Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

APHIS seeking comments on ag coexistence

Dear Stakeholder: In November, USDA published a notice in the Federal Register to solicit public comments on how agricultural coexistence in the United States can be strengthened. USDA is extending the comment period for this notice by 60 days to allow interested parties additional time to provide input. The Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21) made recommendations in five major areas regarding agricultural coexistence. In the area of education and outreach, the committee recommended that USDA foster communication and collaboration to strengthen coexistence. The notice seeks public comment to identify ways to foster communication and collaboration among those involved in all sectors of agriculture production. Coexistence is defined as the concurrent cultivation of crops produced through diverse agricultural systems including traditionally produced, organic, identity preserved, and genetically engineered crops. USDA supports all forms of agriculture and wants each sector to be as successful as possible providing products to markets in the United States and abroad. For more information on coexistence, visit http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=AC21Main.xml&contentidonly=true. This extension will be published in the Federal Register next week. Consideration will be given to comments received on or before March 4, 2014. If you wish to submit a comment using the Internet go to the Federal eRulemaking portal http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0047-0001. Please send your postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2013-0047, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov website and may also be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call 202-799-7039.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Feinstein: Mandatory Labeling for Genetically Modified Foods

Poll: 93% of Americans favor labeling of food products; Senator says: “Consumers have the right to know” origin of food Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is urging the Obama administration to mandate the labeling of genetically modified foods and ingredients. In a letter to the president, Feinstein requested a reevaluation of the Food and Drug Administration’s labeling policy for genetically engineered food products. Feinstein wrote: “It is my strong opinion that consumers have the right to know whether their food originates from genetically modified organisms. Your administration should re-evaluate the Food and Drug Administration’s outdated policy that genetically engineered food does not need to disclose this fact on required labels.” Full text of the letter follows: December 19, 2013 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C., 20001 Dear President Obama, I am writing today to urge you to take administrative action to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods and ingredients. It is my strong opinion that consumers have the right to know whether their food originates from genetically modified organisms. Your administration should re-evaluate the Food & Drug Administration’s outdated policy that genetically engineered food does not need to disclose this fact on required labels. It is my view that the FDA does have the authority to require labeling for genetically engineered food products. The Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act (FD&C) prohibits the misbranding of food articles, which includes if a label is “misleading.” The FD&C defines misleading to include a failure to “reveal facts material” about a food product. The FDA has interpreted these provisions in a 1992 statement of policy such that the fact of whether a food product is genetically engineered is not necessarily a material fact that must be provided to consumers. Since 1992, the number and type of genetically engineered foods has vastly changed, including the pending application of the first genetically engineered animal, AquaAdvatage Salmon. It is also clear that consumer interest in whether their food is genetically engineered has increased dramatically, as a poll conducted by the New York Times in July found that 93% of Americans favor GE labeling. Given these facts, I believe that genetic engineering is clearly of material importance to American consumers, and thus the outdated policy position the FDA took over 21 years ago on labeling should be revised. Please act in the best interest of American consumers and use your authority to require labeling of genetically engineered foods. Thank you for your time and consideration of my views. Please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Dianne Feinstein United States Senator

Secretary Vilsack: A New Farm Bill to Carry On America’s Record Agricultural Trade

A New Farm Bill to Carry On America’s Record Agricultural Trade By Tom Vilsack Over the course of 2013, we’ve seen yet another banner year for U.S. agricultural exports. Exports of U.S. farm and ranch products reached a record $140.9 billion in 2013 and supported about a million U.S. jobs. In fact, compared to the previous five-year period from 2004-2008, U.S. agricultural exports from 2009-2013 increased by a total of nearly $230 billion. All told, the past five years represent the strongest five-year period in our nation’s history for agricultural exports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has focused on two key factors in recent years to help make this success possible. First, an unprecedented effort by USDA and our Federal partners to expand and grow markets around the world. Second, a commitment to make sure our farmers and ranchers have the tools to grow more, even in the face of uncertainty. Thanks to the Farm Bill, particularly the Foreign Market Development Program and Market Access Program, USDA has been able to work with hundreds of U.S. businesses since 2009 to expand trade. We have led more than 150 U.S. agribusinesses on agricultural trade missions and helped more than 1,000 U.S. companies and organizations promote their wares at trade shows around the world. Together, these trade promotion programs yield $35 in economic benefits for every dollar invested. Unfortunately, without a new Farm Bill, these programs can’t continue. The trade promotion programs complement USDA efforts with our Federal partners to expand trade agreements and break down unfair barriers to trade. In the past five years, the Obama Administration has challenged more than 750 sanitary and phytosanitary trade barriers, compared to less than 400 such challenges in the previous five-year period. We’ve also helped achieve new trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, along with equivalency agreements for organic products to Canada, the European Union and Japan. But the Farm Bill stands at the heart of our trade promotion effort, and companies across the nation need a renewed commitment to agricultural trade promotion that only a new Farm Bill can provide. As we have undertaken record efforts to promote U.S. trade, we’re also hard at work here at home to help America’s farmers and ranchers increase their productivity. Since 2009, USDA has provided a record number of farm loans – more than 159,000 – to help farmers get started and keep growing. Additionally, using Farm Bill programs that have since expired, we stepped in to help hundreds of thousands of producers facing disaster. So, in addition to the many trade-related benefits of the Farm Bill, USDA is awaiting passage of this legislation to continue helping farmers and ranchers grow the food needed to drive exports even higher. A new Farm Bill would continue assistance to farm businesses through loans and loan guarantees, while also reauthorizing disaster assistance programs and providing retroactive help to livestock producers who have been hit particularly hard in the past two years. American agriculture has been an economic success story in recent years – growing more despite adversity, sending more food around the world and creating more jobs here at home. There is even more success ahead, but we need a new Farm Bill as soon as possible to keep this record momentum going.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

MARY KAY DONATES $1.2 MILLION FOR 20 NATURE EXPLORE® CLASSROOMS AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS ACROSS THE U.S.

Collaboration with Arbor Day Foundation Gets Children Outside to Explore, Learn and Heal After Witnessing Abuse NEBRASKA CITY, NEB. (December 17, 2013) – It is estimated that 3-4 million children in the United States witness domestic violence in their homes each year. These children are more likely to show anxiety, low self-esteem or temperament problems than children who do not witness violence in the home. Research shows that nature can help with negative life stress on children and help them deal with adversity going forward. Being in nature also helps reduce or eliminate anti-social behavior which is common in children who have witnessed abuse. In response to this issue, Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay FoundationSM partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to build 20 Nature Explore classrooms at domestic violence shelters across the U.S. in an effort to bring nature into the daily lives of children affected by abuse. The multi-year initiative is the largest corporate collaboration for the Nature Explore Classroom program and provides children a safe and supportive space to explore, learn and heal as they recover from the effects of witnessing abuse. Nature Explore is a collaborative program of the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation designed to introduce nature in the daily lives and learning of children. Along with the outdoor area, each Nature Explore Classroom includes a multi-faceted curriculum with details on how to fully maximize the educational opportunities and healing effects of the outdoor environment. “Mary Kay’s hope in partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to bring Nature Explore classrooms into domestic violence shelters is that children might have a safe, quiet and fun place to learn, play and heal as they recover from the effects of abuse,” said Crayton Webb, Director of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for Mary Kay Inc. “We are deeply committed to preventing and ending domestic violence while also supporting programs like Nature Explore that are providing support to those in need.” Nature Explore Classrooms are often constructed in areas where children have regular access to schools, parks and child care centers. However, children living in domestic violence shelters do not have access to these public spaces because their safety could be jeopardized. “Collaborating with Mary Kay to bring Nature Explore Classrooms to domestic violence shelters has deepened the impact of these outdoor research-based spaces,” said John Rosenow, Chief Executive for the Arbor Day Foundation. “Nature Explore classrooms provide a connection to nature that helps children overcome tragedy and trauma with play and purpose.” Mary Kay built and dedicated its first five Nature Explore Classrooms in 2009 in Texas, California, Georgia, New Jersey and Illinois. Four more classrooms followed in 2010 in Massachusetts, Illinois, California and Colorado with an additional four in 2011 built in Georgia, New York (2) and Texas. The final seven are set for completion before the end of 2013 in Pennsylvania, California, Florida (2), Indiana, Utah and Nevada providing a total of 20 Mary Kay funded Nature Explore Classrooms in 13 states. Earlier this year Mary Kay Inc. released the fifth annual Truth About Abuse Survey which anonymously surveyed executive directors of more than 800 domestic violence shelters. Sixty four percent of shelters reported an increase in women with children seeking assistance from their shelter as a result of domestic violence. As one shelter director said, “the Nature Explore Classroom has always been a place where our mothers and children can find peace. Families fleeing domestic violence find the outdoor space to be a calm refuse as they engage in the healing process and begin to rebuild their lives.”

2013 DietDetective.com Airline Food Investigation

Virgin America and Air Canada Receive Top Rating, and Alaska Close Behind United and JetBlue Improving American and US Airways Below Par, Once again, Allegiant at the Bottom, Least Cooperative NEW YORK, NY (DECEMBER 17, 2013) According to Airlines For America, there are typically more than 44 million passengers traveling over the holiday travel season (December 16th - January 5th). Knowing what are the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ choices is a valuable tool for any traveler, so DietDetective.com once again rated the best ‘Calorie Bargains’ and “Calorie Rip-offs” at 35,000 feet. DietDetective.com issued the 2013 Airline Food Survey rating foods for twelve (12) airlines. The survey assigned a “Health Score” (5 stars = highest rate, 0 star = lowest) based on eight criteria including health of meals and snack boxes, health of individual snacks, healthy offerings, calorie levels (snacks, meals, snack boxes), improvement from last year's survey, menu innovation and cooperation in providing nutritional information. The survey includes health ratings, average calories per airline, cost, comments, food offerings, calories, and exercise equivalents. The average number of calories per food item for all airlines last year was 388. This year it’s 360 calories per food item — a drop! “This year Virgin America and Air Canada are tied for the top spot with the "healthiest" food choices in the sky, and Alaska Air not too far behind. Allegiant received the lowest score, was the least cooperative and received a low health rating,” says Charles Platkin, PhD, MPH, public health advocate, editor of DietDetective.com and Distinguished Lecturer (professor) at HUNTER College and the City University of New York School of Public Health. Below are the surveyed airlines’ “Health Scores” (Health Score: 5 stars = highest rating, 0 stars = lowest). For full survey results including full listings of the snack/on-board food, comments, ratings, cost, calories, exercise equivalents, and tips go to www.DietDetective.com Virgin America (877-359-8474, www.virginamerica.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Excellent Health Score: (**** 1/2) Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 458.6 Average Meal/ Snack Box Calories = 360.75 Average Individual Snack Calories = 270.63 Best Bets: Avoid the individual snacks, since none of them is very healthy. Even the nuts, which are the best choice, are high in calories if you consume the entire package. For breakfast, Virgin used to have low-calorie oatmeal, which has been replaced by a higher-calorie granola with fruit and yogurt — not too bad if you were rushing to catch the plane and didn’t have any other choice. The best snack box is the Protein Meal with hummus, nuts and tuna — the others are a bit high in calories that are not really worth it. For kids, skip the Jet Set Kid Pack if you can, and go for the half peanut butter and jam sandwich: It’s a better choice. In general, the best bet is to go for a real meal, even if you save half for later. Nearly all the Travel Light meals are good choices (although the half wrap might not be filling enough). Just reading the menu can make you hungry and excited to fly on Virgin America. The standouts are the Roasted Pear and Arugula Salad with almonds and a fig mustard dressing, which has lots of fiber and only 310 calories. Also, the Chicken Protein Platter is a bit higher in calories (you can always skip some of the cheese), but the protein will keep you feeling full and alert. Again, these are meals that will fill you up and help you avoid the junk. The good news is that none of the food goes overboard in terms of calories — so you really can’t go too far wrong. Air Canada (514-393-3333, www.aircanada.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Excellent Health Score: (**** 1/2) Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 330.95 Average Meal/ Snack Box Calories = 296.90 Average Individual Snack Calories = 365 Best Bets: They can do slightly better on their individual snack offerings. Pick the Nissin — Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup. It will fill you up, and it's more like a meal than a snack. The cashews need to be shared. For kids, the apples with caramel dip are an OK choice, but you should probably limit the caramel. I still love the idea of the Celery & Carrots with Ranch Dip (limit the dip to no more than half). For many of the individual snacks, many are healthy (e.g., nuts, humus), but should be shared. Most of the full meals are relatively low in calories. The Roasted Chicken Wrap is a reasonable choice; however, it has more calories than last year. The airline is also offering a salad — nice work, especially with the quinoa. Breakfast, other than the bagel, is a home run on Air Canada. Go for the Greek yogurt, which is only 150 calories, or the fruit plate (which sounds delicious) for only 186 calories. The smoothies and oatmeal are also strong choices. So glad Air Canada eliminated the calorie-laden muffin. Alaska Airlines (800-252-7522, www.alaskaair.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very helpful Health Score: (****) Average Calories = 402.77 Average Meal/ Snack Box Calories = 402.77 (no individual snacks) Best Bets: Among the snack boxes, the Mediterranean Tapas box hasn’t changed much from last year — and is still the healthiest choice. It has olives, hummus, almonds, dried fruit and even a dark chocolate bar. But keep in mind that 497 calories is a bit high for a “snack” (or even a meal) — so it’s best if you share the box. For kids, the snack box may be tempting, but it’s always better for children (and adults) to eat a real meal than it is to “snack” aimlessly. As far as breakfast choices go, those on the west or northbound flights are all high in calories, but if you happen to be going east or south before December 2013, the Tex-Mex Breakfast is a reasonable choice. The French Toast is not healthy. The Fruit and Cheese plate is available all day and is the best choice for breakfast if you skip the crackers and half the cheese. Among the hot foods, the best choices on the south and eastbound flights are the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Shaker and the Chicken Wrap, and on north / westbound flights the Asian Chicken Salad Shaker. JetBlue Airways (800-538-2583, www.jetblue.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very helpful Health Score: (***1/2) Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 316.41 Average Meal/ Snack Box Calories = 450.22 Average Individual Snack Calories = 165.88 Best Bets: Still nothing much in terms of healthy individual snacks, other than the nuts. And, by the way, the animal crackers are not a great choice, as some of you still insist. Keep in mind, the individual snacks are free, so don’t take more than one. Also, I’m not sure why, but instead of adding healthier snacks they now have Doritos (which did replace the Fritos, but still…). In terms of the meal boxes, Shape Up has healthy ingredients, but should not be eaten as a snack — it’s a meal. Skip the other meal boxes, which are high in calories and fat and offer little in terms of nutrition. If you are on a flight that does offer the Eat Up Café, the Yogurt Parfait and the Quinoa Salad are the best choices — the others are not wonderful (but if you don’t like yogurt or quinoa, the Roast Beef Sandwich will do). United Airlines (800-864-8331, www.united.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very helpful Health Score: (*** 1/4) Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks = 458.58 Average Meal/ Snackbox Calories = 521.38 Average Individual Snack Calories = 322.50 Best Bets: On flights of more than two hours, choose the Tapas snack box, which is high in calories but has many healthy foods, including almonds, olives, hummus and bruschetta — just toss out the cheese spread. The snack box should be shared unless you eat it as a meal. On flights of less than three hours, you don’t have much of a choice for a meal, and the Tapas will fill you up and provide healthy nutrients. Skip the Classic and Savory snack boxes — not too much nutritionally going on. The individual snacks on United have improved from a calorie perspective (the range is now 190 to 650, whereas last year it was 330 to 1,020), and from a health perspective, they’ve scrapped the Chex Mix, croissants, cinnamon rolls and 1,000-calorie nuts. Great work! United has also added the Sweet & Savory Bistro Blend Trail Mix, which is a good choice if you share it with three others (it’s 560 calories per bag), the Two Degrees Food Bars at 190 calories per bar, and the Wild Garden Hummus Dip with Chips at 210 calories. The bars and hummus are both good snack choices. Skip the cheese plate; there are better options. On flights of more than three hours, United has eliminated the Grilled Chicken Spinach Salad at 360 calories — too bad. The good news is that they’ve added the Mediterranean-Style Salad, which is a good low-calorie choice that includes grilled zucchini, squash, bell pepper, olives, hummus and pita. Another reasonable choice is the Turkey & Swiss Cranberry Baguette — maybe skip the cheese. Skip the Cobb Salad Wrap; it is high in calories (do not be fooled by the word “salad”). For breakfast, your best bet is the Morning Energy Selection with fruit, egg and yogurt. The other breakfasts available are not very healthy. American Airlines (817-963-1234, www.aa.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Excellent Health Score: (***) Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 456 Average Meal/ Snack Box Calories = 447.57 Average Individual Snack Calories = 470.75 Best Bets: For individual snacks, the hummus and chips is your best choice at 203 calories (plus healthy hummus). You can pass on the other snacks, especially the fruit and nut mix, unless you have a large family to share it with. I’m not disciplined enough to order that — I would eat the entire 640 calories. Too bad American dropped the Insalata Caprese salad. Now there are no real meals available for that two-hour-plus flight time. If you're on a longer flight (three hours or more), the Fresh Chicken Caesar Salad Bowl minus the chips is the way to go (give the chips away or refuse them).. Avoid the brisket sandwich; even without the chips it’s more than 600 calories. For breakfast on flights of two hours or more there’s not much to eat. You can share the Fruit and Nut Mix with three or more people and be OK until you land (provided you skipped breakfast). On flights of three hours or more, the Breakfast Sandwich is the better choice (without the cookies; give them away or refuse them). There is not much cheese on the fruit and cheese plate — so skip it. US Airways (480-693-0800, www.usairways.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very helpful Health Score: (***) Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 442.46 Average Meal/ Snack Box Calories = 532 Average Individual Snack Calories = 367.50 Best Bets: The only individual snacks that work are the nuts (split with three people or more), the Clif Chocolate Chip Protein Bar and the chips and salsa; the rest lack nutritional value (and have too many calories). However, none of these is a really healthy choice. Among the snack boxes, the Café Plus is much better this year, with mostly healthy items, including roasted garlic hummus, olives, honey glazed almond mix and a fig bar. The Café Snack box can also work if you share it, or it can serve as a meal for one. As for meals, for lunch or dinner the Egg and Turkey Bacon Sandwich (until Dec. 6) has actually increased in calories since last year (it was already high), but still, it’s a real meal, and if you give away the yogurt or take off the jack cheese and the top part of the flatbread it can be a good choice. It’s better than the Fruit and Cheese Plate, which is lower in calories but won’t fill you up. Also, for breakfast you can opt for the Yogurt Parfait at 260 calories (it’s the granola that adds all the calories). For lunch or dinner the Crispy Chicken Salad is probably a miss since it has fried chicken as the protein source. After Dec. 6, the lunch options are all more than 600 calories. Choose the Turkey & Cheese Croissant Sandwich, but take off the cheese. You can also choose the Chicken Cheddar Wrap and give away the chips, or go for the Penne and remove the meat to save calories. Delta Air Lines (800-221-1212, www.delta.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: More helpful than last year Health Score: (**3/4) Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 447.57 Average Meal/ Snack Box Calories = 516.91 Average Individual Snack Calories = 294 Best Bets: For the free snacks (on flights of 1.5 hours-plus) the peanuts are the best choice. None of the “for sale” individual snacks is a good choice. If you do get the nut mix, make sure to share it with at least two others. Gosh, the snack boxes are getting worse (higher in calories). Both boxes are poor choices. However, if you choose the Eats Tapas, eat the hummus, bruschetta, olives, almonds, apricots and dark chocolate — skip the rest, and make this a meal, not a snack. Of the breakfast options, your best bet is the Kickstart Combo (yogurt, banana and Kind bar) at 340 calories. If you share the Fruit & Cheese Plate at 560 calories, skip the crackers, and don’t eat all the cheese, it can be a good choice because of the fruit and almonds (and some of the cheese).. The Turkey Slider Combo is a good choice if you skip the chips. On westbound flights of more than three hours, for lunch/dinner you can have the corned beef sandwich (if no other option suits you), but take off the Swiss cheese and skip the mayo. On eastbound flights of more than three hours, the Roasted Chicken Breast Sandwich is pretty good if you take off the cheddar cheese, and skip the aioli. On flights between Atlanta and Hawaii Delta has two healthy salads — Greek and Caesar. I wish they offered these on all flights. Frontier Airlines (800-432-1359, www.flyfrontier.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Very helpful Health Score: (** 3/4) Average Calories Over All (Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 380.09 Average Snack Box Calories = 613.67 (No meals available; only snacks) Best Bets: For individual snacks, the Larabar is a very good choice (made from whole foods). The Mediterranean Snack Box with hummus, bruschetta, dried fruit and olives is really high in calories but not bad if shared or eaten as a meal, not a snack; just skip the cookies. As for the kids’ snack boxes, the Flip’s Surf Shop & Snack Shack is not the best choice. Southwest Airlines (214-792-4223, www.southwest.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Excellent Health Score: (**) Average Calories = 108 (Individual Snacks only; no meals or snack boxes available) Comments: Not much variety and not much in terms of nutritional value. They need to add a few healthy items. How about an apple? Best Bet: Go for the nuts and skip the pretzels and other items. . Allegiant Air (702-505-8888, www.allegiantair.com) Cooperation in Providing Nutritional Information: Not very helpful Health Score: (* 1/2) Average Calories Over All (Meals, Snack Boxes and Individual Snacks) = 408.25 Average Meal/ Snack Box Calories = 500.40 Average Individual Snack Calories = 366.36 Best Bets: The snack boxes are not great in terms of health (and not just calorie-wise). Among the individual snacks, nuts are the healthiest choice. Low-carb fans might consider Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. Overall, the turkey sandwich without cheese is a good choice for the West Coast. On the East Coast, go with the hummus, but you’ll probably want to make sure you bring a sandwich for yourself.

ALG: Sequester breached with $63 billion more spending, $32 billion more taxes

Sequester breached with $63 billion more spending, $32 billion more taxes Dec. 17, 2013, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government today issued the following statement blasting a 67 to 33 Senate vote to advance the Ryan-Murray budget deal: "When anything is deemed better than a government shutdown, everything is on the table. This bad deal that will increase spending in violation of sequester by $63 billion over the next two years, includes more than $32 billion of revenues and fees in the next decade, and will make it easier for the Senate to break spending limits in the future by lowering certain voting thresholds from 60 to 51 votes. "The only question now is what future extortions the anything-but-a-shutdown caucus on the Republican side will accept. When you have no capacity to say no, you'll agree to anything no matter how awful. This is a lump of coal for taxpayers."

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Voluntary FDA Approach on Antibiotics Must be Monitored to Avert Public Health Crisis, Says CSPI

Statement of CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal The World Health Organization has said that consumers are at serious risk of losing the value of antibiotics in human medicine due to their overuse. Today many antibiotics important for treating humans are actually sold for use in animals. By volume, about three times the amount of antibiotics sold for treatment of humans are sold for use in animals. As two former Food and Drug Administration commissioners have urged, this overuse has to stop as it makes consumers more vulnerable to hard-to-treat pathogens in their food and in the environment. The FDA finished work today on its voluntary approach to relabeling and restricting the use of many antibiotics in animal production. Unfortunately it requires the drug companies who profit from sales of their drugs to initiate the process. The good news is that the agency has pledged to evaluate levels of compliance and inform the public after 90 days if the drug industry is cooperating with the relabeling effort. FDA is also putting veterinarians in the role of assessing when antibiotics should be used, and issuing prescriptions. This will help reduce the overuse of antibiotics, though several loopholes in the new Veterinary Feed Directive could undermine progress. For example, the proposed regulation would give states an increased role in defining the veterinary oversight through their licensing and practice requirements, though some states don’t have adequate laws regarding veterinary practices. No one is advocating that sick animals should not be treated. But just as our kids see a doctor to get antibiotics, farmers should call a veterinarian, who can assess whether and when treatment with an antibiotic is appropriate. This simple step could save antibiotics as treatment options for future generations of consumers and farmers.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

CHEF STEVEN PETUSEVSKY INTRODUCES FLAVORFUL AND HEALTHY VEGETARIAN CREATIONS

Perfect for Prediabetes, Diabetes, and Heart Health THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK: Satisfying, Bold, and Flavorful Recipes from the Garden, by renowned chef and cookbook author Steven Petusevsky, is the perfect kitchen companion for those who want to live a healthier lifestyle, with over 150 recipes for designing and preparing delicious and satisfying vegetarian recipes inspired by global cuisines. Motivated in large part to improve his own health and a recent diagnosis of prediabetes, Chef Petusevsky, former National Director of Creative Food Development for Whole Foods Market and author of The Whole Foods Market Cookbook, approached the American Diabetes Association with the idea of developing a cookbook for those who wanted to prepare vegetarian dishes as well as adopt healthier eating habits. Perfectly suited to those looking to improve their diet, THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK offers dishes that are low in saturated fat, calories, and processed carbohydrates. New and experienced vegetarian cooks will discover such delightful dishes as Pan-Seared Spicy Asparagus with Shiitake Mushrooms, Steve’s Super Bowl of Garden Chili, and Sweet Potato and Apple Latkes, to name a few—and all recipes include complete nutritional information, including exchanges/food choices. “You don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health,” Chef Petusevsky says. “What’s terrific about the recipes in this book is that they are easy to make, have incredible flavor, and will never bore you or your friends and family.” The recipes in THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK rely on simple, fresh, and seasonal ingredients and explore how they relate to each other through taste, texture, color, and flavor harmony. Sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and bitter are the primal elements of taste that, when carefully balanced, resonate together to make every forkful tasty and enjoyable. Chefs know this as the Asian 5-Flavor Principle, which universally guides our taste buds. There was a time when stocking a vegetarian pantry was a challenge for everybody. Thankfully, it is getting easier, with access to large supermarkets, natural foods grocers, or ethnic markets. Chef Petusevsky presents Vegetarian Pantry 101, detailing the wide variety of choices available nearly everywhere today and explaining that a vegetarian pantry is really an evolution from ordinary pantries into a collection of favorite herbs and spices, condiments, dried pastas, legumes, vinegars and oils, grains, alternative proteins, and more. Whether starting a new family tradition or rekindling a relationship with healthful, flavorful, and wonderful vegetarian meals, THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK will find a favored spot in America’s kitchens.

Industry Report on Neonicotinoid Pesticides Predictably Ignores Key Questions, Lacks Hard Data

December 10, 2013, Washington, DC-- Today, Center for Food Safety responded to a misleading and inadequate report on neonicotinoid pesticides released Friday by CropLife, the lobbying arm of the pesticide industry. The report ignores a number of critical factors that must be considered when evaluating the efficacy of the chemical treatment, including unintended negative effects. Moreover, the report lacked conclusive data supporting many of the positive claims asserted by CropLife. Among the concerns noted by Center for Food Safety are: • The report claims that neonicotinoid seed treatments increase yields, but it does not support these claims with independent, peer-reviewed scientific data showing these results in the field. In fact, a large number of published scientific studies demonstrate that claimed yield benefits are illusory in many contexts. The Province of Ontario's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist recently estimated that neonicotinoid seed treatment is only needed in 5% to 20% of the corn fields in which treated seeds are planted. • The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently came to the decision that uses of neonicotinoid seed treatments on corn and soy are "not sustainable." Soon after, Pioneer announced they would be offering non-treated corn seed to Canadian farmers. • The report fails to address the concerns of these seed treatments as systemic. Neonicotinoid residues contaminate soil, water and the environment, and can persist for several years – affecting a wide range of non-target species and ecosystems. • The report ignores the serious and underestimated risks to birds from consuming neonicotinoid treated seeds. A recent report prepared by avian toxicologist Pierre Mineau, PhD. found excessive risk from ingesting treated corn seed, including to threatened and endangered species. • The report ignores the known damage seed treatments cause to populations of beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, lacewings and soil invertebrates. As documented in a recent report, whole classes of species beneficial for agriculture, soil health and ecosystem sustainability are decimated by the "sterilizing effects" of seed treatments. • The report’s discussion of both fungicide and insecticide treatments of seeds ignores the fact that fungicide treatments are scientifically documented to cause harm to honey bee colonies. In addition, the synergistic impacts of fungicides and insecticides together have not been adequately studied, by EPA's own admission. • Promises of new, dust-reducing polymer seed treatments noted in the report remain speculative and would take several years to be effective, as EPA has refused to mandate such changes. The harms of current polymer seed treatments are increasingly well documented.

"Future Lab" spotlights tomorrow’s trends – today

Berlin, 10 December 2013 – FRUIT LOGISTICA once again underlines its status as innovative springboard for the international fresh produce trade. "Future Lab", a new series of events, will present products, projects and solutions that can enhance the fruit and vegetable industry with innovations in the coming years, or contribute significantly to optimisation along the value chain. "As organisers, we see the wide-ranging developments in fresh produce industry and how certain sectors are changing in response to new challenges. Our Future Lab offers the industry a forum where the latest developments can be presented, discussed and thought through. These projects presented at FRUIT LOGISTICA can potentially have a significant impact on the medium-term development of the fresh produce sector," says Gérald Lamusse, FRUIT LOGISTICA Global Brand Manager. On all three exhibition days, FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 visitors can look forward to a series of fascinating half-hour sessions covering innovative topics ranging from a "Quantum leap in lettuce breeding", to "Information superhighway for fruits & vegetables" and "Fighting Black Sigatoka".

MOËT & CHANDON CHAMPAGNE ANNOUNCED AS THE OFFICIAL CHAMPAGNE SPONSOR OF TIMES SQUARE NEW YEAR’S EVE

New York, N.Y. (December 10, 2013)—Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, co-organizers of Times Square New Year’s Eve, today announced Moët & Chandon as the official champagne of Times Square 2014, the global New Year’s Eve celebration at the Crossroads of the World. Moët’s participation in the Times Square countdown is an exciting first for the champagne house and highlights what is considered the perfect pairing worldwide, champagne and New Year’s Eve. The essential libation of the final night of the year, champagne adds a stylish touch of glamour and excitement to this momentous occasion. “An iconic celebration needs an iconic champagne like Moët & Chandon,” said Tim Tompkins, President of Times Square Alliance. “We look forward to toasting the New Year with our new partner and celebrating all our successes and hopes for the year to come.” “Now the world’s most loved champagne will be linked with the most famous New Year’s Eve celebration in the world,” said Thomas Bouleuc, Vice President, Moët & Chandon USA. “There is a reason that champagne is the favorite way to ring in the New Year – it elevates and enhances any occasion.” “The Times Square Ball and Moët & Chandon are the quintessence of celebration around the world,” added Jeff Straus, President of Countdown Entertainment. “This is the perfect partnership for celebrating the New Year.” New Year’s Eve is both a time to reflect on the year winding down and to look ahead with optimism toward the future. It provides a collective occasion that reminds us all “this is your moment.” But, while champagne is known for marking this important milestone, Moët invites everyone to elevate any occasion – from celebrating small achievements to marking life’s big events. To kick off the festive season, Moët & Chandon will animate an exciting social media program during the month of December, encouraging people to toast to what mattered most in 2013 and what’s to come in 2014. An 11-foot tall bottle of Moët & Chandon Imperial – the first of its kind ever created in the United States – will tour iconic locations in New York City before finishing its journey in Times Square. Along the way, consumers will be invited to pose for a photo with the bottle and create a toast to people in their lives, goals and hopes for the future. Each submission will generate a virtual toast to upload to social media and share with family and friends. While the bottle will make its journey throughout New York, everyone in the US is invited to join in the party! Revelers across the country will also be able to create and share virtual toasts through an app on the Moët & Chandon USA Facebook page. Several virtual toasts from both the Big Bottle tour and from the Moet Facebook app will be featured during the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration on 7 giant video screens including the one atop One Times Square, directly below the New Year’s Eve Ball!

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Restaurant Job Growth Continues to Outpace Overall Economy by Two to One Restaurants Have Added Nearly 300,000 Jobs So Far in 2013

The National Restaurant Association's Chief Economist Bruce Grindy breaks down the latest jobs report. The economy appears to be gaining a little momentum into 2014, as the labor market has registered consistent improvements in recent months. In addition, restaurant operators’ outlook for the economy improved somewhat in November. New labor market data from the November employment report suggested that the economy may be gaining some momentum as the year closes out, with payroll growth remaining solid and the unemployment rate falling to a post-recession low. According to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the economy added a net 203,000 jobs in November, which marked the third time in the last four months with gains of at least 200,000 jobs. Over the past four months, the economy averaged net gains of 204,000 jobs, which is sufficient growth to put downward pressure on the jobless rate. Indeed, the unemployment rate did fall to 7.0 percent in November, the lowest level in five years. To be sure, the labor market is far from fully recovered, as nearly 11 million individuals remained unemployed – 4.1 million for more than six months. In addition, over 8 million more are either working part-time for economic reasons or are not looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. But overall, the trend is certainly moving in the right direction, albeit much slower than would be expected at this point in a recovery. Job growth was broad-based in November, as both goods-producing (+44,000) and service-producing (+152,000) sectors registered solid gains. Importantly, manufacturers added a net 27,000 jobs in November, the sector’s strongest gain in 20 months. For their part, restaurant operators maintained their steady contribution to the recovery. Eating and drinking places added a net 18,000 jobs in November, the 45th consecutive monthly gain for a total of 1.1 million jobs. During the first 11 months of 2013, eating and drinking places added nearly 300,000 jobs. Driven by these steady gains, restaurant-industry employment is on pace to grow at a robust 3.3 percent rate in 2013 – or more than double the 1.6 percent gain in total U.S. jobs. In addition, 2013 will represent the 14th consecutive year in which restaurant job growth outpaced the overall economy. Restaurant operators’ outlook for the economy also marginally improved in November. In the National Restaurant Association’s November 2013 Tracking Survey, 27 percent of restaurant operators said they expect economic conditions to improve in six months, while 26 percent expect the economy to worsen. While this outlook is far from rosy, it was certainly an improvement over operators’ sentiment in October, when 19 percent said they expected the economy would improve and 28 percent thought conditions would worsen. Read more from the Economist’s Notebook and get additional analysis of restaurant industry trends on Restaurant TrendMapper (subscription required).

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Statement by Bob Stallman, President American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding Need for Congressional Ag Leaders To Lead Toward Farm Bill Conclusion

December 4, 2013 “It is time, once and for all, to unify behind a farm bill that works for all of American agriculture, including crop, livestock and fruit and vegetable growers. As a nation, we cannot afford to do otherwise. The best way for us to do that is to trust those who have brought us this far. The American Farm Bureau Federation wishes to go on record in strong support of congressional Agriculture committee chairs and leaders. We believe that through the leadership of Ag Committee leaders -- Chairman Lucas, Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Peterson and Ranking Member Cochran – working in conjunction with the committee conferees, we will get a farm bill done, and it will be a farm bill that works for all commodities and all regions. “We must move forward. It is time to let our leaders lead. The American Farm Bureau Federation will do what it can to help close ranks on any remaining issues -- for the good of the whole of American agriculture, consumers, our hard-working farm and ranch families and the rural communities they support.”

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 conference programme discusses key industry issues

The 33rd Fresh Produce Forum and Hall Forums address the latest questions, challenges and trends in the fresh produce sector Berlin, 3 December 2013 – Along with a complete market overview of all products and services across the entire fresh produce value chain, FRUIT LOGISTICA (5-7 February 2014) offers a top-notch conference programme. A series of conferences, seminars and panel discussions aims to keep FRUIT LOGISTICA trade visitors informed about the latest industry issues, challenges and trends. Taking place on the day before the trade fair opens (4 February), the 33rd Fresh Produce Forum at the ICC Berlin focuses on the theme: "Convincing the consumer – emotion at the point of sale". The programme of events for the following three days includes seven Hall Forums. Organised by FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZIN (Dusseldorf), the lectures presented in the Hall Forum (Entrance Kleiner Stern, between Halls 18 and 11.2) include the following themes: "Competence in trade – how to impress your customers", "Water – scarce, valuable, indispensible" (5 February 2014), "Tomatoes – international production and consumption", "Russia – the impact of WTO membership" and "IFS Standards – News for the fruit & vegetable sector" (6 February 2014), "Sustainability – appearance and reality" and "Innovation and the fruit trade – adding value to the supply chain" (7 February 2014). All events will be simultaneously translated into German, English, French, Italian and Spanish. Outstanding achievements across all segments of the fresh produce trade will be honoured by special industry awards: FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZINE Retail Award (4 February) and the FRUIT LOGISTICA INNOVATION AWARD "FLIA" (7 February). The FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 conference programme at a glance 33rd Fresh Produce Forum Convincing the consumer – emotion at the point of sale Tuesday, 4 February 2014, 15:30 – 19:00, ICC Berlin, Hall 15.2 Consumers in supermarkets today are accustomed to being able to choose from an incredibly wide variety of fresh produce of outstanding quality. But it is not just the choice and the quality which matter. A successful fresh produce department needs to have the right atmosphere and "feel". Shoppers need to feel good about their shopping experience. We therefore also need to talk to them on an emotional level. Everyone knows that fresh fruit and vegetables count among the healthiest food products that money can buy. But consumption levels are disappointing. People are not always rational in their choices. More often they shop and buy according to their mood. And in the fresh produce department in particular, impulse shopping plays a key role. International experts specialising in consumer marketing and the dynamics of the retail chain take a close look at the heart and soul of today’s consumer. The 33rd Fresh Produce Forum includes the presentation of the FRUCHTHANDEL Magazine Retail Award 2014 as well as the results of a survey conducted by the GfK (consumer research company). The participation fee is EUR 85, which includes a three-day ticket to FRUIT LOGISTICA. Registration and details are available in the "Events" section on www.fruitlogistica.com. Exhibitor Forum Perspectives for the Development of Fruit and Vegetable Production and Marketing in Russia Presented by the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Wednesday, 5 February 2014, 14:30 – 16:30, Großer Stern, Madrid Room (between Halls 10.2 and 11.2) The growing Russian consumer market currently depends to a significant degree on the import of specialty crops such as fruit and vegetables. The state program for the development of agriculture 2013 until 2020 therefore envisages also the development of value chains for fruit and vegetables by supporting investments in cultivating, storing, processing and marketing of these products. Hall Forum Competence in trade – how to impress your customers Wednesday, 5 February 2014, 11:00 – 12:00, Hall Forum (Entrance Kleiner Stern, between Halls 18 and 11.2) Know-how at the point of sale is more important than ever. Consumers are not just demanding in terms of quality and freshness. They also expect advice and service. A key challenge for the retailer, but also for the entire fresh produce trade – exporters, importers, wholesalers and service suppliers. To excel and even survive as a supplier today, you have to show your expertise. We take a close look at how to do this. Water – scarce, valuable, indispensible Wednesday, 5 February 2014, 15:00 – 16:00, Hall Forum (Entrance Kleiner Stern, between Halls 18 and 11.2) Water will be a crucial issue in agricultural production and the food chain in general in the future. On the one hand, the short supply of water in many growing regions of the world is already becoming a major problem. On the other, even in countries with no immediate supply problems there are many challenges in avoiding unnecessary water pollution – with direct consequences for plant protection and pest control. Finding answers to these challenges may become a matter of survival for growers and the entire supply chain. Tomatoes – international production and consumption Thursday, 6 February 2014, 11:00 – 12:00, Hall Forum (Entrance Kleiner Stern, between Halls 18 and 11.2) Tomatoes are universally one of the most popular vegetables of all among consumers. Experts take a look at global production and consumption as well as considering key trends for the future. Which varieties will be particularly popular? Consumers need to understand and appreciate the differences between the different varieties. How can the category be best explained and presented to them? Russia – the impact of WTO membership Thursday, 6 February 2014, 15:00 – 16:00, Hall Forum (Entrance Kleiner Stern, between Halls 18 and 11.2) After 18 years of negotiation, Russia joined the World Trade Organisation at the end of August 2012. New opportunities for international trade opened up overnight. How can the international fresh produce trade benefit from this development? What impact will this have on the problem of harmonising regulations on maximum residue levels and customs tariffs? IFS Standards – News for the fruit & vegetable branch Thursday, 6 February 2014, 16:30 – 18:30 (Exhibition grounds, entrance Kleiner Stern) Food safety and quality are key issues along the supply chain. About 15,000 companies worldwide turn to a standard from the IFS standard family line to guarantee the safety and quality of their products. Many retailers and processors prefer the IFS standards in order to ensure that their partners produce and handle safe and high quality products. For attractiveness and success in the sector: IFS Standards – News for the fruit & vegetable sector. Sustainability – appearance and reality Friday, 7 February 2014, 11:00 – 12:00, Hall Forum (Entrance Kleiner Stern, between Halls 18 and 11.2) Sustainability is a major topic in the media today and an important tool in corporate public relations. But even if sustainability has become much more than just a catchword for many, the consumer is still not always clear what it really means. What initiatives are already present on the market? How can the concept be better communicated to the consumer? Case studies from production through to retail show what sustainability means in practical terms and how it can best be presented to the consumer. Innovation and the fruit trade – adding value to the supply chain Friday, 7 February 2014, 11:00 – 12:00, Hall Forum (Entrance Kleiner Stern, between Halls 18 and 11.2) Consumers are by nature curious. New ideas and new products interest them and often lead to improved sales. For the producer or manufacturer, innovation often means better prices and better margins. But innovation behind the scenes can also make a key contribution to improved profits. We take a look, not just at new fruit and vegetable products, but also at innovations in different links of the supply chain. FRUIT LOGISTICA INNOVATION AWARD 2014 Friday, 7 February 2014, 14:30 – 15:00, passageway between Halls 20/21 The winner of the competition for best fresh produce industry innovation selected by trade visitors at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 will be announced. This press release is also available on the Internet: www.fruitlogistica.com