Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Architect Robert Nicol pledges $2 million to advance Deaf Studies at Fresno State

2012-01-27T11:44:00.000-06:00

Architect Robert Nicol pledges $2 million to advance Deaf Studies (January 27, 2012) – Robert Duncan Nicol has never heard the sound of his own voice. He did not speak until he was 10 years old. But since Nicol found his voice, he has dedicated his life to proving that deafness, while limiting, would never deter him from achieving his dreams. Now a retired architect and vineyard-owner, Nicol

ALG: Annual GDP grew just 1.7 percent, debt nearly larger than economy

2012-01-27T11:38:00.000-06:00

Jan. 27, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement reacting to the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) release by the Bureau of Economic Analysis: "In 2011, the economy slowed down considerably to a tepid snail's pace of 1.7 percent for the year. The housing bubble popped in August 2007, and the economy contracted in its

Farm Bureau: Farmers Get Trendy

2012-01-26T15:52:00.002-06:00

By Stewart Truelsen According to Phil Lempert, best known as the Supermarket Guru, “Farmers are becoming the latest food celebrities.” He goes so far as to predict that celebrity chefs are out, celebrity farmers are in. Lempert is an astute food industry observer, journalist and trend watcher. He created a virtual grocery store and consumer information center, Phil’s Supermarket, on Second Life

Center for Food Safety Calls on EPA Not to Backpeddle on Its Agreement to Track U.S. Animal Factories

2012-01-26T14:27:00.002-06:00

Center for Food Safety Calls on EPA Not to Backpeddle on Its Agreement to Track U.S. Animal Factories Much needed inventory would identify animal factories’ locations and manure management practices, allowing EPA to begin assessing scope of national threat to water and food supplies. (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Center for Food Safety (CFS) submitted comments strongly criticizing the Environmental

Key themes in the FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012 supporting programme

2012-01-25T08:15:00.002-06:00

Key themes in the FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012 supporting programme Berlin, 25. January 2012– Along with a complete market overview of products and services from across the fresh produce value chain, FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012 (8-10 Feb.) includes a first-class conference programme. It offers representatives from the international fresh produce trade in-depth information in a series of seminars and panel

Beginning Farmer Land Contract Program Launches

2012-01-20T14:35:00.002-06:00

Washington, DC January 19, 2012 – As of January 3, 2012, the Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher Land Contract Guarantee Program is available nationwide. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) issued the final rule for this farm bill program in December 2011. Today FSA published a press release and a fact sheet on the program. “The Land Contract Guarantee Program offers a good

FRESHCONEX Business Forum 2012

2012-01-16T07:51:00.002-06:00

Berlin, 16 January 2012 – The FRESHCONEX 2012 Business Forum on 8-10 February offers fresh produce convenience experts a top-notch platform with information and discussions focusing on current industry trends. The featured topics over the three days of the trade show range from "New opportunities in marketing for fresh produce convenience" (8.2.) to "Food safety" (9.2.) and "Technology and new

Poll: Forty-three Percent of Americans Credit Divine Intervention for Tim Tebow’s Success

2012-01-12T09:36:00.002-06:00

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Farm Bureau: Foundation for Agriculture Announces Book of the Year

2012-01-10T09:14:00.002-06:00

HONOLULU, January 9, 2012 – The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its fifth annual “Book of the Year” award to Chris Butterworth for “How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? The Story of Food.” The book shows young readers how each ingredient made its journey to their lunchbox. Illustrations, by Lucia Gaggiotti, highlight many aspects of farming and include information on food

Farm Bureau: Climate Change Not Likely to Harm Ag

2012-01-10T09:03:00.002-06:00

HONOLULU, January 9, 2012—Record yields for staple crops in the United States and globally in recent years seem to contradict fears that agriculture will be negatively affected by increasing climate temperatures, according to James Taylor, senior fellow for the Heartland Institute and managing editor of Environment and Climate News. Taylor spoke today at an issues conference at the American Farm

Farm Bureau: High Volatility, ‘Fierce’ Acreage War Ahead for Growers

2012-01-10T09:02:00.002-06:00

HONOLULU, January 9, 2012 – Solid risk management “has never been more important” for producers of the nation’s major commodities, given a range of volatility factors, North Carolina State University Extension specialist Nicholas Piggott told producers at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 93rd Annual Meeting. During AFBF’s session on the outlook for corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton, the

Stallman Outlines Agriculture’s Successes; Challenges

2012-01-09T05:14:00.002-06:00

HONOLULU, January 8, 2012—America’s farmers and ranchers are more productive than ever and are providing a solid economic foundation for our nation, according to Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We are the 1 percent that is producing food and fiber for the other 99 percent,” Stallman declared in his annual address to the approximately 7,000 Farm Bureau members

ALG: Obama's lost labor force

2012-01-06T13:27:00.000-06:00

Obama's Lost Labor Force By Bill Wilson Since Barack Obama assumed office, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total population over age 16 has grown by 5.845 million to 240.5 million, and yet, since then, the civilian labor force has actually shrunk by 349,000 — from about 154.2 million to 153.8 million. This is a startling contradiction, and it is at the heart of why the

Majority of Americans Say Penalty for Texting While Driving Should Be Loss of Driver’s License

2012-01-06T08:55:00.002-06:00

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One Billion Holiday Wishes

2011-12-22T14:54:00.000-06:00

One Billion Holiday Wishes Washington, D.C.----The holidays are a time for putting others before ourselves. And with the recent news that the world's population has surpassed 7 billion, there are a lot more "others" to consider this year. Nearly 1 billion people in the world are hungry, for example, while almost the same number are illiterate, making it hard for them to earn a living or move out

Vance Publishing announces Midwest Produce Conference and Expo

2011-12-21T08:57:00.000-06:00

Vance Publishing’s The Packer, the business news source for the fresh produce industry, announced today the launch of a new trade event for the produce industry. The Midwest Produce Conference & Expo will be held August 13-15, 2012 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. “We listened to the market, followed up with independent research, and identified the need for a dedicated Midwest event,”

Rating Innovation award nominees for Fruit Logistica 2012

2011-12-20T13:38:00.000-06:00

Rating Innovation award nominees for Fruit Logistica 2012

NASS to Reinstate Several Agricultural Estimates Programs

2011-12-14T22:36:00.002-06:00

NASS to Reinstate Several Agricultural Estimates Programs Issued December 9, 2011 by the Agricultural Statistics Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). For more information, contact Sue duPont, 202-690-8122. NASS leadership recently concluded a deliberate review of all programs against mission- and user-based criteria, aimed at finding

ALG: Internet Censorship Bill 'un-American'

2011-12-14T14:02:00.002-06:00

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Restaurants to Serve 100 Million Americans this New Year’s Weekend, According to the National Restaurant Association

2011-12-14T12:23:00.002-06:00

Restaurants to Serve 100 Million Americans this New Year’s Weekend, According to the National Restaurant Association (Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association estimates that 100 million Americans plan to celebrate the New Year by going out to a restaurant or bar, or order restaurant takeout or delivery. The Association’s new research also shows that half of American adults plan to

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012: Online tools optimise trade fair preparation

2011-12-13T07:01:00.002-06:00

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012 Online tools optimise trade fair preparation Virtual Market Place® for appointment scheduling – Interactive site plan now available Berlin, 13 December 2011 – More than 2,400 exhibitors from 80 countries and over 56,000 high-profile trade visitors from 130 nations are expected in Berlin for FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012 (8-10 Feb.), the world's leading fresh produce

pening Statement by Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson Examination of MF Global Bankruptcy

2011-12-12T16:43:00.002-06:00

Opening Statement by Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson Examination of MF Global Bankruptcy --As Prepared for Delivery-- “Good morning and thank you Chairman Lucas. “As the Chairman said, today’s hearing is to review the bankruptcy of MF Global, potentially the eighth largest bankruptcy in history. Given that futures customers, particularly those in agriculture, were

GMA Applauds President Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Beyond the Border Initiative

2011-12-09T11:22:00.000-06:00

Bilateral Agreement to Streamline Cross Border Trade between U.S. and Canada (Washington, DC) – The Grocery Manufacturers Association praised President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for moving forward on implementation of the Beyond the Border initiative, a bilateral trade and security agreement designed to streamline cross border trade between the two countries through

Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Roberts Issue Statement Following Committee Vote to Subpoena Corzine

2011-12-06T13:42:00.002-06:00

Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Roberts Issue Statement Following Committee Vote to Subpoena Corzine Washington, DC – Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Senator Pat Roberts, the Committee’s Ranking Member, today issued the below statement following a unanimous voice vote of the full Committee in support of subpoenaing

Chairwoman Stabenow: We Need to Get a Farm Bill Done Next Year

2011-12-06T11:39:00.002-06:00

Chairwoman Stabenow: We Need to Get a Farm Bill Done Next Year Senate Ag Chairwoman Highlights Priorities and Challenges for the 2012 Farm Bill at the Farm Journal Forum Washington, DC – Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today said Congress must complete a Farm Bill next year before the current Farm Bill expires. Stabenow