Unannounced audits as a way ahead and putting the kibosh on fees

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TOMATOES — F.O.B.S AS OF MAY 14

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA DISTRICTS — Shipments (433-454-398) — Movement expected to increase. Trading moderate. Prices 5x6s higher, others lower. Extra services included. 25-pound cartons loose mature-greens 85% U.S. 1 or better 5x6s $8.95-9.95, 6x6s $7.95-8.95, 6x7s $7.95-8.95. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES, ARIZ. — Crossings (152-146-159, greenhouse 124-123-137, vine-ripes 28-23-22) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Supplies 4x4 to 4x5s light. Trading 4x4 to 4x5s fairly active, others slow. Prices 4x4 to 4x5s higher, others generally unchanged. Field-grown and greenhouse cartons/flats two-layer 4x4s mostly $9-10, 4x5s mostly $7.95-9, 5x5s mostly $4.99-5, 5x6s $4.64-5. Quality variable.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA, CALIF. — Crossings (8-8-11, greenhouse 7-7-9, vine-ripes 1-1-2) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first f.o.b. report was expected to be issued the week of May 21.

WEST FLORIDA DISTRICT — Shipments (0-0-0) — Light harvest expected to start the week of May 28. Expect first f.o.b. by the first week of June.

U.S. SHIPPING POINTS — Greenhouse (54-56-**) — No prices reported. **unavailable

CANADA SHIPPING POINTS — Greenhouse (149*-150-**) — No prices reported. **unavailable, *revised

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Home > Opinion > Fresh Talk Blog > Unannounced audits as a way ahead and putting the kibosh on fees

Fresh Talk Blog

Unannounced audits as a way ahead and putting the kibosh on fees

01/31/2012 9:03:13 AM
Tom Karst

Tom Karst The voting is good but the discussion is even better.

The poll question "How could third party audits for fresh produce be improved?" is getting a lot of attention in the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group. The poll was posted six days ago (voting will continue for a month) and there have been 24 votes and 13 comments so far.

Here are the answers so far:

Current practices work well enough 5 (20%)
Retailers should pay for audits 9 (37%)
All audits should be unannounced 10 (41%)
Auditors should be chosen randomly 0 (0%)

A coalition of industry groups believes that one way to improve the FDA food safety oversight is NOT to raise fees. Check out a letter to the HHS in advance of the fiscal year 2013 budget request from the Obama Administration.

From the letter:

As you know, the administration’s FY 2012 budget request proposed raising revenue to fund implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) through new food safety fees. Such fees were rejected during congressional consideration of FSMA and were again rejected last year by congressional appropriators. As consumers continue to cope with a period of pro-longed economic turbulence and food makers struggle with record high commodity prices, the creation of new food taxes or regulatory fees would mean higher costs for food makers and lead to higher food prices for consumers. As such, we believe imposing new fees on food makers is the wrong option for funding food safety programs.

Other news worth noting today: The Economist looks at Alabama's costly immigration law, Freshfel talks up Peru, the National Restaurant Association has a bullish forecast, Oregon State touts a purple tomato, Pipfruit NZ issues a forecast, a produce price war Down Under, USDA unveils plant hardiness zone map and Sinaloa tomato struggles.

Join the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group.Check out the stats from LinkedIn on the growth of the group.

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E-mail me at tkarst@thepacker.com