorities within the executive branch of state government as well as any employer seeking to enter into a state contract worth in excess of $50,000 must participate in the E-Verify program. The Executive Orders effective date is January 29, 2008.

Mississippi
Mississippi SB2988 (signed 3/17/08) requires public and private employers to participate in E-Verify. The phase-in period is: all government agencies and businesses with more than 250 employees by July 1, 2008; companies with 100 to 250 employees by July 1, 2009; those with 30 to 100 employees by July 1, 2010; and all remaining companies by July 1, 2011. An employer violating the law is subject to the cancellation of public contracts, ineligibility for contracts for up to three years, and loss of business license for up to one year. The law also makes it a felony to accept or perform employment knowing or in reckless disregard of the immigrants ineligibility to work, with penalties from one to five years of imprisonment and/or $1,000 to $10,000 in fines.

North Carolina
All state agencies, offices, and universities must use E-Verify, required by SB 1523 in 2006. This applies to employees hired on or after January 1, 2007, except for employees of local education agencies hired on or after March 1, 2007.

Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007 (HB 1804) addressed multiple issues: transporting and harboring, drivers licenses, public benefits, law enforcement and employment. It made it a felony to transport or harbor unauthorized immigrants, with exceptions for health or benefits guaranteed by federal law. It requires public employers, contractors and subcontractors to participate in a federal electronic employment verification system and requires income tax withholding for independent contractors who do not have valid Social Security numbers. The law became effective Nov. 1, 2007.

Rhode Island Executive Order
On March 27, 2008,Governor Carcieri issued an executive order requiring executive agencies to use E-Verify; and for all persons and businesses, including grantees, contractors and their subcontractors and vendors to use E-Verify.

Utah
SB 81 was signed into law 3/13/08. The law address multiple issues, including drivers licenses, law enforcement, harboring and transporting, public benefits and employment. It requires public employers to register and use the Basic Pilot program for new employees; state contractors must use Basic Pilot effective July 1, 2009. The law makes it a Class A misdemeanor to conceal, harbor, transport or shelter undocumented immigrants, though church, charitable and humanitarian assistance groups are exempted.
Encourages the Use of E-Verify (1)

Tennessee
HB 729, signed into law on June 26, 2007 and effective January 1, 2008 states that employers who "knowingly employ, recruit or refer for a fee for employment an illegal alien" are subject to a temporary suspension of their business license; repeat offenders are subject to a one-year suspension. Employers who comply with the requirements of the current I-9 process or who verify new hires through the E-Verify within 14 days of employment are shielded from sanctions.

One State Limits The Use of E-Verify
Illinois
Illinois enacted HB 1744, which bars Illinois companies from enrolling in any Employment Eligibility Verification System until accuracy and timeliness issues are resolved. Illinois also enacted HB 1743, which creates privacy and antidiscrimination protections for workers if employers participating in E-Verify dont follow the programs procedures.


State Laws Targeting Employers On Immigration Status


Current Litigation Over State Laws: Federal Pre-emption
Two lawsuits now making their way through the federal court system could restrict states ability to continue to crack down on businesses that hire unauthorized workers. One is a court challenge to the 2007 Arizona employer sanctions law filed by a coalition of Arizona trade groups. In February, a federal judge denied the coalitions request to delay implementation of the law with a temporary restraining order, and the plaintiffs took their case to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral arguments are scheduled for this summer and a decision is expected in the fall.

Another lawsuit making its way through the federal courts originated last year in Hazleton, PA, where a local ordinance enacted in 2006 denies business permits to employers who hire illegal immigrants and fines landlords who rent to them. In a ruling issued last summer, a federal judge struck down the Hazleton ordinance, saying it treads on federal terrain and violates illegal immigrants constitutional right to due process.

The town is appealing the decision, and the case will be heard in the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals this summer. A decision in this case is also expected in the fall.

If the two appellate courts hand down similar rulings; either both upholding the local laws, or both asserting federal authority, the battle over federal preemption could end there. But if the courts hand down opposing decisions – one supporting state authority and the other backing federal preemption – the debate will likely go to the Supreme Court. The consequence: no clear direction for state lawmakers for at least a year or two.

Many legal experts say the bills being passed in state capitals are not constitutional, and many of the new laws are being challenged in court. The U.S. Constitution gives federal law “supremacy” over state statutes. My personal understanding of the fundamental “pre-emption” issue is that the federal laws do not pre-empt these state laws. Frankly, this is a very complex constitutional issue.

The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) explicitly prohibits states from imposing sanctions on businesses that hire unauthorized workers. But one phrase in the 1986 law – a seven-word parenthesis allowing states some leeway in the matter of “licenses and similar laws” – has created a contested gray area.

Many states have taken the IRCA parenthesis to mean they have the authority to suspend or revoke the business licenses of employers who hire unauthorized workers. Businesses and many constitutional lawyers disagree.

You have this complex overlay of statutes and regulations and court cases, and youve got this federalism question of what has traditionally been federal power and what the states can do,” Jan Ting, a Temple University law professor, told the Washington Post. “There could not be an area of law that is less clear than this.”

Because states have until recently stayed away from imposing sanctions for immigration violations, federal preemption has rarely been tested and few court precedents exist.

Private Rights of Action
While E-Verify requirements have so far proven the most popular method to deter the hiring of illegal immigrants, some states are beginning to make use of another tool: giving employees a “private right of action.” Oklahoma was the first state to pass such legislation, in 2007, allowing fired U.S. workers to sue their employers if unauthorized workers were subsequently found to be working in their place. Mississippi, Utah and South Carolina followed with similar provisions this year, allowing fired workers to sue if they are then replaced by illegal immigrants. Some say the laws could open businesses to lawsuits if they employ any unauthorized workers, whether or not they have hired them to replace fired legal workers. Other states are expected to adopt this approach next year.

Also still in place are provisions mandating that all businesses in Arizona enroll in E-Verify and allowing prosecutors to investigate anonymous tips made against businesses alleged to be employing unauthorized workers.

State Felony Laws
Companies should also be concerned about a Mississippi law that makes it a felony for illegal immigrants to accept unauthorized employment. Violators are subject to imprisonment from one to five years and fines of between $1,000 and $10,000. And while the measure seemingly applies only to unauthorized workers, if I had clients who do business in Mississippi I would be strongly cautioning them. I have many clients, both individual and business, where the kind employer assists driving the very good employee to work because the employee does not have a valid state driver license because s/he lacks immigration status. In my opinion a business can be prosecuted for aiding and abetting a felony or harboring a felon under this law.

Oklahoma also imposed felony penalties, in 2007 – in that case, against anyone caught transporting, concealing, harboring or sheltering illegal immigrants in any location,
including any building or means of transportation. Utah, Missouri and South Carolina passed similar measures this year, and many fear the provisions could be used against employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers.




About Immigration Attorney Gerald Goulder

I have been a licensed attorney and counselor at law for over 28 years. I practice exclusively immigration and visa law for individuals, families and businesses, not just in North Carolina, but in many states and throughout the world.

PUBLIC MEETING ON FDA PRODUCE SAFETY RULE

PUBLIC MEETING ON FDA PRODUCE SAFETY RULE

WHEN: April 7, 2010 WHERE: The Marriott Inn
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Conference Center
Breakfast and lunch provided 3501 University Blvd E
Hyattsville, Maryland 20783


WHO’S INVITED: Fruit and vegetable growers, extension educators, food retailers, packers, consultants, produce trade association personnel and other interested stakeholders.
Visit www.ProduceSafetyProject.org to Register

WHY: The Food and Drug Administration is going to establish a nation-wide produce safety standard for the growing, harvesting and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables. Help make certain FDA has all the facts it needs. Come and join a discussion that needs to be informed by your expertise and on-the-ground knowledge.
Topics addressed will include:
• Compost
• Wildlife/Environmental Concerns
• Water Quality
• Worker Health and Hygiene
Co-sponsored by the Center for Food Safety and Security Systems (CFS3) at the University of Maryland, the meeting will encourage a robust discussion on the science of and practical considerations for growing, harvesting and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The FDA has announced its intention to publish a proposed rule by October 2010.


For more information on the proposed FDA rule, the report series and meeting logistics (including lodging), contact Caroline Hubbard at: 202-687-2976 or cch48@georgetown.edu

Freshfel releases consumption monitor

FRESHFEL EUROPE RELEASES NEW EDITION OF ITS CONSUMPTION MONITOR Freshfel Europe has released the newest edition of its ‘Freshfel Consumption Monitor’, analysing trends in the production, trade and supply of fresh fruits and vegetables across the EU-27, as well as consumption information in Norway, Switzerland and the USA. This report is an unique and homogeneous source of information on fresh fruit and vegetable trends. It is also part of the actions undertaken by Freshfel in the framework of the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. Freshfel is a member of the platform since 2005, representing in this forum the interests of the fruit and vegetables sector. While slightly recovering in 2008 compared to 2007, the per capita fresh fruit consumption within the EU-27 in 2008 remains however 0,67% below the average of the previous five years, while the fresh vegetable consumption continues to fall with a sharp 14,2% reduction in 2008 compared to the average of the previous five years. The „Fresh fruit and vegetable production, trade, supply & consumption monitor in the EU-27‟ is the seventh edition of the report, and it covers the period from 2003 to 2008. The Monitor identifies a number of EU-wide trends, including specific information on fresh fruit and vegetable supply and consumption trends in all EU-27 Member States. Findings from the „Consumption Monitor’ show that in 2008, total gross supply of fruit per capita stands on a yearly basis at 95,5 kg (compared to an average of 96,2 kg over the previous five years), while the total yearly vegetable gross supply per capita stands at 103,5 kg (compared to an average of 120,7 kg over the previous five years). This represents an increase in 2008 in gross supply by 1% for fruits and a decrease by 13% for vegetables, when compared to the average of the previous five years. Considering the evolution of the EU population from 486,6 mln in 2003 to 497,6 mln in 2008, the per capita consumption of fresh produce consequently decreased by 0,67% for fresh fruit and by 14,2% for fresh vegetables. “Although consumption data should only be understood as a trend indication, rather than the precise amount of fresh produce really consumed by the population, on average the trend indicators in the monitor also confirm that around half of EU Member States remain below or just above the 400 grams a day minimum recommended by the World Health Organisation. Besides the overall declining trends, it also shows that important efforts remain to be made in order to bring consumption up to satisfactory and healthy levels across all EU Member States” stated Philippe Binard, General Delegate of Freshfel. The „Consumption Monitor’ constitutes an important instrument for both public and private stakeholders. According to Ramon Rey, Freshfel‟s President, “the monitor contains an impressive source of information on trends in the EU-27 Member States and also identifies consolidated EU trends. It is a unique report and a valuable tool for companies in the fresh produce sector and public sector alike.” He added: “The report also clearly demonstrates the need for on-going actions within the sector to supply quality and tasty products to consumers. It is also underlining the responsibility of public authorities to further support the sector by public health campaigns to lead consumers towards a healthier diet. The fruit and vegetables school scheme introduced in 23 Member States in 2009 is a step in the right direction and needs to be continued and even reinforced.”


Copies of the „Freshfel Consumption Monitor’ (148 pages) are available from the Freshfel Secretariat. Freshfel Members receive the report free of charge; non-members can purchase the report at €400. The document includes the following sections: 1. total gross supply of fruit and vegetables in the EU-27 including trends in production, exports and imports of fruit and vegetables; 2. a comparative review of consumption trends across the EU-27; 3. a review of the total gross supply, trends in production, exports and imports of fruit and vegetables in the countries of the EU-27; and 4. consumption trends in Norway, Switzerland and the USA. ENDS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note to the Editors: Freshfel Europe is the European Fresh Produce Association, representing the interests of importers, exporters, wholesalers and distributors, and retailers of fresh fruits and vegetables in Europe and beyond. Freshfel Europe currently has over 200 members, including both companies and associations. For more information, contact the association at info@freshfel.org or visit the association website www.freshfel.org.

Devastating Southwest Phoenix Wood Pallet Fire Underscores Urgent Need for Action

From iGPS

Devastating Southwest Phoenix Wood Pallet Fire Underscores Urgent Need for Action

ORLANDO, Fla. – April 2, 2010 – In the wake of more than 15 major wood pallet fires in the past year, including a massive wood pallet blaze on Wednesday in Southwest Phoenix, Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS Company, LLC) is stepping up its call on Congress to set national fire safety standards for shipping pallets.

Nearly 100 firefighters battled Wednesday’s two-alarm blaze at the Hernandez Pallet Company in Southwest Phoenix that destroyed buildings and threatened lives and adjacent properties. The inferno was fueled by high winds that engulfed thousands of pallets. This wood pallet fire in Phoenix is the second major wood pallet fire in Arizona this past year, following the Western Pallet fire in Glendale, where a wood pallet fire there destroyed the 25-year-old business.

“From Arizona to Georgia and from Ohio to California, deadly wood pallet fires are occurring on a regular basis all across the country. They threaten lives, destroy property and cost millions in taxpayer dollars to contain. It’s high time the wooden pallet industry is held to the same strict fire safety standards as pallets made of safer materials,” said Bob Moore, Chairman and CEO, iGPS. “It is time for Congress to act.”

It has long been known that wood pallets present a dangerously high flammability risk. Aside from the obvious fire risks, news reports about the fire at the Hernandez Pallet Company quote a Phoenix fire official as saying that the wood pallets there posed a particular danger because they absorb chemicals that seep into the wood and, when ignited, create smoke that is ‘very hazardous to breathe in.’

“The lack of uniform fire safety standards needlessly endangers the public at large and those dedicated to ensuring our safety,” added Moore. “The lack of standards also means that wood pallet fires burden already cash-strapped municipalities across the country, diverting scarce public resources to fight wood pallet fires that diminish air quality and also waste vital and increasingly scarce water resources, especially in arid regions like Arizona. We have far too much evidence about the risks wood pallets pose to our society. We can no longer ignore them. There simply needs to be a uniform safety standard for all shipping pallets to protect the public and natural resources.”

iGPS is a provider of all-plastic pallets embedded with RFID technology. Unlike iGPS pallets, wood pallets are currently exempt from the fire safety testing required of pallets made of plastic and other alternative materials.

When stored in and around warehouses, wood pallets provide potent fuel for rapidly spreading, intense fires that endanger the lives of workers, firefighters and surrounding businesses and homes. In the course of a typical day, wood pallets are damaged, crushed, splintered, and rubbed together, creating wood dust. If left close to an ignition source, this dust can trigger a severe explosion.

“Plastic pallets adhere to the strictest federal standards possible for fire safety. It simply does not make sense that wood pallets, which are highly flammable and can produce toxic smoke from the chemicals they absorb, are not held to equal standards,” Moore said.

Burning wood pallets release toxic fumes and chemicals such as carbon monoxide and aldehydes, but also cause an economic toll with local businesses suffering billions of dollars in damages, lost jobs and productivity. This can have a trickle-down effect on other businesses that rely on the goods shipped on these pallets.

iGPS also has been calling on the federal government to establish national sanitary standards for the pallet industry to curb the threat of contamination to the U.S. food supply.

WESTERN GROWERS SUPPORTS REGULATORY RELIEF

WESTERN GROWERS SUPPORTS REGULATORY RELIEF

From Western Growers

IRVINE, CA. (April 2, 2010) - A package of bills has been introduced in the California State Assembly and Senate aimed at creating jobs and easing the onerous financial burden of regulatory compliance on businesses. Several of these would alleviate burdens on farming companies and increase the ability of farmers to hire more workers and better compete with farm producers in other states and countries where regulations are fewer and less costly. Among the bills WG supports: SB 960 (Dutton –R) “Air Resources Board Regulations Report” and AB 1833 (Logue –R) “Economic Impact Analysis.” Committee hearings on SB 960 will commence Monday, April 5th in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, while AB 1833 will be heard in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday, April 6th.
“California’s regulatory burdens increasingly absorb more and more of our farmers’ resources – both time and money,” says Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers (WG). “If farming is to remain viable in California in the long term, the cumulative effects of all state regulations need to be examined and considered.”
SB 960 (Dutton –R) “Air Resources Board Regulations Report” would require the Office of Administrative Law to conduct economic analyses of major California Air Resources Board regulations. AB 1833 (Logue –R) “Economic Impact Analysis,” expands the scope of the economic analysis to include financial impact to businesses. Currently, state agencies only have to outline the cost to implement the regulation.
According to a study by the Institute for the Study of Specialty Crops at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, there was a 69% increase in the amount of farms’ operating costs allocated to regulatory compliance from 1999 to 2004 – a trend that has continued in the last six years. In fact, California fresh fruit, vegetable and tree nut farmers pay more in regulatory costs than the state of Tennessee produces in total agricultural production.
Fresh produce farmers cannot pass cost increases demanded by government regulatory compliance onto buyers. The market price of each commodity (strawberries, lettuce, broccoli, etc.) fluctuates daily based upon supply and demand. Each additional regulation handed down to farmers creates more fees and labor hours – contributing to higher production costs. Farmers must continually absorb those costs. Three of these fees/costs (air quality fees, chemical use fees, and workers compensation costs) increased over 100% from 1999 to 2004. Produce grown in foreign nations where regulations are few, has become much cheaper than locally grown produce. Not surprisingly, the quantity of imported produce has steadily increased. Legislators and government regulatory agencies need to make an effort to minimize the impact of the regulatory environment on producers while still maintaining their goals. SB 960 and AB 1833 would contribute to that effort.

Western Growers is agricultural trade associations whose members from Arizona and California grow, pack and ship ninety percent of the fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in California and seventy five percent of those commodities in Arizona. This totals about half of the nation’s fresh produce.