Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Chairwoman Stabenow Announces First Farm Bill Field Hearing in East Lansing, Michigan

Chairwoman Stabenow Announces First Farm Bill Field Hearing in
East Lansing, Michigan

Washington, DC – Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, announced the Committee’s first Farm Bill field hearing will be held on May 31 at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. The hearing, “Opportunities for Growth: Michigan and the 2012 Farm Bill,” will focus on the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill, examining agriculture as well as energy, conservation, rural development, research, forestry and nutrition policies that affect Michigan. Witnesses to be announced.

Tuesday, May 31 – East Lansing, Michigan
Senate Agriculture Committee Field Hearing
Opportunities for Growth: Michigan and the 2012 Farm Bill
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Kellogg Center, Michigan State University
http://www.kelloggcenter.com/about/location.html

Friday, April 22, 2011

GLobal Harvest INitiative PUBLISHES Policy Issue Brief addressing the need for action on Global Hunger, Food Security

GLobal Harvest INitiative PUBLISHES Policy Issue Brief addressing the need for action on Global Hunger, Food Security



Washington D.C./April 20, 2011 – The Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) today released the first of five policy issue briefs bringing a global focus to meeting the agricultural needs of a rapidly growing global population by increasing the rate of agricultural productivity; a recent GHI report suggests that the rate of agricultural productivity must increase at a minimum of 25 percent per year to meet future demand and double output over the next 40 years.



The policy issue brief, “Improving Agricultural Research Funding, Structure and Collaboration,” describes the notable returns on agricultural research and the role of research as a primary source of the innovation and productivity gains necessary to sustainably grow more and better food, help alleviate global poverty and hunger, and address food security issues.



The issue brief also highlights key research areas such as more efficient water use and the reduction of post-harvest losses, and notes that public sector research investments must be on par with private sector research to achieve significant increases in the rate of production worldwide.



“If we are to feed the nine billion people that will share this planet by 2050, we will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as we have in the last 8,000, and research will be critical,” said Dr. Jason Clay, World Wildlife Fund Senior Vice President of Market Transformation. “Research is a first step in acquiring data to measure our real impact and identify alternatives. Half of the world's farmers are producing below average results and cannot even feed their own families. Learning how to leverage research and data is critical to stimulate innovation, identify new ideas and improve productivity.”  World Wildlife Fund is one of several consultative partners that share GHI’s goal of sustainably closing the global agricultural productivity gap.

“With a surging global population and new demands on food crops, the inadequate and declining support for basic food and agricultural research must be addressed quickly, as the research process takes a minimum of ten years from laboratory to field. We must also find the means to enhance research and fund the organizations that facilitate research. By focusing on agricultural research and other key policies we can begin to address hunger and food security issues by sustainably increasing the rate of agricultural productivity without the use of more land, water or other inputs,” said Dr. William G. Lesher, Global Harvest Initiative Executive Director.



Subsequent GHI issue briefs will address trade, development assistance, science-based technologies, and private investment. The issue brief released today and more information about GHI can be found at http://www.globalharvestinitiative.org.

California LGMA Introduces New Blog

California LGMA Introduces New Blog



Sacramento, CA – The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) announced today it will enter the “blogosphere” with a regular blog posting feature on its website that provides insights and information about on-farm leafy greens food safety.



“I am proud to be the first to post on the LGMA’s new blog,” said LGMA Chairman Jamie Strachan as part of the inaugural blog entry released by the LGMA last week.  “Our hope for this blog is that the LGMA becomes a valued source of information for farmers, industry members, buyers, government regulators and consumers of leafy greens.”



The blog can be accessed through the LGMA’s website at www.lgma.ca.gov. Interested users may sign up to receive notice of new postings via e-mal. The blog also allows users to submit comments and for the LGMA to respond with additional information. In the group’s first post, LGMA Chairman Strachan encouraged people to “join the LGMA in this new dialog.”

“Over the course of the coming months, the LGMA blog will feature a range of topics concerning leafy greens safety from members, experts and friends,” continued Strachan.  “We hope you will join us in this new dialog.”  

To date, the LGMA has issued two blog postings including the initial one from Strachan and a second post authored by LGMA Chief Executive Officer Scott Horsfall who addresses the issue of the new federal food safety legislation’s impact on the leafy greens industry.   The LGMA expects to post at least twice a month.

LGMA blog posts can be accessed from the home page of the LGMA website, or go directly to blog section at www.lgma.ca.gov/blog/.

The School Food Revolution:

The School Food Revolution:

More schools cooking from scratch and serving healthier pre-prepared foods, but limited equipment, funds and staff resources are a persistent challenge.



National Harbor, MD (April 20, 2011) – School nutrition programs across the country are preparing more school meals from scratch or serving healthier pre-prepared entrees and sides.



·         Thanks to Jefferson County Public Schools’ (Ky.) central kitchen facility, students can dine on homemade soups, chili, tacos, chicken potpies, turkey roasts and other entrees, as well as fresh, whole grain dinner rolls and other breads, some prepared with locally produced flour and cornmeal.

·         Thomas County’s (Ga.) school nutrition professionals are known for their fresh whole grain French bread and sweet potato rolls. They also prep fresh vegetable soup, lasagna and a special treat called “Wacky Cake” - plum puree is the secret ingredient.

·         In Gooding, Idaho’s school cafeterias, many entrees are prepared from scratch, and students get in on the fun too, creating their own masterpieces with locally-grown potatoes and toppings from the potato bar, including low-fat cheese, fat-free sour cream, salsa, olives, chopped broccoli, home-made chili, ground turkey and beef.

·         Other districts are using student-raised or locally grown foods in their recipes, or are working with chefs in their communities to help train school cooks to prepare healthy new meals.



However, school nutrition programs face enormous hurdles in their efforts to scratch cook.  In the early years of the National School Lunch Program, schools received financial assistance to help cover the cost of expensive commercial grade equipment purchases.  But the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 eliminated that assistance and slashed other support for school meals.



Since then, as food prices have climbed, many school nutrition programs have struggled to break even, let alone invest in new equipment, hire the additional staff necessary to scratch-prep meals and train cooks on proper handling techniques for raw meat in accordance with strict school food safety standards.



As a result, school nutrition programs must have access to healthy, pre-prepared foods that meet the nutrition requirements for school meals.  Food companies are meeting this critical need, and have made tremendous progress in improving their foods using healthier preparation methods, leaner meats, whole grain ingredients and less sodium and sugar.



Many of these companies have made noteworthy commitments to provide healthier products, including the multi-industry agreement with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to help schools serve healthier meals at more affordable prices and The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation’s pledge to First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign to reduce calories by 1.5 trillion a year. Food industry efforts in schools and in the commercial market where families and restaurants rely on pre-prepared foods will be critical to helping America's families improve their diets.

###

Discovery Identifies Elaborate G-protein Network in Plants

Discovery Identifies Elaborate G-protein Network in Plants

Key finding has the potential to improve crops’ response to drought, disease and other stresses



ST. LOUIS, MO, April 20, 2011— The most elaborate heterotrimeric G-protein network known to date in the plant kingdom has been identified by Dr. Sona Pandey, principal investigator at the Danforth Plant Science Center.  The results of this research are published in the recent article, "An elaborate heterotirmeric G-protein family from soybean expands the diversity of G-protein networks," in the New Phytologist.



G-proteins are signaling proteins that direct a plant’s response to various environmental signals including abiotic and biotic stresses such as drought and disease resistance.   Prior to Dr. Pandey’s discovery, it was assumed that plants had only one Ga protein based on previous research using Arabidopsis and rice, in contrast to 23 Ga proteins present in humans.   Using soybean, Dr. Pandey’s group was able to identify four Ga proteins.  In addition, they demonstrated that two of these proteins can react faster than was previously assumed.



Mammals have many G-proteins.  These proteins bind GTP (small molecules) and hydrolyze it to GDP.  The G-proteins are active only when GTP bound.   Binding is a key process because that is when the signaling can occur.  Mammals’ G-proteins are very quick to hydrolyze bound GTP and thus cycle fast between the GDP bound and GTP bound states.  The sole Ga protein of the model plant Arabidopsis is very slow to hydrolyze bound GTP.  In this research Dr. Pandey’s group also demonstrated that soybean has two types of G-proteins, two that hydrolyze GTP slowly and two that work more quickly similar to those found in mammals.



“The next step will be to try and engineer plants to express altered amounts of these G-proteins to see how they affect their overall growth and can enable them to better respond to stresses that may be involved in limiting crop yield,” Pandey said.



Signaling mechanism of Heterotrimeric G-protein



About The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research at the Danforth Center will feed the hungry and improve human health, preserve and renew the environment, and enhance the St. Louis region and Missouri as a world center for plant science. The Center’s work is funded through competitive grants and contract revenue from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center invites you to visit its new website, www.danforthcenter.org, featuring interactive information on the Center's scientists, news, public education outreach, RSS feeds and the brand-new “Roots & Shoots” blog help keep visitors up to date with Center’s current operations and areas of research.

USDA Awards Grant to the University of Hawaii to Help Prevent Childhood Obesity in Minority Populations

USDA Awards Grant to the University of Hawaii to Help Prevent Childhood Obesity in Minority Populations


WASHINGTON, April 20, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a $25 million grant to the University of Hawaii to develop obesity prevention strategies among native populations in the Pacific Region, continuing USDA's commitment to meet the rising challenge of obesity in the United States, especially in American youth.

"We know that in order to win the future, we have to win the race to educate our children. That means that our kids must be healthy so they can learn and thrive," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Improving childhood nutrition remains a key priority of the Obama Administration as we work to ensure our kids are ready to out-compete in an increasingly globalized world."

The five-year research project will use a community-based participatory research approach that engages communities to prioritize obesity prevention strategies. Researchers will work with communities to develop community needs assessments and establish sustainable nutrition and health-promoting programs. Specifically, the team will identify specific environmental factors leading to childhood obesity in selected schools and daycare facilities. Intervention strategies will be attuned to culturally-specific needs and goals, and focus on physical activity, nutritional intake and the amount of sleep children get each night.

The project will train 22 specialists in food, nutrition and public health and develop research and evaluation methods that will help young children maintain healthy weight and prevent obesity. Dr. Rachel Novotny at the University of Hawaii will lead the project team, which includes scientists from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks; the University of Alaska, Anchorage; Northern Marianas College; the University of Guam; American Samoa Community College; the College of Micronesia; Windward Community College, Kaneohe, Hawaii; and the University of Hawaii Kapiolani Community College.

The grants are awarded through USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and administered through USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. AFRI's childhood obesity prevention supports single-function research, education and extension projects and multi-function integrated research, education and extension projects. AFRI is USDA's flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities.

Improving child nutrition is a focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that was signed by President Obama in December 2010. This legislation reauthorizes USDA's child nutrition programs, including the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program, which serves nearly 32 million children each day. It will allow USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, the chance to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children. Investigating science-based interventions and studying obesity in children can also strengthen these programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. To learn more, visit www.LetsMove.gov.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. More information is available at: www.nifa.usda.gov.

How to Make Your Dreams Come True

How to Make Your Dreams Come True

Sailor Who Circumnavigated The Globe Reveals



Phineas Fogg’s goal was speed when the character in Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days attempted to circumnavigate the globe. Larry Jacobson was going more for quality when he set sail for his trip, taking more than six years to live out an adventure he dreamed of as a child.



“When I was 13, I shattered both bones in my right leg while skiing, and was laid up for more than three months in a complete hip-to-toe cast,” remembered Jacobson, author of The Boy Behind The Gate (www.larryjacobson.com), his chronicle of his 2,070 days on the open sea. “My mother tried to keep me occupied, and I read every magazine my mom would bring home – from Popular Mechanics to Boy’s Life -- as I watched my friends play outside. When I was finally free of the cast, I remember hobbling around as my brother brought home an eight-foot Styrofoam Sea Snark dinghy he had rescued from a garbage pile.

Most people would have seen trash, but I saw a super yacht. We repaired it and I painted it yellow, and began dreaming that one day I’d sail around the world.”

For most people, a childhood dream that grand would have remained just that – a childhood dream. Not for Jacobson, however. He began sailing as a teenager, against the wishes of his father who would have preferred he had taken up golf instead. By the time he was in high school, he began racing sailboats competitively, and was well on his way to making his dream come true. After getting his education and owning a travel business, he saw an opening to act on his dreams when his business was sold.



“As I analyzed the money I’d get for my share of the business, I realized I might have enough money to make my dream trip happen, with just a bit left over when I got back,” he added. “In reality, I spent just about every dime I had and then some, but I can’t think of any better use for money than making your life’s dream come true. The truth is, I feel like the luckiest man alive, because I don’t have to wonder ‘what if.’  I lived my dream, and had adventure enough to last three lifetimes. My only lament is that more people don’t seize their opportunities to fulfill their dreams. If I have any mission in life right now, it’s to let people know that we all have strength deep inside to live our dreams. We just don’t know it’s there until we need it”



Jacobson’s advice for others who feel their childhood – or professional or even current -- dreams have passed them by, include:



    * Write it down – There is something about writing down your life’s ambitions and even your day-to-day goals on paper that just makes them more real. After all, if you can’t articulate your dreams to yourself, how will you ever come close to making them come true?

    * Overcome the Fear - When I made my choice, I was basically leaving a good business, good friends and a good life to venture into the biggest unknown there is. The main reason why many people never get to live their dreams is because they never take the plunge. They are so tethered to their daily lives that they cannot imagine how to live beyond that framework or the identity they have created for themselves. Ignore your fear of the unknown and embrace the adventure of something new. Letting go makes everything possible.  Be willing to take a risk.

    * Persevere – Dig deep for strength. When we had to stay up for 36 hours and hand steer our way to Australia after losing the autopilot and nearly losing the mast, we dug deep and found strength we didn’t know we had.

“I know it sounds like an infomercial, but the truth is that if you can dream it, you can do it,” he added. “We all have to choose how we live our lives, but the sad part is so many of us never realize that the choice is ultimately ours to make. We’re not forced into anything. We choose, on one level or another. We can live our dreams, or we can just live. What choice are you going to make?”

Honeywell Wind Turbine by WindTronics Now Available for Purchase

Honeywell Wind Turbine by WindTronics Now Available for Purchase

Wind is Nature’s Energy-Savings Generator



Muskegon, Mich. – April 21, 2011 – WindTronics announced today the launch of its much-anticipated Honeywell Wind Turbine, which is now available through authorized dealers, retailers and partners. Best noted for always turning and generating power in as little as two miles per hour (mph), the Honeywell Wind Turbine’s small size, light weight and negligible noise, ensures everyone with wind has the ability to generate renewable wind energy for their home or business.



“Our vision is to make renewable wind power truly distributed and widely available,” said Reg Adams, president of WindTronics. “The ability to generate onsite power will help communities around the world convert the wind - bringing renewable energy technology into the mainstream.”



The Honeywell Wind Turbine is now available for purchase around the world through WindTronics’ authorized dealer network. For a complete list of dealers, please visit www.wheretobuyone.com. This ever-expanding network of distributors, partners and retailers, includes the following companies:

·         WindTronics Full Sales, Service & Warranty Dealers

·         Honeywell Resellers

·         Ace Hardware

·         True Value

·         WESCO Distribution, Inc.

·         Mid-States Distributing Co.



Weighing less than 185 pounds and measuring only six feet in diameter, the Honeywell Wind Turbine produces up to 1500kWh annually depending on height and location. This gearless wind turbine features an innovative Blade Tip Power System™ that utilizes a system of magnets and stators surrounding its outer ring to capture power at the blade tips where speed is greatest, practically eliminating mechanical resistance and drag. This enables the Honeywell Wind Turbine to start turning at 0.5 mph and generating energy in two mph of wind.

“The design of the Honeywell Wind Turbine is unlike anything I have seen before,” said Kyle Biedermann, CEO of WindBucks Energy, a distributor of Honeywell Wind Turbine in Texas. “This product, which lives harmoniously in almost any setting, is beneficial anywhere there is wind and is a viable option for sustainable energy.”



Designed to be flexible, the Honeywell Wind Turbine gives customers the choice to have the turbine mounted directly on a rooftop or use a pole. Additionally, customers can choose to connect the power directly to the building, to the grid, or to batteries using one of three connector options:

·         Grid-tie – using the Power One Aurora® Grid Tie Inverter to feed renewable power to any utility worldwide

·         Non-Grid Tie – using the WindTronics battery power management system called the SmartBox that converts wind power into electricity for the building

·         Direct DC – an option which captures the power directly into 12, 24, or 48 volt batteries for storage in remote areas


Depending upon which connector option is chosen, the cost of the Honeywell Wind Turbine ranges starting at $5,795 (plus installation). Similar to installing an electric generator, the Honeywell Wind Turbine was designed to be installed by a licensed electrical contractor. WindTronics offers a list of authorized installers to help customers properly install the Honeywell Wind Turbine.



Authorized full-service WindTronics’ dealers will work closely with potential customers to oversee the entire purchase process, which includes:

·         appropriate site selection for the turbine

·         mounting possibilities

·         local incentive and rebate programs

·         connection with a local certified installer

·         service and warranty questions



Resources

Before purchasing a wind turbine, WindTronics recommends customers research local wind speeds, incentives, rebate and grant programs, zoning and permitting requirements, homeowner’s association regulations and onsite placement for the turbine. To help customers navigate these areas and answer key questions, the WindTronics team has developed a series of resources:

·         www.windknowledge.com – Wind Knowledge is an online tool developed to calculate local wind speeds, local utility prices and local rebate programs to help customers understand estimated output and return on investment.

·          www.everyoneswind.com  – This animated online presentation provides a detailed introduction to the Honeywell Wind Turbine. It outlines U.S. wind patterns, explains how the turbine works and discusses what should be considered before installation.

·         www.wheretobuyone.com – This is a resource that lists all the retailers, dealers and partners who sell the wind turbine worldwide.

·         www.todayswindenergy.com – This auto load brochure provides more technical details about the Honeywell Wind Turbine, including connecting options and mounts.

NRA: Tips to be a greener restaurant guest

4 Tips to Be a Greener Restaurant Guest

(Washington, D.C.)  Restaurants nationwide are “going greener,” and consumers are increasingly looking for ways to do the same when dining out.  With 150 million meals served in nearly one million restaurants throughout the nation each day, even simple measures to conserve natural resources can make a big difference. This Earth Day – as well as on any day throughout the year – there are ways in which guests can contribute to reducing a restaurant’s carbon footprint. The National Restaurant Association offers these tips for being an eco-conscious restaurant guest:

1. Pass on the water. If you plan to order a beverage with your meal and not drink the complimentary glass of water that is commonly offered when seated in a restaurant, simply let your server know. If one out of four restaurant patrons declined that glass of water, it would help conserve more than 25 million gallons of water in a year, according to the U.S. EPA.

2. Skip the straws and utensils. If you don’t need a straw to enjoy your beverage, pass on it. According to BeStrawFree.org, more than 500 million disposable straws are used in the United States every day – enough to fill 9,300 school buses! And, when getting takeout or delivery that you plan to eat at home, tell restaurant staff that you don’t need disposable silverware included with your order. By declining single-use utensils when possible, you will help divert waste from landfills.

3. Bring your own. Use your own reusable tote bag for takeout orders rather than plastic or paper bags, and bring a travel mug for that morning cup of coffee – some restaurants will even give you a discount for it! 

4. Consider alternative transportation. Car-pool, walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation to your favorite restaurant. According to CNN Money, each vehicle in America uses an average of more than 600 gallons of gasoline per year, which translates into a lot of emissions. And with rising gas prices, these modes of transportation also double as budget-friendly alternatives.

Welch letter to staff and members on debt ceiling

Dear Staff of my Colleagues:



I hope you are enjoying a well-deserved rest during this recess. 



As you well know, when Congress returns in May, we will have our work cut out for us with the fiscal year 2012 budget.  So, enjoy the rituals of recess while you can -- wearing jeans, 8 hour days, and some quality time to think and plan ahead.



But if you do nothing else during this break, I hope you will carefully read the attached analysis by JP Morgan (“The Domino Effect of a US Treasury Technical Default”) of what will happen to America’s economy if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling, or even threatens not to raise the debt ceiling.  It is a chilling account of the consequences of a failure to act on America’s obligation to pay its bills.



If you find yourself too busy with recess distractions, here are just two of JP Morgan’s important conclusions:



“Our analysis suggests that any delay in making a coupon or principal payment by the Treasury – even for a very short period of time – would almost certainly have large systemic effects with long-term adverse consequences for Treasury finances and the US economy.”



And:



“Finally, we emphasize that even if the debt ceiling is ultimately raised before a technical default occurs, the delay in raising the debt ceiling is likely to negatively impact markets, as investors undertake risk-management actions in preparation for a potential Treasury default.”



Perhaps this report explains the recent comment by JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon that:



“If the United States actually defaults on our debt it would be catastrophic… and unpredictable. If anyone wants to push that button… they’re crazy.” (Jamie Dimon, at a US Chamber of Commerce event, March 30, 2011)



I hope you will also share this report with your boss as soon as possible.



Sincerely,





Peter Welch

MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Finally Putting A Finger In The Dike

Yesterday afternoon I drove through the spitting snow to a local theater to check out 'Atlas Shrugged Part 1', the movie based on the first part of the 1,100-page tome written in 1957 by libertarian Ayn Rand. Funded almost solely by entrepreneur John Aglialoro, this low-budget indie film--none of the major studios would touch it--opened Friday, April 15 to nationwide audiences. Aglialoro hopes to release parts 2 & 3 similarly on Tax Day 2012 and 2013. And while watching this initial chapter of a great story about government intervention run amok that really rings true while admittedly painting the good guys and bad guys in broad strokes, I was struck by the timeliness of this movie given the reversal earlier this week of a nasty loophole in current PACA law. It seems that court decisions as far back as the 1980's had favored defaulters who argued that sellers, when renegotiating payment plans with slow or no-pay receivers of merchandise in hopes of getting paid eventually, were actually voiding their PACA trust protection by doing so. In retrospect, it's incredible to think that it took this long for the USDA to see that water was sloshing in through a gaping hole in the dike, but I really shouldn't be surprised. In the end, it took a groundswell of comments from sellers who apparently were just damn tired of the government protecting the criminals. The new regulation went into effect on April 13, not a minute too soon given the state of collections within the produce industry. So finally, one for the good guys. And when these important laws are being forged in the future, the shapers of those words need to always remember the 'evildoers'. When backed against a wall of their own making, they will turn truth into fiction and rules into interpretations for their own benefit, which in turn negates verbal handshakes that we all use as commonly as breathing in the course of our daily business lives. Oh, by the way, go see the movie. It killed. Later, Jay

Friday, April 15, 2011

Conservation and Farmland Protection at a Crossroads

Conservation and Farmland Protection at a Crossroads

Washington, D.C.—“In the years to come, we’re asking U.S. farmers to take on a double-challenge,” says Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust (AFT). “First, we’re asking them to provide enough food, fiber and biofuel to meet the needs of nine billion people by 2050, and at the same time, asking them to do that under more environmental and
land resource pressure.”

It has been found that the annual erosion rate in Corn Belt states is 3.9 tons per acre. “This is a cause for concern,” says Scholl, responding to the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) report: Losing Ground. Losing Ground provides a critical analysis of soil erosion using data collected by the USDA, Iowa State University scientists, and the Iowa Daily Erosion Project.

“AFT analysis of additional data from the National Resources Inventory also shows that each of the 48 contiguous states lost agricultural land to development,” Scholl adds. “More than 23 million acres of agricultural land were converted from 1982-2007—an area the size of the state of Indiana.”

“Simply put, conservation and farmland protection are at a crossroads,” Scholl adds. “Land and healthy soil are the strategic resources critical to our nation’s ability to feed itself and to secure our nation’s future. Conservation programs are vital to maintaining those resources.”

Scholl notes that key conservation programs, which help farmers improve and protect soil, farmland and water were cut significantly in the FY2011 federal budget. “At a time when we are debating which public programs do the most for our money—it seems prudent to invest our public agricultural support conservation now, so we are best positioned to meet the challenges ahead.”

“The challenge of our times is to be able to ramp up agricultural production under greater environmental and resource pressure—to do that in a sustainable way. Farmers deserve our support in meeting these challenges, and our country cannot afford to ignore issues like soil health, erosion and farmland loss,” Scholl says. “Conservation programs in the farm bill are vital to making sure farmers have what they need to protect their farms and our environment while also meeting the incredible production demands of a hungry world.”

Subcommittee Examines Credit Conditions for Agricultural Producers

Subcommittee Examines Credit Conditions for Agricultural Producers
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit held a public hearing to review credit conditions in rural America. A number of institutions provide credit to our nation's farmers, ranchers, and rural constituents. It is important to ensure credit is readily available through institutions that are fundamentally sound.
Congress established the Farm Credit System (FCS) in the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 to provide a reliable source of credit to agricultural producers, certain agriculture-related businesses, and rural homeowners. The Federal Agriculture Mortgage Corporation ("Farmer Mac") provides credit for agricultural real estate, rural housing, and rural utility loans on the secondary loan market. Both FCS and Farmer Mac are regulated by the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), which is an independent federal agency.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides direct and guaranteed loans to producers who cannot obtain credit from commercial lenders. Much of the loan dollars from FSA are reserved for beginning farmers and ranchers who do not have the required resources to obtain financing from FCS or commercial lenders.
Additionally, local banks provide a significant amount of credit for rural communities.
Members of the Subcommittee heard from two panels of witnesses that included representatives from the FSA, FCA, Farmer Mac, the Federal Reserve Bank, local banks, and the agriculture community. They provided insight into the availability of credit for producers and the potential risks.
"While conditions are generally good in rural America, the agricultural economy is highly cyclical. We must ensure that good and fair farm and agricultural credit policies are in place to further strengthen agriculture’s critical role in our nation’s economic, energy, and national security," said Chairman Jeff Fortenberry.
"I'm grateful to have had an opportunity to discuss the soundness of credit extended to farmers and how that credit affects the larger economy.   These issues will affect the food Americans serve their families and play a role in our economic recovery.  I hope to continue productive conversations on the topic," said Ranking Member Marcia L. Fudge.
Written testimony provided by the witnesses is available below and can be found on the Committee's website by clicking here.
Witness List:
Panel I
Mr. Val Dolcini, Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Accompanied by:
Mr. Chris Beyerhelm, Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs, Farm Service Agency, U.S.    Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
The Honorable Leland A. Strom, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, Virginia
Mr. Jason Henderson, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Panel II
Mr. Michael A. Gerber, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac), Washington, D.C.
Mr. Doug Stark, President and Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Services of America, on behalf of the Farm Credit System, Omaha, Nebraska
Mr. Matthew H. Williams, Chairman and President, Gothenburg State Bank, on behalf of the American Bankers Association, Gothenburg, Nebraska
Mr. Matt Starline, Owner, Starline Organics, LLC, Athens, Ohio

Thursday, April 14, 2011

FRESH & EASY GIVES $1.3 MILLION THROUGH SHOP FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM

FRESH & EASY GIVES $1.3 MILLION THROUGH SHOP FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM

Amount Given Nearly Doubles from Last Year

EL SEGUNDO, CA – Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced today the results of its third-annual Shop for Schools program. Nearly 2,000 schools actively participated in Shop for Schools this school year, earning more than $1.3 million that each school can use for whatever they need most.

John P. Cole, Clark County School District Trustee said of the Shop for Schools program: “I am thoroughly impressed that Fresh & Easy uses such an innovative and productive approach to becoming a welcome partner in its communities through assisting local schools. Although programs such as this should never be considered as a replacement of any of the state’s responsibility to adequately fund education, it does allow local schools to raise funds for a wide variety of program uses. These kinds of community partnerships are a much needed boost in difficult times such as these.”

Shop for Schools was launched as a pilot program in spring 2009, raising more than $130,000 for schools in California, Nevada and Arizona. Fresh & Easy brought the program back in fall 2009, raising another $670,000 for local schools. 

“Shop for Schools is much more than just a fundraising program – it is a great way for us to connect directly with parents and teachers to work on the issues that are important for our neighbors,” said Fresh & Easy CEO Tim Mason. “We are thrilled to see such an increase in participation and interest in the program this year and we know next year’s program will be a success with even more partnership with our neighbors.”

Kindergarten through eighth grade schools located within a three-mile radius of any Fresh & Easy store can participate in the Shop for Schools program. For every $20 spent at a Fresh & Easy store from September 15 through December 31, 2010, participating schools received a $1 donation. In addition to collecting receipts, registered schools could also participate in Shopping Nights, which provided an opportunity to raise even more money. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on each school’s designated shopping night, five percent of the total sales at the local Fresh & Easy store were donated to the school. 

Fresh & Easy plans to bring the program back again in fall 2011 and for the first time ever, offer online registration in mid-May. Visit www.freshandeasy.com/shopforschools for more information. 

Monday, April 11, 2011

VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT STRONGER SCHOOL FOOD STANDARDS, NEW POLL FINDS

VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT STRONGER SCHOOL FOOD STANDARDS, NEW POLL FINDS



Results show strong, bipartisan support for programs to help make school foods healthier, safer



WASHINGTON – More than three out of four American voters—78 percent—believe that schools should be required to meet higher nutrition standards for all foods they serve or sell to students, and 61 percent support providing schools with more funding to meet those standards, according to a new poll conducted by the bipartisan team of Hart Research and American Viewpoint and commissioned by the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project.



The Project is a new initiative, recently launched by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to support efforts to improve the food served in America’s schools—from cafeteria meals to vending machine snacks. It aims to make school foods healthier and safer from contamination, using strategies informed by the most recent science-based recommendations.



More than 23 million American children and adolescents—nearly one in three—are overweight or obese, which places them at increased risk for long-term health problems such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results from the new poll show that half of voters are “very concerned” about the state of children’s health.



“Providing children with nutritious food can help them avoid obesity and long-term health risks, and properly handling that food reduces the threat of foodborne illnesses,” said Erik D. Olson, director of the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project and deputy director of food programs for the Pew Health Group, which is the health and consumer-product safety arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts. “We must provide children with the safe and healthy meals they need to focus in the classroom and succeed.”



Experts say school meals play a key role in young people’s health, as many kids consume more than half of their daily calories at school. According to government data, more than half of children (56 percent) eat at least one school-provided meal every day, and many rely on their school cafeteria for both breakfast and lunch. Yet the current nutrition standards for these meals were last updated more than 15 years ago and do not reflect recent nutrition science, changes in children’s eating habits or current public health concerns.



The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed adding more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat and nonfat milk to school meals, while limiting calories and reducing the amount of unhealthy fats and sodium. The agency is seeking public comments on the proposed standards through April 13, 2011. To help schools meet these standards, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 authorizes increases in funding for school meals for the first time in more than 30 years.



“These new nutrition standards will benefit all students, and will be especially important for children at higher risk for obesity, many of whom rely on free and reduced-price school meals,” said James S. Marks, senior vice president and director of the Health Group of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “If we can act swiftly and make sure these standards are rigorous, it will be an important step towards reversing the childhood obesity epidemic.”



The Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project will provide nonpartisan analysis and evidence-based recommendations to help ensure that:

    * USDA adopts science-based nutrition standards for all foods and beverages served and sold in schools;
    * Schools have the resources they need to train cafeteria employees and replace outdated and broken kitchen equipment; and
    * USDA develops and implements rigorous school food safety policies.



The project will submit expert recommendations to the USDA as it finalizes its proposed nutrition standards. It also has begun to work with key partners to engage parents, caregivers, nutritionists, researchers and advocates who support efforts to improve school foods.



Further results from the poll released today show that voters support many of the goals of the Project:

·         A substantial majority of voters—61 percent—support an increase in school nutrition program funding of 1 percent annually, or about $135 million. Forty-three percent are strongly in favor.

o   Support is strong among adults who do not have school-aged children and also among parents whose children are in school.

o   Seventy-six percent of self-identified Democrats support increased funding, as do 60 percent of self-identified Independents and 43 percent of self-identified Republicans.

·         Eighty-one percent of voters favor helping schools pay for more nutritious food, such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Seventy percent of voters support providing school cafeteria workers with more training to help them cook safe and healthier meals. Fifty-nine percent favor helping schools pay for new cafeteria equipment that will help workers prepare healthier meals.

·         Seventy-eight percent of voters say schools should be required to make all foods served and sold in cafeteria lunch lines meet higher nutrition standards. Seventy-seven percent of voters say that candy/soda/chips/etc. in school vending machines should be replaced with water/juice/healthy snacks/etc.



Poll results come from a national survey of 1,007 registered voters conducted Dec. 8–15, 2010, by American Viewpoint (R) and Hart Research Associates (D). Respondents were contacted by telephone, including 150 who were interviewed via cell phone. The results of the poll are statistically representative of the opinions of voters nationwide and carry a margin of error of ± 3.1 percentage points.



To learn how to get involved in this effort, provide comments on the USDA’s proposed changes or access a copy of the poll findings, visit www.HealthySchoolFoodsNow.org. 

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Chilean cherries have up year

Check out this link for a report on Chilean cherry exports this year.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Discussion of late season Chilean grape exports to U.S.

Will effective marketing order date of April 10  influence Chilean grape exports to the U.S? How will that affect late season exports to the U.S.? Check  post at the value added forum.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Peterson Statement on House Passage of Energy Tax Prevention Act

Peterson Statement on House Passage of Energy Tax Prevention Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., made the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the Energy Tax Prevention Act (H.R. 910). Peterson is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 910.

“This bill hits the pause button on EPA’s current efforts to regulate greenhouse gases. America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to preserving our natural resources for the next generation, but what we’re seeing from EPA could potentially interfere with conservation efforts already underway. EPA’s regulations would not only make it harder for agriculture producers to meet increased demand but raise costs on all consumers. If Congress fails to act the economic effects could be devastating. I urge the Senate to quickly consider this legislation.”

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

USDA Announces Efforts to Increase Nutrition Assistance to Low-Income Families

USDA Announces Efforts to Increase Nutrition Assistance to Low-Income Families

Access and Participation Key to Delivering Benefits for Americans in Need

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2011 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will award grants to improve access to and increase participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The grants are for state and local governments and private non-profit organizations to develop projects that simplify SNAP application and eligibility systems and find efficiencies in the administration of the program with the goal of providing critical nutrition assistance to those in need.
"Hunger is unacceptable for anyone in this country – especially our children," said Vilsack. "The Obama administration is dedicated to providing more Americans with better access to the nutrition they need. SNAP is central to ensuring our most vulnerable populations have the opportunity to sustain a healthy diet."
This year, USDA is looking to invest up to $5 million in process improvement efforts that examine local office processes and identify and implement efficiencies. The Department is also interested in funding projects that use technology to achieve procedural changes, such as document imaging, telephone interviews or web-based access to case status information. The deadline to submit grant proposal applications is 5 p.m. EDT on June 6, 2011.
SNAP puts healthy food on the table for over 44 million people each month, half of whom are children. Access to healthy food and nutrition education is key to reducing long term health care costs from obesity-related problems such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure. Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP is largest of the domestic food and nutrition assistance programs administered by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. Serving about 1 in 7 Americans over the course of a year, SNAP is the cornerstone of America's safety-net against hunger.
SNAP benefits, which are provided to recipients electronically, also provide an economic stimulus that strengthens communities. Research shows that every $5 in new SNAP benefits generates as much as $9.00 in economic activity. SNAP benefits move quickly into local economies, with 97 percent of SNAP benefits redeemed within a month. It is estimated that at least 8,900 full-time equivalent jobs are created from $1 billion of SNAP benefits.
"These grants are part of a larger effort to end domestic hunger and improve the nutrition of all Americans in need," said Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. "The funding leverages our state and local partnerships to better reach individuals at risk of hunger and to increase SNAP participation among eligible households."
In 2009, more than 50 million individuals in the United States lived in food insecure households--over 17 million of them children. These households had difficulty providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources at some time during the year. SNAP provides crucial support to low income households by enhancing food purchasing power. Increasing access to this important nutrition program will help struggling individuals and families purchase more healthy food.
Working in collaboration with USDA, State agencies continue to enhance SNAP program integrity even as demand has increased in response to national economic conditions. Each State agency is responsible for monitoring and improving its administration of SNAP with the SNAP quality control system determining the accuracy of the eligibility decision and the benefits authorized. The national average level of program payment accuracy for FY 2009 is 95.64 percent, the sixth consecutive year the program has achieved a historically high rate. For the second straight year, the national negative error rate (a measure of denials, terminations and suspensions) also improved.
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP and the child nutrition programs, that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. SNAP, USDA's largest nutrition assistance program helps put healthy food in reach for more than 44 million people each month, half of whom are children.
These programs work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs.
Grant applications for organizations can be obtained at www.grants.gov.or on the FNS website at www.fns.usda.gov/snap or by emailing the grant officer at greg.walton@fns.usda.gov.

Food Truck Finder Rolls Into the App Store

Food Truck Finder Rolls Into the App Store
LOS ANGELES, CA– April 6th, 2011– Your next food truck meal is now an iPhone app away. Roaming Hunger is going mobile and allowing food truck eaters to locate their favorite gourmet food trucks in just seconds, leaving much more time to contemplate what’s on the menu. Over 800 vendors across North America are featured in the app, with plenty of variety in every major city.

In the app, foodies can sort meals by breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night and can browse local areas with an interactive Google based map to find their next mobile meal. The software is available to download for free in the App Store.

“Going mobile was the natural progression,” says Ross Resnick, founder and Big Burrito of Roaming Hunger. “Our users are embarking on a daily food adventure to seek out the best gourmet street food vendors and this app is the ideal compass for that journey.”

Find out where your next meal is parked at http://roaminghunger.com/iphone

*Napkins not included



ABOUT ROAMING HUNGER: Roaming Hunger officially launched in December 2009. Since then, no cart, truck or stand has gone unnoticed. As the connoisseur of curbside dining, Roaming Hunger profiles well-known hot spots, such as LA’s food truck darling, Kogi BBQ, the very popular Wafels and Dinges in New York, as well as delicious up-and-comers, like the Southern Mac Truck in Chicago. Soliciting community ratings through a ‘heart’ system, Roaming Hunger provides reference and excitement to anticipatory taste buds.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

FDA Launches Consumer–Friendly Recall Web Search

FDA Launches Consumer–Friendly Recall Web Search

April 5, 2011

On April 4, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a new consumer-friendly Web search for use during recalls. Consumers will now be able to search for food and other product recalls easier and quicker on the FDA’s website. To provide greater ease of use for consumers, the search results will now provide data from news releases and other recall announcements in the form of a table. That table organizes information from news releases on recalls since 2009 by date, product brand name, product description, reason for the recall and the recalling firm. The table also provides a link to the news release on each recall for more detailed information. The news releases were chosen as the source of information for the table because they provide the most up-to-date and user friendly information about any recall.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in January by President Obama, called for a more consumer-friendly recall search engine within 90 days after the law went into effect. Per the requirements of the FSMA, for certain recalls the search results will also provide status information on whether the recall is completed or on-going. The status information will be provided for those recalls that FDA either ordered a mandatory recall or provided the opportunity for a voluntary recall under FDA's FSMA authority.

Prior to launching the new Web search, the FDA consulted with stakeholder groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumers Union, Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Pew Health Group, and Safe Tables Our Priority to gain their insights on how to most effectively and easily communicate recall information to consumers.

EWG: House budget resolution small but welcome step

WASHINGTON (April 5th, 2011) - In a time of robust farm income and tight budgets, the House Republican budget resolution takes a small but welcome step toward a more equitable and sensible support structure for American farmers.

The GOP proposal, offered by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, would cut direct payments – which are issued to farmers at a set rate regardless of price levels or need -- and the heavily subsidized crop insurance program by $30 billion over the next decade. If the House Agriculture Committee accepts these reforms they would go into effect at the beginning of the next farm bill.

EWG's farm subsidy database shows that 60 percent of American farmers receive no subsidies, while just 10 percent of the largest and wealthiest subsidy recipients have taken home 74 percent of all subsidies paid since 1995.

"The House proposal is encouraging, but much more work needs to be done in the upcoming food and farm bill,” said Craig Cox, Environmental Working Group senior vice-president and director of EWG’s Iowa office.

“We need to create a fiscally responsible safety net that works for all farmers while ensuring that kids have access to healthy food, people hurt hardest by the recession can feed their families and critical protections for our water and soil are in place," said Cox.

The GOP budget proposal puts two major reforms on the table. It would

• Reduce ?xed payments that go to farmers even if commodity prices are soaring;

• Curtail open-ended government support for crop insurance, so that agricultural producers assume responsibility for managing risk as other businesses do.

Direct payments costs taxpayers an average of about $5 billion annually. At the same time, farmers receive billions of dollars from other income support programs. Taxpayers subsidize much of the cost of the crop insurance policies. In 2009, crop insurance premium subsidies amounted to $8 billion. Taxpayers laid out another $9.3 billion spent on direct and counter-cyclical payments (another income support program) that year.

FRESH & EASY RELAUNCHES POPULAR DESIGN-A-BAG CONTEST

FRESH & EASY RELAUNCHES POPULAR DESIGN-A-BAG CONTEST



Grocer also Announces a Reusable Bag Giveaway Through Earth Day



EL SEGUNDO, CA – Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market today relaunched its Design-A-Bag contest, inviting Fresh & Easy customers to design and vote on the grocer’s next reusable bag. Customers can submit their original bag designs at www.freshandeasy.com/designabag through May 15th. Based on feedback Fresh & Easy has expanded the contest this year to anyone 13 years of age or older in Arizona, California and Nevada, so creative students have an opportunity to participate.



Last year’s Design-A-Bag contest generated more than 1,300 design submissions from customers and 24,000 votes by ‘friends of fresh&easy’ – customers who have signed up to receive the latest news about the company along with exclusive offers at www.freshandeasy.com/friends. Last year’s limited-edition winning design was launched in stores earlier this year and was a coveted item for customers.



“Our first Design-A-Bag contest was a huge hit and customers loved the great design that won, so we’re excited to bring back the contest this year,” said Roberto Munoz, Fresh & Easy Director of Neighborhood Affairs. “We believe that offering affordable – and hip – reusable bag options will continue to encourage customers to use them even more.”



Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will select up to 10 finalists based on originality and creativity. The winning bag design will be chosen by friends of fresh&easy from June 21st through July 10th. Finalists will each receive a $100 Fresh & Easy gift card and the winning designer will win a year’s worth of free groceries.*



The Design-A-Bag contest is part of a broader effort at Fresh & Easy to encourage the use of reusable bags. Today, the company also launched a reusable bag giveaway in celebration of Earth Day where customers can receive a free canvas bag through April 22nd when they spend $20 or more. The special Earth Day coupon for the free reusable bag can be found on Fresh & Easy’s Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/freshandeasy.**



*A value of $5,000.

**Canvas bag valued at 99-cents.

Monday, April 4, 2011

CSPI HAILS PROPOSED MENU LABELING REGULATIONS

CSPI HAILS PROPOSED MENU LABELING REGULATIONS

WASHINGTON--Ten years after starting a movement to put calories on chain restaurant menus and menu boards, the Center for Science in the Public Interest strongly supports the proposed menu labeling regulations released by the Food and Drug Administration.

The new regulations are required by the health care reform law enacted last March, which requires chain restaurants with 20 or more outlets to post calories on menus and menu boards, and to provide additional nutrition information in writing upon request. The proposed rules released today are expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

"A number of things contribute to obesity, but studies show that eating out is linked to higher calorie intakes and higher body weights," said CSPI nutrition policy director Margo Wootan. "Without nutrition information, how are people supposed to know that some salads have more calories than some burgers? Or that some ‘appetizers’ pack a thousand or more calories?"

Studies show that providing nutrition information for packaged foods and restaurant foods has a positive influence on food-purchase decisions. While a few recent studies have found no effect, small studies lack enough statistical power to measure the public health effect that can be expected from menu labeling.

One of the best studies was conducted by researchers at Stanford University. They found that menu labeling in New York City resulted in a 6 percent decrease in calories on average per transaction (for people buying more calories, the effect was bigger, a 26 percent decrease) at Starbucks. The researchers estimated that if people made similar changes at other chain restaurants, that would result in a 30-calorie per person per day decrease population-wide. "That is an important finding given that the obesity epidemic is probably fueled by about an extra 100 calories per person per day." Wootan said.

Menu labeling laws have been passed in 18 states, cities, and counties and are in effect in Vermont, California, New York City, Philadelphia, and King County, Wash. As a result of the laws that have been implemented, many restaurants, including Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, Uno Chicago Grill, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and others have reformulated menu items or added new lower-calorie choices.

CSPI is disappointed that the proposed regulations excluded movie theaters and alcohol from the proposed menu labeling regulations, but will press the FDA to include them in the final regulation.

"If a movie theater is going to serve up thousand-calorie tubs of popcorn, 400-calorie drinks, and 400-calorie boxes of candy, the least they could do is tell you about it," Wootan said. "Also, it will be confusing to customers if soft drinks are labeled on menus, but alcoholic drinks like beer and wine aren’t

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Louie Foods International Voluntarily Recalls Certain Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk

Louie Foods International Voluntarily Recalls Certain Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk



Contact:
Jay Louie
559-264-2745



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 30, 2011 - Louie Foods International of Fresno, California, is voluntarily recalling all Louie’s brand sprouts with a “Use By” date on or before 4/14/11, because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. To-date, no illnesses have been reported.

Products affected by the recall include:

* Alfalfa Sprout Mix, 4 oz. cups (UPC 11324 04401)
* Alfalfa Sprout Mix, 16 oz. bags (UPC 11324 16401)
* Clover Sprouts, 4 oz. cups (UPC 11324 04406)
* Clover Sprouts, 16 oz. bags (UPC 11324 04406)
* Spicy Sprouts, 4 oz. cups (UPC 11325 04402)
* Broccoli Sprouts, 4 oz. cups (UPC 11324 04407)

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Products were sold to distributors located in the Central Valley and along the Coast of California. Within hours of being notified, Louie Foods International contacted all of its customers and advised them to destroy the affected products.

The contamination was detected during a random test conducted by the USDA, in a package of the alfalfa-clover sprouts. However, as a precautionary measure, Louie Foods International is recalling all sprout products produced during the same time period. Louie Foods International has temporarily ceased the production and distribution of the sprout products subject to this recall. The California Department of Public Health, FDA and Louie Foods International continue their investigation into the source of the problem.

Consumers are urged to destroy the above listed products or to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers may contact Jay Louie at Louie Foods International, 1-559-264-2745 for additional information.

Friday, April 1, 2011

National Restaurant Association Praises Lawmakers for Proposal to Speed Up Depreciation for Restaurant Improvements, New Construction

National Restaurant Association Praises Lawmakers for Proposal to Speed Up Depreciation for Restaurant Improvements, New Construction
Measure Would Help Businesses Reinvest in Their Operations, Create Jobs

(Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association applauded Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Reps. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) and Richard Neal (D-Mass.), who this week introduced bipartisan bills to make permanent a 15-year tax depreciation schedule for restaurant improvements and new construction, leasehold improvements and retail improvements.

Under S. 687 and H.R. 1265, restaurateurs, their landlords and other commercial-property owners could write off the cost of improvements to property, as well as the cost of new construction for restaurants, over 15 years, rather than 39. The current 15-year schedule for these investments is set to expire at the end of 2011.

"We applaud Sens. Conrad and Cornyn, and Congressmen Gerlach and Neal, for supporting measures to create tax fairness and boost the economy," said Scott DeFife, National Restaurant Association executive vice president, policy and government affairs. "This measure recognizes the realities of how often restaurants must renovate, and would provide much-needed cash flow to help small businesses reinvest in their operations."

Restaurants serve more than 130 million guests a day at nearly 1 million establishments across the United States, absorbing a high level of daily wear and tear from guests and employees. National Restaurant Association research shows that restaurants renovate every six to eight years, on average. The 39-year depreciation schedule does not reflect economic realities, DeFife said.

The measure would also help create jobs across the economy. Every $1 spent in construction generates an extra $2.38 billion in spending in the rest of the economy. Restaurants spent more than $6.2 billion on construction of new restaurant buildings in 2009, creating 174,000 jobs in the economy.

The quicker depreciation schedules would apply to new restaurant construction as well as investments in property such as interior walls, wiring, partitions, plumbing, and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems in restaurants, offices and other commercial space.