Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Monday, September 30, 2013

Soybean Growers to Congress: Your Inaction is Hurting Farmers

ST. LOUIS (Oct. 1, 2013) – With today’s expiration of the one-year extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, coupled with the shutdown of the federal government, the American Soybean Association (ASA) lamented another failed opportunity on the part of Congress to provide the nation’s soybean farmers with the certainty they need to remain competitive and plan for the future. Compounding this most recent Congressional dysfunction is the expiration of funding for key U.S. Department of Agriculture programs as a result of the federal shutdown of what are improperly considered “non-essential” government activities. “Congress has yet again failed its most basic duty: to debate and pass legislation and, frankly, we’ve run out of ways to say we’re disappointed,” said ASA President Danny Murphy, a soybean, corn and wheat farmer from Canton, Miss. “The farm bill authorized and provides critical funding for myriad programs on which farmers depend, including key conservation programs, indispensable foreign food assistance and market development activities, and industry-advancing research. These and other programs have helped to make American agriculture a bright spot throughout the recession and into the recovery. We’ve created jobs, supported rural communities and fed our neighbors both at home and abroad. All of these programs will come to a grinding halt tomorrow because this Congress is more interested in scoring partisan political points than serving its constituents. Once again, Congress fails to act and American farmers pay the price.” The expiration of the farm bill means multiple programs on which soybean farmers depend will cease. Conservation programs affected include the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Foreign aid programs affected by the farm bill’s expiration include the Food for Peace Program, the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, and the Emerging Markets Program (EMP). Particularly impactful for the soybean industry will be the expiration of funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (Cooperator) Program (FMD). “Shutting down the MAP and FMD programs will bring immediate and harsh consequences for the soy industry,” said Murphy. “Soybeans are the nation’s most valuable agricultural export. Our overseas market development arms, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), work with foreign buyers and carry out trade servicing and demand building activities. Both USSEC and WISHH count on critical funds from FMD and MAP to operate offices and carry out demand building work around the globe. A cutoff of funds from the Foreign Agriculture Service will force our industry to discontinue program activities. Congress’ shortsighted failure to pass a farm bill isn’t just a political embarrassment; it will cost the industry global market share almost immediately.” Adding to the frustration for farmers is the fact that innumerable USDA agencies will close until further notice as a result of today’s shutdown of the federal government. Due to the lack of appropriations funding, USDA staff deemed “non-essential” will be prevented from staffing their offices, which Murphy also says will have a significant impact on soybean farmers. “Farmers depend on these agencies,” he said. “Whether it’s the county Farm Service Agency office, staff at the Risk Management Agency, market access work done by the Foreign Agricultural Service or Office of U.S. Trade Representative, or the work done at the Agricultural Research Service, soybean farmers have a longstanding and valuable working relationship with our federal partners at USDA, and their absence for the foreseeable future will be painfully apparent.” “Congressional gridlock has cost farmers yet again, and we demand a stop to the political gamesmanship,” added Murphy. “It’s time for our elected officials to remember who they represent and get to work passing a farm bill that works for American farmers.”

Friday, September 27, 2013

Agriculture Secretary Announces Funding to Support Small, Socially Disadvantaged Producers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced grants to support small, socially disadvantaged agriculture producers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy. "These grants will help socially-disadvantaged business owners get the tools they need to succeed and expand markets across the nation," said Vilsack. "This funding is an example of the Obama Administration's dedication to the economic stability of rural communities throughout the country." Funding is provided through USDA's Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant program, which offers technical assistance to help producers develop new markets and grow their operations. For example, the Latino Economic Development Center in Minneapolis has been selected to receive a $200,000 grant to provide legal and business training to small Latino and Hmong agricultural producers. A complete list of grant recipients follows below. The funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement. Alabama • Alabama A&M University – $195,730 grant. Funds will be used to help socially disadvantaged producers build sustainable farming and agricultural businesses. California • Southern California Focus on Cooperation – $200,000 grant. Funds will be used to provide technical assistance and cooperative education to refugee and immigrant farmers. Hawaii • The Kohala Center, Inc. – $151,913 grant. Funds will be used to provide technical assistance to Palili 'O Kohala Cooperative, Maui Aquaponics Cooperative, Kau Agricultural Water Cooperative, and Cho Global Farming Cooperative. Illinois • Pembroke Family Farmers Association – $153,925 grant. Funds will be used to help create business management practices. Kentucky • Kentucky State University – $103,450 grant. Funds will be used to help small socially-disadvantaged producers develop cooperatives, register and secure proper title to farmland, and fully utilize various USDA programs that assist small farmers. Massachusetts • Cooperative Development Institute – $45,192 grant. Funds will be used to help partner organizations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont provide technical assistance to immigrant and refugee farmers from Bhutan, Somalia, Burundi, Sudan and the Congo. Minnesota • Latino Economic Development Center – $200,000 grant. Funds will be used to provide legal and business training to small Latino and Hmong agricultural producers. New Mexico • Southwest Development Center Inc. – $150,000 grant. Funds will be used to help set up and manage two food hubs at a food cooperative. North Carolina • North Carolina A & T State University – $196,120 grant. Funds will be used to help farm businesses develop marketing plans. New York • North Country Grown Cooperative, Inc. – $109,552 grant. Funds will be used to provide training on peer-to-peer learning and business development practices. Puerto Rico • Cooperativa De Ganaderos De Carne De Res – $123,800 grant. Funds will be used to develop a marketing plan, provide legal assistance, and animal health and humane treatment training. South Carolina • Farmers Cooperative/Community Improvement – $40,700 grant. Funds will be used to provide legal assistance, leadership training and identifying ways to expand agricultural production capabilities. South Dakota • Intertribal Buffalo Council – $200,000 grant. Funds will be used to provide best management practices training on low-stress handling of buffalo. Secretary Vilsack noted that today's funding announcements are another reminder of the importance of USDA programs for rural America. A comprehensive new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would further expand the rural economy – and he said that's just one reason why Congress must get a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill done as soon as possible. President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users)

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

National Restaurant Association Calls for Food and Beverage Innovations for 2014 FABI Awards

National Restaurant Association Calls for Food and Beverage Innovations for 2014 FABI Awards Award recipients to gain industry-wide visibility with breakthrough innovations impacting the foodservice industry (CHICAGO) – The National Restaurant Association is now accepting applications for the 2014 FABI Awards. The FABI Awards program recognizes and celebrates food and beverage manufacturers who advance the industry through innovation in ingredients, preparation, processing and/or packaging. An independent panel of expert judges will select the Award recipients, which will be showcased at NRA Show 2014, taking place May 17-20 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. “Successful operators continually seek and adopt new products that reflect consumer trends, are highly marketable and can add incremental value and benefits to their operations,” said Mary Pat Heftman, Executive Vice President, Convention & Strategic Alliances, National Restaurant Association. “The FABI Awards were created to identify emerging products that operators can use to enhance their business." "We are looking for trailblazing products that will help drive customer satisfaction and profitability for restaurants,” said John Li, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. and FABI Awards judge. “I have seen how introducing a FABI Award can contribute to improving operators’ businesses. That is why it is so important to bring these cutting-edge innovations to the forefront of the industry.” The deadline to apply for the 2014 FABI Awards is January 10, 2014. To be considered, all food and beverage products (new food or beverage product can include the packaging or delivery system) must be introduced in the U.S. foodservice marketplace between January 1, 2013 and May 17, 2014. The innovative product must meet four criteria: • Unique with meaningful differentiation • Superior to directly competing products • Documentation for claims made and proof of performance • Deliver significant benefit(s) to targeted operators as judged by the panel Visit Restaurant.org/Show/FABI to view the online application and to see a list of previous award recipients. All applications are judged by an independent panel of experts, representing both commercial and non-commercial industry segments, including Carlyn Berghoff (CEO, Berghoff Catering & Restaurant Group), John Li (Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.), Jeff McClure (Director of Culinary Services, Sodexo Education Market), Deborah McDaniel (Senior Director, Product Innovation & Development, McDonald’s USA, LLC), Mary Angela Miller (Administrative Director, Ohio State Wexner University Medical Center), Brad Nelson (Vice President & Corporate Chef, Marriott International), Linda Sceurman (National Director of Nutrition & Menu Development, ARAMARK Education), William J. Spencer (Chief, Air Force Appropriated Fund Food & Beverage Operations), Brian Wilson (Senior Culinary Development Chef, Bob Evans Farms Inc.) and Ed Wronski, (Director, Culinary & Concept Development, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts). The annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice, and lodging professionals. NRA Show 2014 will be held May 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and the 2014 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event held in conjunction with the NRA Show will take place May 18-19. The events attract 62,000+ attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries, and the event showcases the latest products, services, innovative ideas, up-to-the-minute information about trends and issues, and more growth opportunities than any other industry event. For more information, visit the NRA Show and IWSB Websites at Restaurant.org/Show and WineSpiritsBeer.org, and find the NRA Show on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Instagram @NRAShow, YouTube, Flickr, Pinterest and its widely read NRA Show Blog.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Senator Debbie Stabenow Remarks on Nutrition Assistance

Senator Debbie Stabenow Remarks on Nutrition Assistance Wednesday, September 18, 2013 Remarks as prepared for delivery Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the relentless assault on the poor and hungry in this country that’s being waged right now in the House of Representatives and too often here on the Senate floor. The meltdown on Wall Street caused a recession in this country that was worse than anything we’ve experienced since the Great Depression. 8 million Americans lost their jobs. Trillions of dollars in the stock market were wiped out – and with that money went the life savings of many middle-class families. Many families lost their homes. Small businesses closed up shop. This was an economic disaster that hit communities across this country just as hard as any natural disaster. And while Wall Street is doing well again these days, millions of families on Main Street are still waiting for their situation to improve. We are seeing new job creation. But millions of Americans are still out of work. Millions of Americans are still out of work. While jobs are being created, the employment rate has remained nearly flat since the Great Recession. What the House Republicans are saying is this: get a good paying job or your family will just have to go hungry. But there aren’t enough good paying jobs, as you can see. And to add insult to injury, they are slashing the job training money that states get to help these men and women find work. Economists point to the irresponsible sequestration cuts as a cause of sluggish job growth. In the Senate, we’ve passed a budget that will replace sequestration with a balanced solution – but a handful of Senators are blocking us from being able to even send negotiators to the House to finalize the budget. And so we are now stuck with a policy that makes absolutely no sense, that economists say is slowing down our economy and costing us jobs, because of political games in Washington. And this is having a serious effect on the wallets of Americans who continue to find it difficult to put food on the table for their families. Even those people who are able to find work are working for less money. Wages, as a percent of the economy, are at 30-year lows. So this is the situation that millions of American families are finding themselves in today: they are struggling to find work, and when they do find work, the salary isn’t even close to what it was before the recession. Many people have taken pay cuts to keep their jobs, or they’ve had their pay and benefits frozen for four or five years now. Families that just 10 years ago were doing fine are now in dire straits. And now, the same Republicans who refuse to fix the sequester, who refuse to work with us to get our economy moving again for millions of middle class families, are trying to take temporary food assistance away from the children and families who are out of work, or who are working one, two, or even three part time jobs and can’t make ends meet. We know that many families receiving SNAP are working families. They are people with children whose wages are falling behind so they are no longer able to feed their families. For those who have lost their jobs, SNAP is a short-term lifeline to keep food on the table while they search for a job. We know that the average new SNAP recipient only receives assistance for 10 months or less. And we know that SNAP recipients are using that money to feed their children. Nearly half of the people receiving SNAP are, in fact, children. The real faces of food assistance are hungry children whose parents are trying their best to get back on their feet. The real faces of food assistance are seniors whose only income is Social Security, who rely on SNAP so they have enough to buy groceries. The real faces of food assistance are veterans who went to war for this country, many of whom were injured, and returned home only to find that they can’t find a job, or their disabilities make it impossible to work. And instead of honoring those men and women for their service, House Republicans want to take away the little bit of help they get each month to help them buy food. If you add this up, 85% of people receiving food assistance are children and their parents, people with disabilities, and senior citizens. The bill being considered in the House of Representatives would kick millions of children and their families off of food assistance. That’s how Majority Leader Eric Cantor and House Republicans would cut $40 Billion in food assistance. They do it by cutting off individuals and families who need the assistance most. Under the Republican plan, which Eric Cantor says encourages people to get back to work, benefits for jobless adults without children would be limited to just three months out of three years. That means if you lose your job and are unemployed for six months, you only get help for three of those six months. And once you find a new job, you had better make sure your company doesn’t close within the next two and a half years, because you aren’t going to get any help with food then, either. It’s important to note that according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, 14 million people will stop receiving food assistance over the next 10 years the right way - as the economy has improved and they are back on their feet financially. But the House Republican Leader’s bill eliminates families from food assistance the wrong way – by eliminating food help to those who are most in need: • 1.7 million poor, unemployed adults next year whose average income is about $2,500 per year; • 2.1 million low-income working families and seniors next year, and 210,000 children who would lose school lunches; • And other unemployed parents – and by extension, their children – who want to work but cannot find a job or a training program to join. They say it’s about getting people back to work, but this bill cuts worker training and job placement services for people who are trying to get back to work and get off SNAP. People on SNAP want to work, but there just aren’t enough jobs for them. Right now, we have three unemployed workers for every job opening. So does the Republican plan do anything to help people find jobs or the job training skills they need to get a good paying job? No! In fact, the Republican plan would offer cash-strapped states a truly perverse incentive, allowing them to keep half of the federal money that would have been spent on food whenever they kick someone off the program! Let me be clear, we have seen occasions of fraud and abuse in the food assistance program – and that’s why the Senate Farm Bill includes major reforms to crack down on misuse of the program to make sure only people truly in need are getting help. We heard reports of people winning the lottery and getting SNAP benefits – so we reformed the program to make sure that doesn’t happen. We saw liquor stores accepting food stamps when they don’t really sell much food – so we reformed the program to make sure that can’t happen anymore. Where there were real abuses to food assistance program, the Senate passed real reforms to crack down on those abuses. And we did that in a bipartisan way. But what the House Republicans are voting on is nothing more than an extremely divisive, extremely partisan political exercise that is going nowhere. And it is jeopardizing the passage of a 5 year Farm Bill! We have never seen this kind of partisanship injected into a Farm Bill! And shame on Eric Cantor and his allies for doing so now. Our farmers, our ranchers, our small towns and rural communities and our children and families do not deserve this! 16 million people work in America because of Agriculture. And they don't deserve this!! What is happening this week in the House of Representatives isn’t about reality. It’s about fiction – an idea that if the stock market is doing well, if wealthy Members of Congress are doing well, then surely everyone in America must be doing well too. And anyone who isn’t must be lazy or not trying hard enough. The reality is that most people in America are still struggling to get back on their feet from the recession. There still aren't enough jobs for every person who needs one. The jobs that are there pay less than they did 5 years ago. The families getting food help are making around $500 a week. They don’t have money in the stock market. They don’t have investment income. In fact, the average SNAP family doesn’t have more than about $300 in assets. What they do have is about $4.53 a day to eat. $4.53 a day - that’s less than one specialty coffee. And some members of the House of Representatives have decided that is just too much. We all want to spend less on food assistance – and the good news is that we are spending less in our Senate Farm Bill. The spending baseline for SNAP is going down as the economy improves. $11.5 Billion in reduced spending is built into our Farm bill because more people are finding jobs. Again, the Congressional Budget Office projects that 14 million people will leave the program as the economy improves because they no longer need temporary help. And SNAP recipients are already going to see cuts to their benefits on November 1 because of the expiration of the Recovery Act provisions that temporarily boosted assistance to families in need. If we want to continue to cut spending the right way, we should be working together to invest in our economy, support our businesses – large and small – to out-innovate the global competition, get rid of the sequester, and help people get the training they need to find good-paying jobs. The Republican approach is like saying we’re tired of spending so much on wildfires, so we’ll just cut the budget of the fire service. That isn’t going to work. The fire will rage on, and it will only get worse. We need to find ways to prevent or contain the fires in order to reduce our costs. The Republican approach is also like saying we're tired of paying for the costs of droughts, and flooding, and other crop disasters so we're going to cut crop insurance. The government’s cost of crop insurance went up over $5 billion – or 50 percent – last year. And while we’re seeing increases in spending on crop insurance, it’s projected that spending on food assistance will actually go down by $11.5 billion over the next 10 years. Are the House Republicans proposing we eliminate help for farmers in a disaster? Or just low-income families when they have a disaster? What is happening in the House right now is a complete reversal of fifty years of American values. Today in the United States of America, 1 in 6 people say they don’t know where their next meal is going to come from. 1 out of 6 Americans! In the greatest, the wealthiest country in the world! We have a long history in this country of making sure that poverty and hunger are kept in check. President Ronald Reagan understood this – he said “As long as there is one person in this country who is hungry, that’s one person too many, and something must be done about it.” What would he have to say about this effort now in the House of Representatives, to blame the victims of poverty and unemployment? To blame the children, and the seniors, and the veterans who only want enough food to eat? The House Republicans who are proposing these drastic cuts all have enough to eat. We in the Senate do as well. None of us wonder where our next meal is going to come from. None of us have to worry about how to feed our children tonight. None of us have to skip meals so our children don't go to bed hungry. We in America are better than the debate being waged in the House. And the good news for children, families, seniors, the disabled and veterans across America is that the House bill will never see the light of day in the Senate! It's time to stop the political games around hunger and poverty in America. It's time to work together to pass a Farm Bill, grow the economy and reduce the need for food assistance the right way.....by making sure every American has the opportunity to have a good paying job so they can feed their families and achieve their part of the American Dream.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Peterson Statement on Republican Nutrition Cuts

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., today said legislation expected to be considered by the House of Representatives this week will only make it harder to pass a new farm bill this Congress. H.R. 3102 cuts $40 billion from nutrition programs over ten years. “Instead of appointing farm bill conferees, the Republican Leadership has decided to move forward with an unnecessary and divisive nutrition bill. Even if this bill is defeated, as it should be, I worry the debate will eliminate any remaining goodwill needed to pass a farm bill. “The Majority is again catering to the extremes of their party, pushing messaging bills to nowhere. It’s time to get serious. If they will just get out of our way, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees can work together and provide farmers, ranchers and consumers the certainty of a five-year farm bill.”

Thursday, September 12, 2013

FDA Extends Comment Period for Proposed “action level” for Arsenic in Apple Juice

FDA Extends Comment Period for Proposed “action level” for Arsenic in Apple Juice September 12, 2013 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended by 60 days the period for submission of comments, scientific data and other information in connection with its draft guidance for industry titled “Arsenic in Apple Juice: Action Level.” The new deadline is November 12, 2013. The draft guidance identifies for the industry an action level for inorganic arsenic in apple juice that the FDA considers protective of human health and achievable with the use of good manufacturing practices. It also describes the FDA’s intended sampling and enforcement approach. A notice of availability for the draft guidance was published in the Federal Register of July 15, 2013 (78 FR 42086) and included a request for comments. The FDA has extended the comment period deadline in response to a request for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments. The draft guidance proposes an action level of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. This is the same level set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for arsenic in drinking water. The FDA would take the action level into account when considering an enforcement action.. Additional information concerning the proposed action level is posted on the FDA’s web site, including a news release, the agency’s “Draft Quantitative Assessment of Inorganic Arsenic in Apple Juice,” the agency’s “Draft Guidance for Industry on Arsenic in Apple Juice: Action Level,” and other, related materials. To access these documents, visit the agency’s Arsenic in Apple Juice main page. # This Constituent Update can be found at http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm367989.htm Additional Constituent Updates can be found at http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/default.htm