All Good Fruit Grower blog posts:
Post Election
● At a news conference this week, President Barack Obama expressed optimism about moving comprehensive
The Election
● It’s over. President Obama will have four more years to fashion policy and lead
Lincoln
● The Organic Trade Association is boosting the idea of a multicommodity federal promotion and
Are the Apples Rotten?
● November 6 will slam shut the door to the political future of many of
Futile and Weak
● One of my more enjoyable tasks is serving on the board of advisors to
On the Hill in D.C.
Last week, I joined 500 produce industry professionals in Washington, D.C., for the United Fresh
Will We Miss It?
With 300,000,000 middle-class consumers—and growing—China is Washington State’s fourth-largest export market and has been identified
Jenkins Hill XI
● This Sunday I plan to travel across country to attend the Washington Public Policy
Northwest Cherry 2012 Season at a Glance
The final sweet cherry shipments from the Pacific Northwest left the industry this weekend, bringing
Jenkins Hill X
This month, Ellen Terpstra was named the new chief executive officer of the International Food
Apple Anarchy
● Four of life’s misfits have been charged in Georgia with murder and other crimes.
Off and Running
As you are harvesting pears OFF your trees, we are RUNNING to get our marketing
Politics
● For some reason known only to cheeseheads, Wisconsin has been at the center of
Don’t Count Your Chickens…
On the surface, what a year 2012 could be to a Washington State apple grower!
Washington State Primary
● Tuesday’s primary in Washington clarified who will be running in the general election for
Farm Bill V
● Moving a Farm Bill through Congress this year has proved difficult. Why? Because it
Insane Coils of Red Tape
● As a result of this year’s redistricting, commercial tree fruit growers will have reason
PMA/United
● The merger talks between the Produce Market Association and the United Fresh Produce Association
Farm Bill IV
● The House Committee on Agriculture approved by a bipartisan vote of 35-11 its version
The Supremes
● The Farm Bill is set to be marked-up by the House Agriculture Committee on
Farm Bill III
● The U.S. Senate’s version of the Farm Bill, S. 3240, passed last Thursday by
Mexico
● President Obama acted last Friday to help many young people—those without the correct residency
Farm Bill II
● The U.S. Senate’s version of the Farm Bill, S. 3240, now has over 220
Farm Bill
● The Senate’s version of the Farm Bill, S.3240, today cleared its first procedural hurdle
A Slow Boat to China
The annual meeting of the Western Governors’ Association will be held at the Cascade Mountain
Primaries
● Oregon: No surprises on Tuesday in terms of federal elections. All five members of
Jenkins Hill IX
● Senator Richard Lugar (R/Indiana) lost his primary reelection race on Tuesday. The senator, age
Criminal Apples
● The Leonardo Academy, located in Madison, Wisconsin, released on April 19 its draft document
Stone Fruit Marketing in Canada
I was able to attend the annual Canadian Produce Marketing Association conference through this past
Unite
● The United Fresh Produce Association sent out its ballot for 2012 officers and board
Cool Weather Becomes Grower Friendly
Over the last few weeks, New York Apple growers have cursed the cold weather, but
Jenkins Hill VIII
● Biotechnology continues to be a contentious issue. Of note is a concentrated effort afoot
Jenkins Hill VII
● Wednesday, January 4, was the day set for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Freeze warnings!
Tonight could be the night we talk about all year. Hard freeze warnings are forecast
Jenkins Hill VI
● Last Tuesday, Mitt Romney announced his agriculture advisory committee, a group co-chaired by Senator
March Madness
As an avid NCCA basketball fan who lives for March each year, the Madness is
Lurking market issues
The 2011-2012 Washington State apple season has been a warm welcome to the financial stability
Jenkins Hill V
● Norm Dicks will not be serving in the 113th Congress. On March 2, Mr.
Jenkins Hill IV
● A report to Congress was issue in February by the Food and Drug Administration
Jenkins Hill 3
● The United Fresh Produce Association held town hall meetings in both Wenatchee and Yakima
Jenkins Hill II
● A flurry of meetings will be held in Washington, D.C., the week of March
NY Congressman Introduces Bill
This week, Congressman Bill Owens, who represents the largest McIntosh growing region in the world,
D.C. meeting yields common message
Last week, apple folks from Washington State to Vermont met in Washington, D.C., to attend
Jenkins Hill
● After two trips to Washington, D.C., in January, I am even more convinced that
Good Point
Arsenic in apple juice. Apples, pears, and cherries on the Environmental Working Group’s latest “Dirty
Sometimes Politics
In all businesses, there are days where politics come into play and understanding the political
Senator Cantwell
● Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (Democrat, Washington) visited Yakima, with one of her stops
New Districts
● Reapportionment for federal elections based on the 2010 census will have its greatest impact
Apple Pie
● The Food Safety Modernization Act calls for the Food and Drug Administration to issue
FDA
● Last week, I spent time in Wenatchee with Dr. Jim Gorny and Bob Keeney,