03/09/2010 02:26PM
By
Tom Karst
Again, this is a bookmarrk-worthy blog post, as we capture the stream
of thought, opinion and news about Wal-Mart. The Twitter search for the
world's largest and most controversial retailer.:
03/09/2010 01:56PM
By
Tom Karst
Again, here is a blog entry that strawberry marketers may want to
bookmark. Catching random comments, raves and rants, here is a
real-time Twitter search for strawberries:
03/09/2010 09:07AM
By
Tom Karst
The FDA docket
on Product Tracing Systems for Food closed March 4, and I will reprint
some of the comments from stakeholders in this space. Here are the
comments about traceability from the Florida Fruit & Vegetable
Association.
03/07/2010 12:49PM
By
Tom Karst
Europe has approved a GM potato. Though not for food use - the potato
will produce high quality starch - the event seems to promise a new era
for GM crops in Europe. As an article in Treehugger.com asked "How Did a Genetically Modified Potato Gain Approval in Europe?"
From Treehugger:
After
a 13-year battle, the largest chemical company in the world, BASF won
approval from the European Commission to begin commercially growing a
genetically modified potato for industrial use. Many onlookers were
more than a little surprised by the decision considering the
Commission's formerly skeptical approach to GMOs. The decision has
incited fury amongst harsh critics which included Italy and Austria who
fear a health disaster.
The EU decision comes about a month after India halted the release of its first GM food crop - the Bt Brinjal, an insect resistant eggplant variety.
03/07/2010 09:12AM
By
Tom Karst
A quick note of welcome to Perishable Pundit Jim Prevor to the world of
Twitter. I followed Jim at @perishablepundt. Better late to the party
than not show up at all, though I must say I have "scoreboard." At more
than 4,200 tweets, @tckarst will be hard for Jim to catch.
03/06/2010 11:05AM
By
Tom Karst
Here are some tables from the recent vegetable and melon outlook report. Find the report here.
03/05/2010 04:21PM
By
Tom Karst
Here is the latest (March 5) USDA National Retail Report. I couldn't link to the actual report because the page was crashing my Firefox browser.
Perhaps the
most important line to watch in the next few weeks will be the numbers
for grape promotions at retail. With 3,000 fewer stores promoting grapes
this week compared with last week, I would anticipate the number
plummet quite low for the report that will be published March 19 in view of the supply disruption in Chile. However, the pipeline is expected to again fill and provide opportunities for promotion the week of March 29.
03/05/2010 01:46PM
I had the chance on March 3 to visit with Tom Tjerandsen, managing
director for North America for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association,
Sonoma Calif.
03/05/2010 01:29PM
By
Tom Karst
Here is a nicely topical blog post from our accomplished guest blogger, Jay Martini.
From Jay:
When I stopped at the local convenience store early this morning to
pick up a cup of coffee and the newspaper, I glanced down when paying
and saw a flash of red on the front page. Instinctively, I figured it
was blood...or tomatoes.