Raising an objection

I received an email about the USDA's previously announced decision to move funds from the Specialty Crop Block Grant program to enforce country of origin labeling. Here is the text of the letter, with reference to location removed:


Hi - I'm a small scale organic veg transplants grower. What's the most effective way to voice opposition to the transfer of these funds? Do you have an online petition going, or a model letter available? Sec. Schafer will be gone soon, would it be best to write to the co-chairs of Ag committee in the Senate, who are now doing the Vilsack hearings, or what? Your suggestions welcome.


TK: Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, United, PMA, Western Growers, FFVA. Does anyone have an online petition working on this issue? (I"m looking for responses, by the way). Otherwise, Fresh Talk could start an online petition as well to object to USDA's move.

"not sustainable for retailers and their suppliers"

Steve Lutz of The Perishables Group shot me an email today with produce retail sales and volume numbers from the month of November. The gist, in Steve's words,

The general story—volume off in every produce category except for berries grapes, avocados and lettuce. Prices up nearly 6% for total produce. Net result…higher overall dollars (+3.8%) but volume continues to decline. The trend is not sustainable for retailers or their suppliers.

TK: More coming on the specific numbers, but is interesting to note that while grape volume per store/per week was up nearly 23% in November, total grape dollars were actually off by 0.2% compared with last November. Average retail grape prices in November were off 18% compared with a year ago.

For more info on The Perishables Group:at www.perishablesgroup.com

Who are you? The breakdown

The latest Fresh Talk poll illustrates the diversity of the blog readership. Previous polls have inquired about the age of Fresh Talk readers, which skews older than you might think. You can find all past Fresh Talk polls at this link. Though many religiously avoid voting in any poll, I thank those who did participate.

Fresh Talk readers: who are you?

Retailer	5 (17%)
Wholesaler	3 (10%)
Grower/shippers	9 (31%)
Association/government	6 (20%)
Public/general	6 (20%)

Votes so far: 29
Poll closed

Fresh-cut Fundamentals Workshop Set for March 5th in Yuma

The UC Davis Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center today announced a new addition to its portfolio of produce industry educational course offerings: Fresh-cut Fundamentals. The intensive one-day workshop scheduled for Thursday March 5, 2009 in Yuma, Arizona is now open for registration, including online registration at: http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Announce/Fundamentals.shtml

The workshop curriculum provides information regarding underlying principles that govern fresh-cut produce quality while providing practical tools for application in the processing plant. Operations, quality assurance, manufacturing and maintenance managers, as well as anyone interested in assuring the quality of fresh-cut produce would benefit from this workshop. The training is geared to all levels of fresh-cut produce industry professionals from small, local and regional produce processors to large businesses with nationwide distribution. The workshop will be highly interactive and hands-on, with attendees sharing information and working in small groups throughout the day.

The program was designed and will be delivered by fresh-cut produce technical experts from three nationally- recognized Universities.

• Marita Cantwell, Ph.D., UC Davis, Department of Plant Sciences
• Jorge Fonseca, Ph.D., MBA, University of Arizona-Yuma Agricultural Center
• Jim Gorny, Ph.D., UC Davis, Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center
• Bill Hurst, Ph.D., University of Georgia, Food Science & Technology Department
• Jim Thompson, P.E., UC Davis, Biological & Agricultural Engineering

"This workshop offers an opportunity for anyone working in the fresh-cut produce industry to arm themselves with tools they can use to monitor and control fresh-cut produce finished product quality and ultimately reduce operating costs" said Jim Gorny, workshop faculty director. "With rising production costs and downward price pressures from buyers, finding operational efficiencies while maintaining product quality is imperative for any fresh-cut produce enterprise."

Attendees may register for this and other upcoming educational outreach activities sponsored by the Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center via their website at http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu or by contacting Ms. Pam Devine, registration coordinator, at (530) 754-4326 or pwdevine@ucdavis.edu.

The deflated CPI and other headlines for Jan. 16

The latest Consumer Price Index confirms the economy is looking a little deflated.

Here is the link to today's Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which showed an overall decline in prices in December. The report showed that, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI decreased 0.7% in December, which was the third consecutive decline. The index is only 0.1% higher than December2007.

The BLS reported the fruits and vegetable index declined 2.4% in December, the fourth consecutive decrease, with fresh vegetables down 4.4%.

In good news, the transportation index fell 4.4% in December, the fifth consecutive monthly decrease. The index is down 13.% over the past year.

Average price data show that the average price of red delicious apples slipped to $1.18 per pound, down from $1.26 in November but up from $1.12 at the same time last year.

The average price for navel oranges was 93 cents per pound, off from $1.06 in November but up slightly from 91 cents per pound in December 2007.

The average retail price for bananas was reported at 63 cents per pound, down from 64 cents per pound in November but up from 53 cents per pound the same time last year.

Tomatoes registered average retail prices of $1.73 per pound in December, up a penny from November but down from $2.15 per pound in December 2007.


Here are other headlines snatched from the Web this snowy morning in KC:

Sow the seeds program offering grants grants to help farmer education in extending fruit and vegetable season in Wisc., Minn., and Iowa.

Retailers must adapt, Wal-Mart official says
Some suppliers may go bankrupt, says W-M exec. Also notes rise in use of multiples (two for one, etc) and coupon use

Eating low fat doesn't have to be high cost Very positive article about fruit and veg affordability, with one nutritionist saying fresh produce provides great "bang for buck." Top low fat foods that are kind on the budget include: eggs, apples and other fruit, canned vegetables and beans.

North America's demand for fruits, vegetables expected to grow News release about Rabobank report; no link provided to actual report, tho.

Community growth through food Report about CSAs in northwest Ohio

Disagreements likely to flare up again over COOL Will Congress close loopholes?

Pestered over pesticide use A sharp British retort to EU regulation:

People have been consuming conventionally-grown fruit and vegetables for many decades, yet when is the last time someone dropped dead from pesticide poisoning? (Unless it was a desperate farmer driven to suicide by ceaseless meddling from EU bureaucrats).


Trucking restrictioins eased in Florida because of cold snap

Sales of organic mushrooms remain strong From The Packer

Weak pound to hike banana prices in England

U.S. food makers ask Obama to increase FDA funding
GMA asks for $900 million in food related spending at the FDA by fiscal year 2012, up from $510 million in fiscal year 2008, also request authority to put in place mandatory recall and standards for f/v producers.

Vilsack not the right choice for ag secretary From the Progressive...

Obama could have picked someone who was knowledgeable about organic farming and local and regional food systems. Someone who knew the difference between growing food and growing commodity crops.Someone who felt more at ease mending a fence or thinning carrots than sitting in a corporate boardroom.

TK: Right!

Napolitano outlines immigration policy she expects demand side and supply side responses

Mexico's same store sales fall 1.7% in 2008


Roubini: Bank bailout $1 trillion short

Major drug bust in Fresno

Third party certification: FDA final guidance

Valerie of the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group linked first to this press release from the FDA today. Looks like all third party inspectors, including state and federal government, are cut in to the deal. I've lopped off parts of the news release that don't apply to food....Look for more reaction/analysis tomorrow.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued three guidances designed to help ensure the safety of FDA-regulated products in the supply chain. The documents issued today include the following:

• Final Guidance for Industry on Voluntary Third-Party Certification Programs for Foods and Feeds;
• Draft Guidance for Industry on Submission of Laboratory Packages by Accredited Laboratories; and
• Draft Guidance for Industry on Standards for Securing the Drug Supply Chain – Standardized Numerical Identification for Prescription Drug Packages.

"The guidance documents reflect the FDA's continued vigorous efforts to minimize the chances of unsafe products reaching American consumers," said Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., J.D., associate commissioner for policy and planning.

The Final Guidance for Industry on Voluntary Third-Party Certification Programs for Foods and Feeds discusses the attributes of a third-party certification program that would merit the FDA's confidence in the quality of the program's audit. The guidance, finalizing a draft published on July 10, 2008, is intended as one of the steps in the FDA's future recognition of voluntary third-party certification programs for foods and animal feeds. The document makes clear that it applies to any third-party certification body, including a private entity or a non-FDA federal, state, local or foreign regulatory body. Third-party certification programs can augment the ability of the FDA and the importing community to verify product safety.

Final Guidance for Industry on Voluntary Third-Party Certification Programs for Foods and Feeds: http://www.fda.gov/oc/guidance/thirdpartycert.html

Slow pay and trust rights and other top headlines for Jan. 15

Talking to a couple of industry lobbyists today, there appears to be some talk of a regulatory fix to what may be a court weakening of PACA trust rights. Basic issue, as I understand it at this point: does the extending of credit terms by a supplier weaken or remove that supplier's PACA trust rights? The USDA AMS may be able to clean up the issue with rulemaking that won't require a change in the statutory language.. Will follow up with WG, United, PMA, USDA and the "usual suspects" on this issue. The fruit and vegetable industry advisory committee may play a role in pursuing this with AMS.....

Meanwhile, here are some other headlines snatched from the Web:

Another stretching your dollars food story Here are the tips, such as they are:
1. Buy in season produce
2. Buy local produce
3. Shop for deals
4. Choose frozen over canned
5. Use staples as a base

Healthy snacks improve kids' diet Pivonka quoted

10 food choices to keep you slim, strong and solvent You are curious, I know. Here are all produce related choices:

1. Potatoes
4. Frozen veggies
5. Cabbage
8. Bananas
9. Sweet potatoes


Immigration slows as downturn bites Here is the 35 page report from The Migration Policy Institute

Fresh and Easy expansion to create 200 jobs

Foreclosures up 81% nationwide in 2008 Ugg...
Foreclosure filings were reported on more than 303,000 U.S. properties in December 2008, up 17 percent from the previous month and nearly 41 percent from December 2007.

World cocoa foundation sets sustainability standard The three p's of plant, profit and people - not necessarily in that order?

Leading nutrition expert comes to N.C. research campus Dr. Sangita Sharma comes to the campus David Murdock built

Citrus pest threatens California crops preparing for the dread pest

Keystone Alliance defines sustainability A competitor to the Stewardship Index?
Find the link here. NPC, American Farm Bureau among participants.

Cash for clunkers Congress considering vouchers of $4,500 to prime the car selling pump

House Democrats propose stimulus bill $825 billion bill expected to be ready for passage by mid-February\

Ten tax hike threats in the new Congress Human Events feature; hold on to your wallets

Redlands strives to keep citrus heritage But with declining capacity, is citrus still profitable?

Minnesota settles lawsuit with Wal-Mart state receives $14 million out of $54 million settlement

Women accused of running prostitution ring from USDA office Definitely over the line, I'd say

Lee Scott of Wal-Mart says consumers, small businesses are pinched Scott says:
“If you’re out walking stores, it’s clearly a deep recession. I have no idea how long it’s going to last.”

Wal-Mart promotes energy efficiency in Central America

Grocer to flag healthful foods Supervalu's good for you initiative. From the story:
Set for roll out at 1,300 stores in the next six months, the program will place tags of various colors next to the bar code and product price, communicating that a product meets U.S. Food and Drug Administration criteria with nutrient content. For example, foods that are excellent or good sources of fiber are given orange tags, while products with low saturated fat will carry a red tag. It is possible for one product to meet multiple criteria and have more than one colored stripe.

It is always darkest before the dawn

The sun will come out tomorrow, right? Like the senator from Illinois appointed by the corrupt (allegedly) Chicago mayor, we can say: "It is always darkest just before the dawn." I can't actually believe that Illinois Senator designate Roland Burris used that tired cliche, but we may be in store for many more cliches, or newly minted cliches-to-be, with President Obama's inaugural speech.

Check out this Web site on cliches. From that Web site, a reflection on Kennedy's legacy:

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m just as patriotic as the next intoxicated monster truck driver, but I also have a deep and abiding hatred of cliches, and Mr. Kennedy created a species of cliche that has since grown popular enough to strangle a whole truckload of bay pigs. I’m talking about the form of truism that says: x followed by y equals a commonly accepted truth, but y followed by x yields a deeper truth made more profound by its juxtaposition with x followed by y.

People say things like “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care” and everyone is supposed to furrow their brows and nod their heads furiously as if this were the deepest, most interesting thing they’ve ever heard. “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to me nice.” OMG! You’re so right! Here this whole time I’ve been thinking it’s kind of enjoyable being thought of as important, but YOU’RE SO RIGHT! I need to focus more on treating others with kindness and compassion and less on others perceiving me as superior.

To shed further light on the pithy banality of these proverbs, I thought we might create some of our own. You can use this form to say just about anything, while somehow managing to say nothing at all.

TK: How about these:

Local is the new organics, but the old organic is the new local.

While all we have to fear is fear itself, fear itself is pretty scary.

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail except sometimes when they fail to plan and they somehow succeed.

Times they are a changing, and change is all about timing.

It is always darkest before the dawn, but it is always brightest way before sunset.

You can take the consumer out of the produce department, but you can't take the produce department out of the consumer.

Any others out there, readers....

Marler: This should be done

Bill Marler passed on these thoughts concerning the salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter.


People should not die from eating peanut butter. According to the Brainerd Dispatch and AP, health officials in Idaho and Minnesota are reporting two more deaths associated with a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 425 people in 43 states. That brings the total number of people who had salmonella when they died to five.

So, when is FDA, CDC, King Nut and Peanut Corporation of America going to respond?

1. Make sure ALL product is promptly recalled;
2. Do not destroy any documents;
3. The companies should pay the medical bills and all related expenses of the innocent victims and their families;
4. The companies should pay the cost of all related Health Department, CDC and FDA investigations;
5. Provide all bacterial and viral testing of all recalled product and any other tested product (before and after recall);
6. Release all inspection reports on the plants by any Governmental Entity or Third-party Auditor;
7. Release all Salmonella safety precautions taken by either King Nut or Peanut Corporation of America - especially after the 2007 Salmonella Peanut Butter Outbreak;
8. Provide the public with the Epidemiological investigation (with names redacted), so it is clear who knew what and when about the likely source of the outbreak; and,
9. Show the public what is being done to prevent the next outbreak.

The families of five dead people are waiting.


William D. Marler, Esq.
Marler Clark LLP PS
6600 Columbia Center
701 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 9810

COOL Final rule

The USDA has issued its final rule on country of origin labeling, and here is some coverage in the consumer press:

Canada shelves WTO complaint over U.S. meat rules Canada pleased with relaxation of COOL rules for meat


Final country of origin labeling law draws criticism: From Bloomberg, the lede:

Longtime supporters of U.S. regulations requiring meat and fresh produce to be labeled by country of origin say the government’s final rule on the matter doesn’t do enough to distinguish U.S. meat from competitors.

TK: No mention of produce provisions; focus on meat

Secret ingredients From Seattle PI, a blog quoting Food and Water Watch

The USDA definition exempts from labeling over 60 percent of pork, the majority of frozen vegetables, an estimated 95 percent of peanuts, pecans and macadamia nuts, and multi-ingredient fresh produce items, such as fruit salads and salad mixes.

"It is inexcusable to exempt so much food from this basic labeling requirement just because one ingredient has been added or because something has been roasted or cooked," Hauter says.

TK: United Fresh Produce Association earlier issued a member communication that identified revisions included in the final COOL rule: From United:

• USDA is barred from requiring any new record-keeping other than normal records kept during the regular course of doing business.
• A new specific provision will allow labeling of a U.S. State, region or locality in which a product is produced to meet label standards as a product of the U.S. Therefore, a descriptor such as "Minnesota Grown" or "Pride of New York" would be sufficient labeling to comply with the law.
• The potential liability for retail mistakes or absence of labeling at point of purchase has been significantly reduced.
• Retailers will not be liable for misinformation provided by suppliers.
• All proposed fines on either retailers or suppliers who are found to be "willfully violating" the Act are subject to a hearing before USDA, and are limited to $1,000 for each violation.

TK: Big Apple published the final rule on COOL in the Fresh Produce Discussion Group. Find it here.

Fruit and vegetable consumption - Will price make a difference?

Here is a USDA ERS report called "Fruit and vegetable consumption by low income Americans: Would a price reduction make a difference?"

At first blush, I have to say the title of the report appears incredibly condescending. Think about it; Do fruit and vegetable prices matter to a low income American, or is he so stupid that higher prices might move the consumption needle?

Of course, that kind of meaning is not the authors intent. Here is an excerpt from the executive summary:


American diets continued to fall short of the recommended consumption levels of fruits and vegetables. On average, Americans consumed 1.03 cups of fruits and 1.58 cups of vegetables per day in 2004, compared with the recommended 1.80 cups of fruits and 2.60 cups of vegetables Individuals eligible for benefi ts through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program owincome consumers) ate even smaller amounts of fruits and vegetables—0.96 cup of fruits and
1.43 cups of vegetables. Using a range of price elasticities and estimates of food consumption by low-income Americans, USDA’s Economic Research Service calculated that a 10-percent price discount at the retail level would encourage low-income households to increase their onsumption of fruits by 2.1 to 5.2 percent (from 0.96 cup to 0.98-1.01 cups) and vegetables by 2.1 to 4.9 percent (from 1.43 cups to 1.46-1.50 cups). In 2004, low-income households spent $3.91 billion on fruits and $3.71 billion on vegetables at retail outlets. Discounting the prices of fruits and vegetables by 10 percent for low-income households would cost the Government, on average, about $308 million per year for fruits (7.9 percent of recent expenditures on fruits by low-income Americans) and $274 million for vegetables (7.4 percent of recent expenditures on vegetables by low-income Americans).

CAC coverage and other Jan. 14 headlines

The California Avocado Commission continues to receive media scrutiny. Here are a few links on that and the other news of the day:

The Packer coverage The lede:

California’s attorney general is reviewing an audit of the California Avocado Commission’s credit card expenses, which total more than $1.5 million over a three-year period.

LA Times coverage The lede:

Something has been rotten at the state agency behind a splashy $7-million annual marketing blitz on television, billboards and in food magazines to promote California-grown avocados, a new state audit indicates.

SF Chronicle coverage(AP) The lede:

The former head of the California Avocado Commission misspent tens of thousands of dollars in farmers' contributions to remodel his home office and purchase an iPod, plasma TV and other personal items, according to a state audit released Friday.

The New York Times The lede:

Luxury suites. Shopping sprees. Four-star hotels. Such was life in the high-flying world of the California Avocado Commission. That, at least, is the image presented by a blistering report released last week by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which painted the commission, a state-established trade group financed by growers, as a kind of free-spending, avocado-gone-wild farm party.

TK: These headlines are sober reminders that the responsibility of member/industry oversight of commissions and associations is not to be taken lightly.


More headlines....

School takes fresh cut apples off menu because of listeria concerns Wisc. district acted as precaution

Drop in U.S. trade deficit small comfort as exports keep plunging

Illegal immigrants stay in U.S. despite recession Study to be released today by the Migration Policy Institute in Washington.


Hot and dry conditions stir drought concerns in California

Food addiction may be cause of obesity High sugar foods may trigger craving like an addiction


Key parts of Georgia immigration law not enforced State agencies are not using federal database to check status of applicants.

California growers fight lettuce virus From The Packer

Farmworker advocaates sue over new H-2A rules

Chiquita protection scandal resurfaces

Guest workers needed for Australia citrus harvest

Organic dustup

The Senate Agriculture Committee will conduct a hearing today at 10 a.m. to review the nomination of Governor Tom Vilsack for the Agriculture Secretary post. Meanwhile, organic consumer advocates continue to raise a ruckus about the pick while organic corporate interests have been supportive. Should be interesting if this topic comes up today. From the Cornucopia Institute, a comment about the divided organic community.

"We hate to see what appears to be the grassroots lining up in opposition of this nominee and corporate investors breaking with their most dedicated customers. This split is not healthy for the organic community," Kastel added.

Although The Cornucopia Institute is not endorsing either petition drive, they have not given up hope that the election of Barack Obama will usher in material changes at the USDA's National Organic Program.

In a candid communiqué to the Obama transition team, The Cornucopia Institute described the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) as "dysfunctional" and experiencing a "crisis in confidence" and asked for the Obama administration to make its rehabilitation a priority.

Their letter described the NOP’s long-standing adversarial relationship with the majority of organic farmers and consumers and the groups that represent them. It said, based on information gathered from freedom of information documents: "Senior management, with oversight of the NOP, has treated industry stakeholders arrogantly and disrespectfully and has overridden NOP career staff when their findings might have been unfavorable to corporations with interests in the organic industry.”

Fresh cut veggies duck the recession

The latest Fresh Talk poll attempted to identify the most recession-prone fruits and vegetables. Alas, the list was just a partial one, so it wasn't really a fair vote. I was amazed that fresh cut vegetables avoided any votes at all in the survey which was stated as follows:

What commodity is most vulnerable to a pullback in consumer spending on produce?

Asparagus	17 (37%)
Fresh cut fruit	13 (28%)
Fresh cut veggies	0 (0%)
Pineapple	10 (22%)
Clementines	5 (11%)

Votes so far: 45
Poll closed

A Different Kind Of Food Group

I’ve noticed recently that when we get tired of talking about the antics of the outside world, more often than not discussion of food follows. In its own way this common denominator can be just as passionate as politics or religion, but totally free of the peripheral fallout. And I like that.

Frankly, I’ve never been able to understand those folks that regard eating as a necessary ritual and food solely as fuel. They never admit it, you know. But in conversation I hear the catatonic, Thorazine-laden tone of their responses after I ask an innocent question like what they had for lunch. At that point I decide they’re missing out on life and attempt to find another dreary topic. That may have lost me some friends along the way but jimmy crack corn, and I don’t care.

And because food discussion for the most part is inoffensive, it has become the darling du jour of the contemporary media. Bobby Flay and Anthony Bourdain are discussed in the same breath as Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were in the seventies. Even the politicians get into the act. Here’s a clip from 2001 showing a younger, slimmer State Senator Barack Obama waxing poetic about a favorite Chicago restaurant on a pilot episode of WTTW’s “Check, Please!”, one of the early TV pioneers of ‘foodie’ discourse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oyTD6JGie0

Truth be told, it’s reported that the station had to scrap this show because of the unintentional domination by Obama of most of the show’s dialogue, and it lay dormant in the station’s archives for eight years. But, to take advantage of Inauguration ’09, WTTW is finally airing the episode this Friday night for Chicagoans, so that our President-Elect can extol the virtues of johnnycakes.

But I’m not immune from this either. I regularly contribute to an engaging food forum where scoring great tips on obscure restaurants is commonplace, but the conversation is sometimes reminiscent of this delightfully inane dialogue from the 1991 movie ‘City Slickers’:

'Barry can pick out the exact right flavor of ice cream to follow any meal. Go ahead. Challenge him.'

‘OK…Macaroni & Cheese.’

‘Scoop of Chocolate, Scoop of Vanilla. Don't waste my time. Come on, challenge me.!’

‘OK…Sea Bass!’

‘Grilled…or Baked?’

‘Sauteed…’

‘With Asparagus…and Potatoes au Gratin!

(pregnant pause)

……………………Butter Pecan!!

‘Woooooof!!’


Later,

Jay

What is local produce and headlines for Jan. 13

Above: Julie Fox of Ohio State University

One of the points made during one a session by Julie Fox of Ohio State at the OPGMA Congress related to the definition of local produce. The point Julie made was this: it doesn't matter what growers think what local food/local produce is, what matters is what their customers believe it to be and being in a position to deliver what the customer wants. That's a great point, and a pragmatic one, about meeting the needs of the marketplace. Leave the nuances to be defined by pundits and celebrity authors (my words).

When I mentioned during my talk that deflationary expectations seemed to have taken hold of the general economy, one grower wondered if consumers also will expect the deep discounts for produce they have seen at electronic stores and other retailers.

I think consumers are smarter than that, but still, there is no precise predicting how consumers will cut back in the lean months to come.

Aldi looks to U.S. for growth WSJ- Can't miss coverage

For expansion in the U.S. and Britain, where it is also building new stores, Aldi tweaked its retail formula. New stores have higher ceilings and more windows to make the 17,000-square-feet outlets feel less cramped. It is adding more fresh produce, designed to lure middle-class shopper.

U.S. economy to shrink 1.9% downsized economy in 2009

China's exports drop sharply Exports dropped 2.8% in December - compared with a 21.7% a year earlier.

Safeway, union, differ on cutbacks

Aldi UK sales soar by 25%

USDA calls citrus crop to drop

Big crop, weak demand bring down crop prices U.S. commodity markets dip

Japan implements voluntary carbon footprint labeling scheme USDA FAS report
The proposal calls for a label that bears a numerical rating based on an estimate of CO2 emissions created during the life of a product from procurement of raw materials through production, distribution, use, and eventual disposal.

Kroger to open Fresh Fare in Ohio
The remodeled store will feature a larger perishables section, more chef-prepared meals, a wine cellar and wine tasting area and a coffee shop.

Ohio outbound

I enjoyed speaking at the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association Congress yesterday.My topic focused on trends for 2009, including the impact of recession on the fresh produce industry, local marketing and what's going on with organic demand. For me, particularly, it was a chance to talk to a few growers and get an insight into their world. Of course, direct to consumer marketing and local food was a big topic at the show.

There was some discussion about the challenges small farms face as they are expected to conform to the food safety and traceability requirements put on much larger firms.

I talked to a couple of growers about the labor market, and they mentioned the long standing relationships they have with immigrant workers who came back to their farms every year.One noted there appears to be more inquiries from immigrants looking for work.

Right now I'm in Cleveland wondering if my outbound Southwest flight, routed through Chicago, will get off on time.

Association bloggers and top headlines for Jan. 12

I'm here in Sandusky Ohio, ahead of tomorrow's start to the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association Congress. Lots of snow in Cleveland and the environs, but the driving was fine to go west to Sandusky. The Congress is at the mega indoor water park, the Kalahari resort.

I was thinking a little bit about the blog today, and how one of the purposes is to encourage industry conversation.

(Little known fact: a blogger blog can have up to 100 authors)

So rather than run association news releases (Steve Forbes to speak at United, retailers win awards, etc. ) in the blog (covered separately by The Packer anyway), I've floated the idea to United, PMA, WG, FVVA and others to have them write conversational posts about what is going on in their associations as it may relate to FT readership and link it back to their sites.

By the way, Sherise Jones of Idaho-eastern Oregon onions has signed on as a blogger. Sherise, what's the tenor of the season up there so far and what are you working on, promotion wise?

Here are some headlines from around the world of produce and beyond for Monday:

1 in 200 kids vegetarian USA Today coverage

Tangerine growers tell beekeppers to buzz off Paramount Citrus sends warning letters to beekeepers

50 ways for a greener 2009 You won't like some of these

Business hopes to block e-verify requirement no new court developments, however, that would block Jan. 15 effective date

Ensure economic stimulus jobs go to American workers From the piece, a bit of red meat:
If we are going to spend billions, perhaps even trillions, of borrowed dollars to create public works jobs, an absolute prerequisite must be an insurance policy that the beneficiaries of the program are U.S. workers

More on that theme..

Pro and anti immigration advocates invoke the economy From the story: NumbersUSA chimes in: cut the competition

Will Americans put on recession pounds? Fred W covered this topic already in a blog post

Johanns names Johner to ag post Nebraska ag post filled by former USDA under secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.

Union leader applauds hike of Washington state minimum wage Union leader applauds 48 cents hike on Jan. 1

Roubini's outlook not for the faint hearted

Food trends for 2009 cooling of demand for organics mentioned

SuperValu refocuses on price

After bailout, banks still not lending Credit markets not unfrozen yet, says industry

Mexico's inflation surges

Fresh Food Trade Association Roundtable

TK: Just sliding into the inbox is a release describing ... well.. here is the text of the release:

A group of leading fresh-food associations and industry groups have formed the Fresh Food Trade Association Roundtable to facilitate the exchange of information, and to guide and support the use of GS1 standards in the United States fresh food industries. The founding groups are:

Food Marketing Institute

GS1 US

International Dairy, Deli and Bakery Association

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National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

National Chicken Council

National Fisheries Institute

National Pork Board

Produce Marketing Association

The group’s goals include expanded communications between the Roundtable’s association members, GS1 US and other GS1 organizations worldwide as the fresh-food industries pursue their incorporation of GS1 standards to address various supply-chain challenges. The group believes the only way to achieve a successful implementation of GS1 standards is with a focused effort obtaining critical mass for key industry initiatives facilitated by close collaboration and planning between the Roundtable and GS1 US.

TK: A question for Julia Stewart or another staffer at PMA: who is the best contact there for trade associations interested in joining this group? Any further background you can give us?

Team Diarrhea to the Rescue

Bill Marler passes on links that reveal that Minnesota's disease investigators appeared to have cracked another salmonella case. Here is coverage from the Star Tribune. The lede:

Minnesota disease investigators once again may have solved the riddle of a nation-wide salmonella outbreak. This time the culprit is peanut butter.

Here is a post from Marler's blog, again highlighting the need for federal and state agencies to work together better and asking the question: Change is coming, right?

Recession: a weighty issue

Packer Managing Editor Fred Wilkinson here.

As if people didn't have enough to worry about considering the uncertain state of the economy, a news report suggests Americans may become fatter as their assets are slimming down:

"The specter of 'recession pounds' is a concern weighing on health professionals, who point to numerous studies linking obesity and unhealthy eating habits to low incomes. They fear that as people cut food spending they will cut back on healthy but relatively expensive items such as fresh fish, fruit, vegetables and whole grains, in favor of cheaper options high in sugar and saturated fats."

The Reuters article continues on to state that McDonald's dollar menu items (although my favorite, the double cheeseburger now runs $1.20) has kept the burger firm recession resistant so far, but that upscale purveyor of more healthful prepared entrees Whole Foods has felt the effect of customers trading down.

While on a pure calories-per-dollar basis most fresh fruits and vegetables can't compete with bags of private-label cookies or some other nutrient-deprived foods, some produce (bananas and potatoes, for example) are tasty, satisfying consumer favorites that are filling and filled with vitamins and other nutrients. No wonder they are top sellers in the produce aisle regardless of economic conditions.

The report sums things up saying its "possible to eat in an affordable and healthy way, partly by relying on the basic foods which saw America through the Depression of the 1930s. The answer lies in affordable but nutrient-rich foods such as ground beef, beans, milk, nuts, cheese, carrots, potatoes, canned tomatoes, soups, and rice." It refers to these foods as "a diet for a new Depression."

FDA on the close of GAPs comment period

I asked Sebastian Cianci of FDA about the Dec. 31 close of the comment period on revisions to fruit and vegetable GAPs guidelines. Here is his response:

On Sept. 2, 2008, FDA posted a request for comments on the Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. This document is available through www.regulations.gov (http://tinyurl.com/7nte52). Under Good Guidance Practices, comments on guidance may be submitted at any time. However, FDA requested comments by December 31, 2008 to ensure receipt in time for consideration. FDA received 22 unique comments from 21 organizations and individuals. All comments are currently under review, as possible improvements to the Guide are considered.