Thursday, April 23, 2009
No Salmonella found in N.Y. pistachio plant
According to the Associated Press, no Salmonella was found in the Commack, N.Y.-based Setton International Foods processing plant. All nine environmental swabs and 10 sample tests of the company’s food products came back with negative results. The investigation was conducted in tandem with an investigation into Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. in Calif., where federal food safety officials announced they found traces of Salmonella inside the plant. Setton Pistachio, now temporarily closed, had recalled more than 2 million lbs of pistachios the first week in April, and then expanded the recall of raw and roasted nuts on April 6. By April 10, 14 million lbs of nuts had been recalled, and it is likely that the company may need to recall up to 20 million lbs. So far, no pistachio-related illnesses have been reported.
Peanut industry faces more good news than bad
Apr 21, 2009 10:25 AM, By Ron SmithFarm Press Editorial Staff
The peanut industry can look forward to more good news than bad in the next few years, despite current over-supply, low prices and a salmonella contamination that affects the entire industry.
“We’ll come out of the salmonella issue stronger than ever,” said Howard Valentine, executive director of the Peanut Foundation.
Valentine spoke on current peanut issues at the Oklahoma Peanut Expo in Lone Wolf, Okla. He said industry changes to be initiated worldwide will restore public confidence in peanuts and peanut products.
Current lack of consumer confidence and the accompanying effect on markets come from what Valentine described as a “criminal offense” by the Peanut Corp. of America (PCA), headquartered in Blakely, Ga., with another plant in Texas.
He said a Jan. 13, 2009, product recall followed reports of hundreds of people sickened by salmonella contaminated peanut products. So far, nine deaths have been attributed to the contamination.
Valentine said the recall included only 30,000 pounds of peanuts, which he describes as “a small amount. PCA sold to small companies.” The recall ultimately totaled 3,000 products, which is a lot, Valentine said.
The company allegedly shipped peanuts to various manufacturers in spite of records that showed 12 positive tests for salmonella. Eventually every product from the PCA plant was recalled. The plant was closed, as was one in Texas.
“PCA has done immeasurable damage to the industry,” Valentine said. “But we will work through the problems and come out stronger. I think we will do that. We will change consumer perceptions.”
He said the issue has unified the peanut industry. It also proved a catalyst for change. Valentine said the entire industry, from producers to manufacturers, are making changes to provide better safeguards.
A kill step recommendation is a key. Valentine said a combination of time and the right temperature is required to kill salmonella on peanuts. “Now, kill step regulations will be released to manufacturers worldwide,” he said. The Food and Drug Administration have approved regulations.
“We will continue to study and update good agricultural and manufacturing practices,” he said. A key will be improved sanitation, such as covering equipment to prevent contamination from bird droppings. “We expect big changes at the manufacturing level,” Valentine said.
A hazard analysis procedure also will be in place to assure contaminants are eliminated. “The industry will provide training for shellers and manufacturers,” he said.
A certification program also will help restore confidence in peanuts and peanut products. “It will be an international program,” Valentine said. “Jars and packages will be marked with certification labels.”
A promotion program will “minimize bad publicity” and to take a “proactive stance” for the industry.
Valentine said most peanut products are safe for consumption. “Jarred peanut butter is safe. It was not produced at PCA. And major supermarket chains have scan data so they know what’s on the (contaminant) list. They’ve pulled those products off the shelves.”
He said only one brand of crackers was included in the recall.
He also commented on the current peanut surplus and a hopeful outlook for peanut allergy treatment.
Increases in peanut exports, spurred by funds from USDA and FSA, have helped peanut markets. Since 2000, peanut exports have increased from 220,000 tons to 400,000 tons of farmer stock and few products have been recalled from export markets.
He said a “cure for peanut allergies” may be only two years away. An 18-month trial treatment program has shown that children with peanut allergy, after taking an oral immunization (extremely small amounts of peanuts), can eat up to 15 peanuts a day.
Within two years this oral immunotherapy will become “the method of treatment,” Valentine said.
email: rsmith@farmpress.com
The peanut industry can look forward to more good news than bad in the next few years, despite current over-supply, low prices and a salmonella contamination that affects the entire industry.
“We’ll come out of the salmonella issue stronger than ever,” said Howard Valentine, executive director of the Peanut Foundation.
Valentine spoke on current peanut issues at the Oklahoma Peanut Expo in Lone Wolf, Okla. He said industry changes to be initiated worldwide will restore public confidence in peanuts and peanut products.
Current lack of consumer confidence and the accompanying effect on markets come from what Valentine described as a “criminal offense” by the Peanut Corp. of America (PCA), headquartered in Blakely, Ga., with another plant in Texas.
He said a Jan. 13, 2009, product recall followed reports of hundreds of people sickened by salmonella contaminated peanut products. So far, nine deaths have been attributed to the contamination.
Valentine said the recall included only 30,000 pounds of peanuts, which he describes as “a small amount. PCA sold to small companies.” The recall ultimately totaled 3,000 products, which is a lot, Valentine said.
The company allegedly shipped peanuts to various manufacturers in spite of records that showed 12 positive tests for salmonella. Eventually every product from the PCA plant was recalled. The plant was closed, as was one in Texas.
“PCA has done immeasurable damage to the industry,” Valentine said. “But we will work through the problems and come out stronger. I think we will do that. We will change consumer perceptions.”
He said the issue has unified the peanut industry. It also proved a catalyst for change. Valentine said the entire industry, from producers to manufacturers, are making changes to provide better safeguards.
A kill step recommendation is a key. Valentine said a combination of time and the right temperature is required to kill salmonella on peanuts. “Now, kill step regulations will be released to manufacturers worldwide,” he said. The Food and Drug Administration have approved regulations.
“We will continue to study and update good agricultural and manufacturing practices,” he said. A key will be improved sanitation, such as covering equipment to prevent contamination from bird droppings. “We expect big changes at the manufacturing level,” Valentine said.
A hazard analysis procedure also will be in place to assure contaminants are eliminated. “The industry will provide training for shellers and manufacturers,” he said.
A certification program also will help restore confidence in peanuts and peanut products. “It will be an international program,” Valentine said. “Jars and packages will be marked with certification labels.”
A promotion program will “minimize bad publicity” and to take a “proactive stance” for the industry.
Valentine said most peanut products are safe for consumption. “Jarred peanut butter is safe. It was not produced at PCA. And major supermarket chains have scan data so they know what’s on the (contaminant) list. They’ve pulled those products off the shelves.”
He said only one brand of crackers was included in the recall.
He also commented on the current peanut surplus and a hopeful outlook for peanut allergy treatment.
Increases in peanut exports, spurred by funds from USDA and FSA, have helped peanut markets. Since 2000, peanut exports have increased from 220,000 tons to 400,000 tons of farmer stock and few products have been recalled from export markets.
He said a “cure for peanut allergies” may be only two years away. An 18-month trial treatment program has shown that children with peanut allergy, after taking an oral immunization (extremely small amounts of peanuts), can eat up to 15 peanuts a day.
Within two years this oral immunotherapy will become “the method of treatment,” Valentine said.
email: rsmith@farmpress.com
Monday, April 20, 2009
Peanut supply pressures price
Apr 20, 2009 10:41 AM, By Ron SmithFarm Press Editorial Staff
U.S. peanut growers need to reduce acreage by 35 percent this year to bring production in line with demand. But that’s not likely to happen, says a Georgia peanut broker.
“Nationally, we expect an acreage reduction of about 22 percent,” said Richard Barnhill, president, Mazur and Hockman, Inc., Albany, Ga.
Barnhill, speaking via phone to the Oklahoma Peanut Expo in Lone Wolf, Okla., said the Southeast is more likely to cut acreage by 15 percent to 18 percent. “Growers do not have very good alternatives. Also, farmers will try to keep their rotations.”
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates a 400,000-acre reduction for peanuts this year, 1.1 million compared to 1.5 million in 2008.
NASS figures put Texas at 160,000 acres, down from 195,000 last year. Georgia growers should plant 500,000 acres, off from 690,000 last year. Alabama, at 170,000, will be off from 195,000 in 2008.
North Carolina, at 75,000, will be down from 98,000 acres; South Carolina, at 55,000, will be down from 71,000; Virginia, at 12,000, will cut acreage in half from last year’s 24,000; Oklahoma, with 15,000 acres anticipated, will be down from 19,000; Mississippi, a relative newcomer to peanut production, will be down to 20,000, off just 2,000 from last year; and New Mexico, at 7,000 acres, will be down 1,000 from 2008.
Tough decisions
“Growers will have some tough decisions at planting time,” Barnhill said. “Other commodity prices are off their peaks, too.”
He said if peanut acreage is less than 1 million, prices should hold. “If acreage tops 1 million, prices will weaken further.”
He said prices for the 2008 crop averaged from the mid-50-cent to the mid-60-cent range. “Now they are down into the low 40s. We have an oversupply of peanuts. A 1 million-ton carry-out from the 2008 crop is 600,000 more than last year.”
Production in 2008 was the biggest in four years, 2.5 million farmer stock tons. “Acreage was up and (moisture from) a hurricane in the Southeast came at the right time to produce big yields,” Barnhill said.
Demand is about 2 million farmer stock tons: 1.4 million for snacks, peanut butter, and other products; 100,000 for seed; 125,000 for oil; and 425,000 for export.
Supply outlook
Supply looks like this: 2.5 million farmer stock tons from the 2008 crop, a 410,000-ton carry-in, 100,000 tons imported. Total is just over 3 million tons.
“A 1 million-ton carry-out is why no contracts have been available like last year’s,” Barnhill said. “We have way too many peanuts and the salmonella scare is not helping. The 2.5 million-ton 2008 crop made the market weaker. Supply and demand always works.”
He said the impact of salmonella also remains a question. “The issue affects the whole industry.” Barnhill said January consumption numbers for peanut products were off. Peanut butter was down more than 8 percent, “the first time we’ve seen a significant downturn in peanut butter in eight years.”
And the worst is yet to come. “February numbers will be worse because they will show the whole market effect of salmonella. It could take up to two more months to calm the issue down — get it out of the media. The plants are closed; the products are off the market. We hope USDA announces that.”
Barnhill said the salmonella scare could reduce demand by 100,000 tons, about 5 percent of the reduced demand.
And that’s not the only issue facing peanut farmers as they make planting decisions. “China is getting more aggressive for exports in 2009. But a weak U.S. dollar could help U.S. producers compete.”
He said Southwest peanuts could have an advantage in export markets because of demand for high oleic and low aflatoxin peanut production. “We also see specific demand for Spanish and Virginia-type peanuts.”
Barnhill said the United States needs about 1.5 million tons of farmer stock peanuts in 2009. “A 500,000 to 600,000 ton carry-out is reasonable for a 2.6 million-ton supply. He said a 550,000 ton carry-out allows for crop yield problems.
Because of oversupply and the salmonella issue, “we don’t see much activity in the market,” Barnhill said.
Oklahoma, with just 15,000 acres planned for 2009, could maintain or increase plantings without significantly affecting the market, Barnhill said. “I’m not certain why acreage is shrinking so much (in Oklahoma).”
U.S. peanut growers need to reduce acreage by 35 percent this year to bring production in line with demand. But that’s not likely to happen, says a Georgia peanut broker.
“Nationally, we expect an acreage reduction of about 22 percent,” said Richard Barnhill, president, Mazur and Hockman, Inc., Albany, Ga.
Barnhill, speaking via phone to the Oklahoma Peanut Expo in Lone Wolf, Okla., said the Southeast is more likely to cut acreage by 15 percent to 18 percent. “Growers do not have very good alternatives. Also, farmers will try to keep their rotations.”
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates a 400,000-acre reduction for peanuts this year, 1.1 million compared to 1.5 million in 2008.
NASS figures put Texas at 160,000 acres, down from 195,000 last year. Georgia growers should plant 500,000 acres, off from 690,000 last year. Alabama, at 170,000, will be off from 195,000 in 2008.
North Carolina, at 75,000, will be down from 98,000 acres; South Carolina, at 55,000, will be down from 71,000; Virginia, at 12,000, will cut acreage in half from last year’s 24,000; Oklahoma, with 15,000 acres anticipated, will be down from 19,000; Mississippi, a relative newcomer to peanut production, will be down to 20,000, off just 2,000 from last year; and New Mexico, at 7,000 acres, will be down 1,000 from 2008.
Tough decisions
“Growers will have some tough decisions at planting time,” Barnhill said. “Other commodity prices are off their peaks, too.”
He said if peanut acreage is less than 1 million, prices should hold. “If acreage tops 1 million, prices will weaken further.”
He said prices for the 2008 crop averaged from the mid-50-cent to the mid-60-cent range. “Now they are down into the low 40s. We have an oversupply of peanuts. A 1 million-ton carry-out from the 2008 crop is 600,000 more than last year.”
Production in 2008 was the biggest in four years, 2.5 million farmer stock tons. “Acreage was up and (moisture from) a hurricane in the Southeast came at the right time to produce big yields,” Barnhill said.
Demand is about 2 million farmer stock tons: 1.4 million for snacks, peanut butter, and other products; 100,000 for seed; 125,000 for oil; and 425,000 for export.
Supply outlook
Supply looks like this: 2.5 million farmer stock tons from the 2008 crop, a 410,000-ton carry-in, 100,000 tons imported. Total is just over 3 million tons.
“A 1 million-ton carry-out is why no contracts have been available like last year’s,” Barnhill said. “We have way too many peanuts and the salmonella scare is not helping. The 2.5 million-ton 2008 crop made the market weaker. Supply and demand always works.”
He said the impact of salmonella also remains a question. “The issue affects the whole industry.” Barnhill said January consumption numbers for peanut products were off. Peanut butter was down more than 8 percent, “the first time we’ve seen a significant downturn in peanut butter in eight years.”
And the worst is yet to come. “February numbers will be worse because they will show the whole market effect of salmonella. It could take up to two more months to calm the issue down — get it out of the media. The plants are closed; the products are off the market. We hope USDA announces that.”
Barnhill said the salmonella scare could reduce demand by 100,000 tons, about 5 percent of the reduced demand.
And that’s not the only issue facing peanut farmers as they make planting decisions. “China is getting more aggressive for exports in 2009. But a weak U.S. dollar could help U.S. producers compete.”
He said Southwest peanuts could have an advantage in export markets because of demand for high oleic and low aflatoxin peanut production. “We also see specific demand for Spanish and Virginia-type peanuts.”
Barnhill said the United States needs about 1.5 million tons of farmer stock peanuts in 2009. “A 500,000 to 600,000 ton carry-out is reasonable for a 2.6 million-ton supply. He said a 550,000 ton carry-out allows for crop yield problems.
Because of oversupply and the salmonella issue, “we don’t see much activity in the market,” Barnhill said.
Oklahoma, with just 15,000 acres planned for 2009, could maintain or increase plantings without significantly affecting the market, Barnhill said. “I’m not certain why acreage is shrinking so much (in Oklahoma).”
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Crisis in Vietnamese Cashew Industry
January 12, 2009
During the latter half of 2008, we published articles on two problems that had severely impacted the world cashew scenario: The increasing defaults by Vietnamese shippers that occurred during the spring and summer, and the disturbing reports of chlorophenol contamination that began surfacing around the same time. The cashew world has been on a virtual roller coaster ride since then, buffeted by the world recession and by industry practices that in some cases have backfired. Both of these articles can be accessed in the Newsroom section of the Cashew Concern website: www.cashewconcern.com .
Crisis in Vietnamese Cashew Industry
On June 20th, 2008, we published an article entitled "Unbridled Cashew Speculation - History Lesson 102" warning of the potential fallout from an overheated cashew market fueled by speculation and low price feeding frenzy. A recent article which appeared in VietnamNet Bridge describes the devastating effect that this "perfect storm" has had on the Vietnamese cashew industry. The complete article can be accessed at the following link: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2008/11/815737/
Over the last decade, Vietnam quickly became the largest exporter of cashew kernels in the world, surpassing even India. Unfortunately, instead of healthy, managed growth, many Vietnamese cashew producers opted for the quick money to be had by offering cheaper prices than their global counterparts. Offers were made without a realistic assessment of production capacity. In 2008, as cashew prices soared, they did not deliver under the signed contracts, but sold to others as the price went up, with the intention of fulfilling the contracts later. However, material prices rose sharply, making it impossible to honor the contracts without devastating losses. To make matters worse, demand dropped and cashew prices fell dramatically.
The Vietnamese cashew industry is now in crisis and is scrambling to survive. Reports have begun to surface of Vietnamese cashew splits that have been adhered together with 502 glue in an attempt to disguise them as wholes, a practice that certainly cannot be tolerated.
Vietnamese cashew producers are now seeking help from the Vietnamese government in the form of loans and tax reductions, but it remains to be seen if the industry will be able to recover. Alarmingly, farmers in Vietnam are increasingly giving up on growing cashews in favor of more profitable crops, such as rubber and cocoa.
The speculation that has become rampant in the cashew industry has in the end benefited no one. Vietnam's cashew industry is struggling to survive, American cashew importers hit by the massive wave of defaults sustained significant losses at a time when the economy makes it difficult to absorb such a blow, and American roasters faced historically high prices during a brutal retail season.
Chlorophenol Update
On September 9th, we published an article about the detection of chlorophenol, mostly in cashews exported from India. In order to prevent contamination, guidelines have been established by the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India. The guidelines have been published by the African Cashew Alliance and can be accessed from their website. Alarmingly, however, there have been reports as recently as December 27th of containers being rejected because of chlorophenol contamination, and it is not at all clear that the source of the problem has been identified. An article published in the Indian Express states that the rejected cashews had been tested in India before shipment.
Every Link in the Global Food Chain is Important
Clearly more vigilance is needed. As we move further into the 21st century, better monitoring systems must be put into place, not only to ensure that suppliers follow good manufacturing practices, but also to understand the calibre of suppliers that we work with. Each link in the global food chain is important. We need to build strategic working partnerships between supplier, importer, roaster, retailer and consumer in order to ensure a better overall food product and foster the development of reliable working relationships that have a positive effect on food quality and on our business as a whole.
"An Ounce of Prevention or a Metric Ton of Cure" Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association Conference - January 17 - 20
David Rosenthal will give a presentation entitled "An Ounce of Prevention or a Metric Ton of Cure - It's Your Choice" at the General Session of the PTNPA Conference, held at Our Lucaya Resort in the Bahamas, on January 18th. The co-host of this session will be Merle Jacobs, president of the American Council for Food Safety and Quality.
During the latter half of 2008, we published articles on two problems that had severely impacted the world cashew scenario: The increasing defaults by Vietnamese shippers that occurred during the spring and summer, and the disturbing reports of chlorophenol contamination that began surfacing around the same time. The cashew world has been on a virtual roller coaster ride since then, buffeted by the world recession and by industry practices that in some cases have backfired. Both of these articles can be accessed in the Newsroom section of the Cashew Concern website: www.cashewconcern.com .
Crisis in Vietnamese Cashew Industry
On June 20th, 2008, we published an article entitled "Unbridled Cashew Speculation - History Lesson 102" warning of the potential fallout from an overheated cashew market fueled by speculation and low price feeding frenzy. A recent article which appeared in VietnamNet Bridge describes the devastating effect that this "perfect storm" has had on the Vietnamese cashew industry. The complete article can be accessed at the following link: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2008/11/815737/
Over the last decade, Vietnam quickly became the largest exporter of cashew kernels in the world, surpassing even India. Unfortunately, instead of healthy, managed growth, many Vietnamese cashew producers opted for the quick money to be had by offering cheaper prices than their global counterparts. Offers were made without a realistic assessment of production capacity. In 2008, as cashew prices soared, they did not deliver under the signed contracts, but sold to others as the price went up, with the intention of fulfilling the contracts later. However, material prices rose sharply, making it impossible to honor the contracts without devastating losses. To make matters worse, demand dropped and cashew prices fell dramatically.
The Vietnamese cashew industry is now in crisis and is scrambling to survive. Reports have begun to surface of Vietnamese cashew splits that have been adhered together with 502 glue in an attempt to disguise them as wholes, a practice that certainly cannot be tolerated.
Vietnamese cashew producers are now seeking help from the Vietnamese government in the form of loans and tax reductions, but it remains to be seen if the industry will be able to recover. Alarmingly, farmers in Vietnam are increasingly giving up on growing cashews in favor of more profitable crops, such as rubber and cocoa.
The speculation that has become rampant in the cashew industry has in the end benefited no one. Vietnam's cashew industry is struggling to survive, American cashew importers hit by the massive wave of defaults sustained significant losses at a time when the economy makes it difficult to absorb such a blow, and American roasters faced historically high prices during a brutal retail season.
Chlorophenol Update
On September 9th, we published an article about the detection of chlorophenol, mostly in cashews exported from India. In order to prevent contamination, guidelines have been established by the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India. The guidelines have been published by the African Cashew Alliance and can be accessed from their website. Alarmingly, however, there have been reports as recently as December 27th of containers being rejected because of chlorophenol contamination, and it is not at all clear that the source of the problem has been identified. An article published in the Indian Express states that the rejected cashews had been tested in India before shipment.
Every Link in the Global Food Chain is Important
Clearly more vigilance is needed. As we move further into the 21st century, better monitoring systems must be put into place, not only to ensure that suppliers follow good manufacturing practices, but also to understand the calibre of suppliers that we work with. Each link in the global food chain is important. We need to build strategic working partnerships between supplier, importer, roaster, retailer and consumer in order to ensure a better overall food product and foster the development of reliable working relationships that have a positive effect on food quality and on our business as a whole.
"An Ounce of Prevention or a Metric Ton of Cure" Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association Conference - January 17 - 20
David Rosenthal will give a presentation entitled "An Ounce of Prevention or a Metric Ton of Cure - It's Your Choice" at the General Session of the PTNPA Conference, held at Our Lucaya Resort in the Bahamas, on January 18th. The co-host of this session will be Merle Jacobs, president of the American Council for Food Safety and Quality.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Walnut Market Update
R.L. “Pete” Turner November, 15, 2008
WALNUT MARKET/CROP REPORT
CROP:
The Walnut Marketing Board announced the October shipments at 75,812 inshell equivalent tons; 7,226 tons less than last year. Inshell shipments were 77.5 million pounds, compared to 76.9 million pounds last October. Shelled shipments were 32.0 million pounds, 6.2 million pounds less than last year. Total inshell equivalent year to date shipments are 95,406 tons; compared to 105,632 tons, down 10% from last year.
We will not know the final crop tonnage for several more months, but most industry leaders believe the crop will come in close to the 375,000 ton forecasted. Some packers feel the crop may be above the forecast as mid-crop receiving’s were very heavy compared to last year. However, this would have been the case anyway as the forecasted tonnage was up over 50,000 tons and the fact that the industry continues to loose the early crop varieties which have been replaced by Chandler’s, Howard’s and Tulare’s which are all mid-crop varieties. Thus, about 65% of the crop is being harvested and trucked to the packers over a 2-3 week period. This not only puts constraints on harvest/ hullers; but ultimately, on the plants and their processing facilities.
The quality of the 2008 crop is excellent with more than average Light material. The light kernel on the Chandlers, Howards, Tulare’s and Hartley’s appear to be above average as well as above average yields on almost all varieties.
The 2008 crop was 7-10 days later than last year which put even more pressure on the packers to meet vessel dates. In addition, there was a lot of questions on the availability of containers and vessels which added to the challenge. However, something must have gone right, as the industry shipped 77.5 million pounds of Inshell in October which is slightly more than we shipped last October.
MARKET:
In my more than I want to remember years in the walnut industry, I have never seen a walnut market that compares (so far) to what has impacted us during the past month or so.
First, the market for Chandler Light Halves & Pieces opened at $3.55 and Jumbo Hartley at $1.45, which was readily accepted by the buyers. Sales were brisk and forward bookings were heavy and the only challenge was getting containers and booking space on vessels.
Then, as some would say, the perfect storm hit. As with other businesses, our industry was hit extremely hard by the sudden collapse of the world financial institutions which put tight credit limits on buyers. The walnut market basically shut down and buyers had to set on the sidelines as they had no resources to conduct their business.
The markets quickly weaken with Chandlers Light Walnuts Halves and Pieces dropping from the $3.55 opening prices to $2.55 within a span of two weeks. However, Inshell Hartley’s bookings remained strong and only dropped about $0.05. Packers were facing not only the biggest crop in history, but had very few buyers to reduce their inventories. Thus, packers marketing strategy was almost solely based on their inventory positions.
This created a situation where some customers demanded adjustments to early contracts and some just walked away from their commitments. This has created some bitter relationships between seller and buyer, which is not a good formula for good business.
But, it now seems the market has finally bottomed out and bookings and shipments have been very active this week. In addition, the domestic market has picked up and as the walnuts prices are more favorable, bakeries, confectionery, and re-baggers are starting to add walnuts back into their mixes. I believe the domestic market will be stronger than it has been during several years of higher pricing. In addition, it is believed that the walnut market will stay around the current levels for the next several years. This will give the domestic users the confidence to establish longer market strategy for their products that contain walnuts.
The current market is still a little cloudy but most bookings on Chandler LHP is close to $2.35, regular LHP at $2.25 and CHP at $2.15, and Jumbo Hartley’s at $1.35. There have been sales at lower pricing but most of these seem to have disappeared over the past week.
I believe our industry is over most of the financial troubles and I see a more stable market going forward. We have not lost any Inshell sales as Italy, Germany and Spain are purchasing as heavy as ever. Turkey continues to purchase Inshell Chandlers and is 2.3 million pounds ahead of last year. Right now, Korea seems to be the only country to be purchasing less than at this same time last year.
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments,
Regards,
Bentzy
Bentzy Klein
Bentzy's Brokerage
Talknuts.blogspot.com
WALNUT MARKET/CROP REPORT
CROP:
The Walnut Marketing Board announced the October shipments at 75,812 inshell equivalent tons; 7,226 tons less than last year. Inshell shipments were 77.5 million pounds, compared to 76.9 million pounds last October. Shelled shipments were 32.0 million pounds, 6.2 million pounds less than last year. Total inshell equivalent year to date shipments are 95,406 tons; compared to 105,632 tons, down 10% from last year.
We will not know the final crop tonnage for several more months, but most industry leaders believe the crop will come in close to the 375,000 ton forecasted. Some packers feel the crop may be above the forecast as mid-crop receiving’s were very heavy compared to last year. However, this would have been the case anyway as the forecasted tonnage was up over 50,000 tons and the fact that the industry continues to loose the early crop varieties which have been replaced by Chandler’s, Howard’s and Tulare’s which are all mid-crop varieties. Thus, about 65% of the crop is being harvested and trucked to the packers over a 2-3 week period. This not only puts constraints on harvest/ hullers; but ultimately, on the plants and their processing facilities.
The quality of the 2008 crop is excellent with more than average Light material. The light kernel on the Chandlers, Howards, Tulare’s and Hartley’s appear to be above average as well as above average yields on almost all varieties.
The 2008 crop was 7-10 days later than last year which put even more pressure on the packers to meet vessel dates. In addition, there was a lot of questions on the availability of containers and vessels which added to the challenge. However, something must have gone right, as the industry shipped 77.5 million pounds of Inshell in October which is slightly more than we shipped last October.
MARKET:
In my more than I want to remember years in the walnut industry, I have never seen a walnut market that compares (so far) to what has impacted us during the past month or so.
First, the market for Chandler Light Halves & Pieces opened at $3.55 and Jumbo Hartley at $1.45, which was readily accepted by the buyers. Sales were brisk and forward bookings were heavy and the only challenge was getting containers and booking space on vessels.
Then, as some would say, the perfect storm hit. As with other businesses, our industry was hit extremely hard by the sudden collapse of the world financial institutions which put tight credit limits on buyers. The walnut market basically shut down and buyers had to set on the sidelines as they had no resources to conduct their business.
The markets quickly weaken with Chandlers Light Walnuts Halves and Pieces dropping from the $3.55 opening prices to $2.55 within a span of two weeks. However, Inshell Hartley’s bookings remained strong and only dropped about $0.05. Packers were facing not only the biggest crop in history, but had very few buyers to reduce their inventories. Thus, packers marketing strategy was almost solely based on their inventory positions.
This created a situation where some customers demanded adjustments to early contracts and some just walked away from their commitments. This has created some bitter relationships between seller and buyer, which is not a good formula for good business.
But, it now seems the market has finally bottomed out and bookings and shipments have been very active this week. In addition, the domestic market has picked up and as the walnuts prices are more favorable, bakeries, confectionery, and re-baggers are starting to add walnuts back into their mixes. I believe the domestic market will be stronger than it has been during several years of higher pricing. In addition, it is believed that the walnut market will stay around the current levels for the next several years. This will give the domestic users the confidence to establish longer market strategy for their products that contain walnuts.
The current market is still a little cloudy but most bookings on Chandler LHP is close to $2.35, regular LHP at $2.25 and CHP at $2.15, and Jumbo Hartley’s at $1.35. There have been sales at lower pricing but most of these seem to have disappeared over the past week.
I believe our industry is over most of the financial troubles and I see a more stable market going forward. We have not lost any Inshell sales as Italy, Germany and Spain are purchasing as heavy as ever. Turkey continues to purchase Inshell Chandlers and is 2.3 million pounds ahead of last year. Right now, Korea seems to be the only country to be purchasing less than at this same time last year.
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments,
Regards,
Bentzy
Bentzy Klein
Bentzy's Brokerage
Talknuts.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
US: Cranberry crop grows in leaps and bounds
George Rogers has been growing cranberries for 33 years, but has never seen anything like this season. “It’s our biggest crop ever,” said Rogers, senior vice president for the Wareham based A.D. Makepeace Company, the world’s largest cranberry grower. “We had good weather, little pests, just a good growing season that is up ten percent from last year. All the stars were aligned this year and a lot of people had a record crop. I won’t be surprised if Massachusetts overall has a record crop,” he said. Like most growers throughout the region, Rogers said the successful harvest could not have come at a better time because many growers were starting to “dip” into reserves.Back in 2000, an imbalance of supply and demand caused the cranberry industry to crash, with growers receiving only $12 per barrel. One barrel equals 100 pounds.Rogers said 2008 projections are estimated at $60 per barrel.Robert Beams, vice president of Agricultural Supply Development at Ocean Spray’s Middleboro facility agreed this year’s crop was outstanding.Ocean Spray is a farmer-owned cooperative, with about 650 fresh fruit growers throughout the U.S., British Columbia and Quebec, the majority being cranberry growers.About 25 percent of Ocean Spray’s cranberries came from Massachusetts.Last year, Ocean Spray’s Massachusetts’ crops produced 1.5 million barrels.The preliminary projections show 2.25 million barrels for 2008.Ocean Spray berries picked in 2006 sold for $47.69 per barrel, and those picked in 2007 sold for $54 per barrel, a 13.2 percent increase.Like A.D. Makpeace, Ocean Spray’s projections are also $60 per barrel for the 2008 season.“It was just an enormous crop for Massachusetts,” Beams said.“It’s a bit of a surprise for many of us. We’re still waiting to see how big the industry’s crop is as a whole because there’s generally about another million barrels out there that we don’t know about yet. All the fruit handlers report inventories to the Cranberry Marketing Committee and the next report won’t come out until January, so we can’t tell yet exactly how large the crop was this year.” Cranberries are harvested in the fall from mid-September through November.Most are wet harvested, which means growers flood the cranberry bogs and use machines that loosen the cranberries from the vine.With small air pockets in their center, cranberries float to the water’s surface where they are gathered.Jack Angley, owner of Carver’s Flax Pond Farm, has been dry harvesting cranberries for 47 years on his 35-acre farm.He makes up about only 5-percent of North America’s dry harvesters, which use mechanical pickers that comb over the berries and gather them in a burlap bag.“Dry harvesting has quite a few challenges to maintain for a quality environment. The vines can’t grow too thick to allow the machines to go through them,” Angley said.“The quality of my berries, color are beautiful this year, but a weed problem did set me back so this wasn’t my biggest crop this year.” Organic cranberry grower, Kristine Reese, co-owner of Cranberry Hill Farm in Plymouth, met the same challenges as Angley, but said the organic cranberry market is steadily improving.“It was a great year for us in terms of weather conditions, but we don’t use fertilizers and chemicals, so it was also a good year for weeds and we do all our weeding done by hand.More good weather, means more work for us,” she said. Source: enterprisenews.com
Publication date: 11/18/2008
Export rivals and frost cut Iran’s harvest cash
Iran’s revenues from pistachio and saffron exports are going to plunge by US$550 million (Dh2m) and $50m respectively this year as a result of growing foreign competition and a poor harvest caused by heavy frosts in April and a nationwide drought over the past year.After oil, pistachios are Iran’s biggest export item followed by saffron and, until 2007, the Islamic republic was the world’s top exporter of both. While still managing to retain its place as the world’s top saffron exporter, for the first time ever Iran is being overtaken as the top pistachio exporter by its arch-foe, the United States.Revenues from pistachio exports make up around eight per cent of the country’s non-oil revenues. Exporting 207 tonnes of pistachios earned the country over $1 billion of hard currency last year.Iran’s pistachio markets gradually shifted from western European countries to East Asia in recent years following rows with the European Union over the degree of aflatoxin contamination of Iranian pistachios. Aflatoxin is a carcinogen produced by fungus growing on the soft outer skin covering the nut and its shell. China is now Iran’s biggest pistachio market, followed by European countries and Russia. China imported more than 60 tonnes of pistachios from Iran last year.Iranian pistachio exporters are worried about the drop in the country’s pistachio supply, as well as the chance that the nearly two-fold increase since last year in the price of Iranian pistachios will cause them to lose Chinese and other East Asian markets to US suppliers. There was an increase in US pistachio production this year, which enabled US exporters to drop their prices below that of their Iranian competitors, said Mohammed Hossein Karimipour, the head of the agricultural committee of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, quoted by the Sarmayeh economic newspaper.While the US produced 190 tonnes of pistachios in 2007 and Iran produced a record high of 270 tonnes, Iranian output this year fell to 90 tonnes, according to Mr Karimipour. In some cities, such as Rafsanjan in Kerman province in eastern Iran, the April frosts destroyed nearly all the year’s crops. The province produces more than 70 per cent of Iran’s pistachios.“In Rafsanjan between 90 and 95 per cent of the population depends on pistachio farming for their livelihood, directly or indirectly. This year’s crops yielded only about one fifth of last year’s production,” said Ahmad Hassani, a pistachio exporter from the province and a member of the Iranian Pistachio Association’s board of directors.“Between 70 to 75 per cent of all crops in Kerman province were destroyed. This has given rise to a serious unemployment problem in the region,” he said. While pistachio exporters are worried about US rivals, it is the thought of the Afghan presence in the international saffron market that is troubling Iranian saffron exporters. Some Iranian saffron exporters allege Afghanistan is re-exporting Iranian saffron.“They are buying it in bulk and re-exporting it to Spain in their own name,” an Iranian Agricultural Cooperatives’ official was recently quoted as saying by Khorasan newspaper. Bulbs of the saffron crocus are said to have been smuggled from Iran to Afghanistan six years ago in great quantity and saffron is now extensively cultivated by Afghan farmers. Saffron farming is greatly encouraged by the Afghan government as a substitute for opium poppy farming, but the country’s production is still only a fraction of what is produced in Iran.Iran used to produce more than 90 per cent of the world’s most expensive spice, which is also known as “red gold”. But in recent years saffron production and exports have dropped consistently. Drought and the April frosts this year destroyed 40 per cent of the bulbs of the saffron flowers. In 2007 the value of saffron exported by Iran was down to $50m from $95m in 2004.Analysts say the skyrocketing price of saffron – which has increased nearly seven-fold from 2004 – arising from the poor harvest as well as high labour costs, has also led to a fall in exports.Saffron farming is labour-intensive. Every flower has to be picked by hand and every single thread of saffron has to be pulled out of the flower by hand immediately after the flower is picked. One hundred and fifty of the purple saffron flowers yield only about one gram of the red stigmas known as saffron threads. A kilogram of saffron is now traded for 2.3 million Iranian rials (Dh830) in the domestic market.Moreover, a drop between 30 per cent and 40 per cent in Iran’s non-oil exports in the second half of the Iranian calendar year (the year began on March 22) is expected as a result of the international financial crisis, Hamid Hosseini, a member of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, was quoted by Mehr News Agency as saying.As well as pistachios and saffron, the crisis will affect exports of such luxury goods as Persian carpets and caviar, he said.Source: thenational.ae
Publication date: 11/18/2008
Publication date: 11/18/2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Could Almond leaves be the next viagra
The leaves, bark, roots, fruit and seeds of Indian almond have been used to effectively reverse blood sugar regulating functions in damaged pancreas of diabetics, prolong ejaculation, stop the spread of lung cancer, and sickle cell anaemia. CHUKWUMA MUANYA reports.
RECENT studies have shown that diabetes and its attendant complications (erectile dysfunction/premature ejaculation, leg ulcer/gangrene, liver/ kidney failure), lung cancer and sickle cell anaemia can be addressed with extracts of Indian almond.
Nigerian and Indian researchers have regenerated the pancreas with Indian almond extracts thereby boosted blood sugar regulation, improved sexual and liver/kidney functions in diabetics.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease caused by inherited and/or acquired deficiency in production of insulin by the pancreas, or by ineffectiveness of insulin produced, such a deficiency results in increased concentration of glucose in the blood, which in turn damages many of the body's systems in particular the blood vessels and nerves.
Indian almond is botanically called Terminalia catappa and belongs to the plant family combretaceae. It is found in almost every town and village in Southern Nigeria. In Efik, it is called m_b�_s__ m_b�k�r� (groundnut of whiteman). It is also known as Malabar Almond, Tropical Almond, Fruit (by some Nigerians).
Indian almond is a large deciduous stately tree, originally from India, growing up to 90 feet. It thrives as an ornamental tree in many tropical cities in the world.
All parts of the plant (leaves, bark, roots, fruit and wood) are used in traditional medicine, such as in dysentery; dressing of rheumatic joints; treating coughs, asthma. The fruit may be helpful in treatment of leprosy, headaches, in reducing travel nausea. Leaves have been used to get rid of intestinal parasites; treat eye problems, rheumatism, wounds; and stop the bleeding during teeth extraction.
Indian almond has strong antibacterial properties and works against Gram positive and Gram negative micro-organisms. The leaves have been shown to protect against acute liver injury produced by some hepatotoxicants (chemicals that produce liver damage). .
In Nigeria fallen leaves are used as an herb to treat liver diseases. The leaves also have potential in the management of sickle cell disorders. Dried leaves are used for fish pathogen treatment, as an alternative to the use of chemicals and antibiotics.
Leaves have antioxidant as well as anti-clastogenic (preventing breakage of chromosomes) properties. Research suggests that moderate consumption of the seed kernel may be useful in the treatment of men with sexual dysfunctions, primarily from premature ejaculation.
The various extracts of leaves and bark of the plant have also been reported to be anticancer, antioxidant, anti-Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase, and anti inflammatory (painkiller).
According to The Useful Plants of Tropical West Africa by H. M. Burkill, the bark is used in Asian medicine as an astringent for dysentery. It has also been recommended for use as a decoction for gonorrhoea and leucorrhoea, bilious fever and stomach-cramp. The tree yields an insoluble gum of the bassoin type. The leaves and flowers also contain tannin, and the presence of a sterol is reported. In the Philippines and S India sap from young leaves is made into an ointment for scabies, leprosy and other cutaneous diseases.
The leaves when applied externally are refreshing and sudorific, and appear to exercise an anodynal effect on pain for they are used for headache, on rheumatic joints, or in an oily ointment for breast-pain.
In Nigeria, the leaves macerated in palm oil have been used as a remedy for tonsilitis. Leaf in Java has shown some antibiotic activity. The fruit contains six to 20 per cent tannin. The fleshy pericarp is eaten in Gabon. The kernel is edible, and has a very subtle flavour making it a delicacy. The husk however is tough, not amenable to separation, so that the kernel is difficult to obtain. The kernel contains 51-63 per cent of a fixed oil known as Indian Almond oil, oil of Badamier, or from the Philippines as Talisay oil.
Material from Cote d'Ivoire has been analysed to contain glycerides of palmitic acid 34.4 per cent, oleic acid 32.1 per cent, linoleic acid 27.5 per cent and stearic acid six per cent. It closely resembles sweet almond, cotton seed, kapok and ground nut oils, which it might substitute for dietetic and other industrial uses.
Indian researchers in a study titled "Anti-Diabetic Activity of Terminalia catappa Linn. Leaf Extracts in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats" found that Terminalia catappa leaves extracts have anti-diabetic activity.
According to the study published in Asian Journal of Pharmacology, aqueous and cold extracts of Terminalia catappa exhibited significant anti- hyperglycemic (reduces blood sugar) activities in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats without significant change in body weight. Alloxan is a drug used to induce diabetes in animal models.
The researchers found that Indian almond extracts also improved conditions of DM as indicated by parameters like bodyweight, and lipid profiles along with serum creatinine (a chemical molecule that is present in the liquid portion of the blood), serum urea, and serum alkaline phosphatase. The lipid profile is a group of tests that are often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease. Serum urea level is a biochemical indicator of protein metabolism. Serum alkaline phosphatase is a measure of the integrity of the hepatobiliary system and the flow of bile into the small intestine.
The researchers, which include Syed Mansoor Ahmed, Vrushabendra Swamy B.M., P Gopkumar R Dhanapl and V.M. Chandrashekara noted that the number of functionally intact _-cells in the islet organ is of decisive importance the development course and outcome of DM. Beta cells (beta-cells, _-cells) are a type of cell in the pancreas in areas called the islets of Langerhans. They make up 65-80 per cent of the cells in the islets. Beta cells make and release insulin, a hormone that controls the level of glucose in the blood.
The renewal of _-cells in diabetes has been studied in several animal models. The total _-cell mass reflects the balance between the renewal and loss of these cells. It was also suggested that regeneration of islet _-cells following destruction by alloxan may be the primary cause of the recovery of alloxan - injected guinea pigs from the effects of the drug.
In alloxan-induced diabetes, (-)-epicatechin and Vinca rosea extract have also shown to act by _-cell re-generation. Epicatechin is a strong antioxidant, has insulin mimic action and improves heart health. Similar effect in streptozotacin-treated diabetic animals was reported by pancreas tonic, ephedrine, and Gymnema Sylvestre leaf extracts.
The researchers observed damage to pancreas in alloxan-treated diabetic control, and regeneration of _-cells by glibenclamide. Glibenclamide (INN), also known as glyburide (USAN), is an anti-diabetic drug in a class of medications known as sulfonylureas, used in the treatment of type II diabetes. A comparable regeneration was also shown by aqueous and cold extracts of Terminalia catappa. This effect may be due to _-carotene (an antioxidant found in coloured fruits and vegetables. It is a precursor to vitamin A), which was reported to be constituents of Terminalia catappa.
The beneficial role of _-carotene in reducing diabetic complications like glycosylation in alloxan-induced diabetic rats had been reported previously. Glycosylation is the enzymatic process that links saccharides to produce glycans, either free or attached to proteins and lipids.
Photomicrographical data in the researchers studies confirm healing of pancreas by Terminalia catappa leaves extracts, as a plausible mechanism of their anti diabetic activity.
The researchers concluded: "Aqueous and cold extract of Terminalia catappa leaves exhibited significant anti hyperglycemic activities in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. These extracts showed improvement in parameters like body weight and lipid profile as well as regeneration of _-cells of pancreas and so might be of value in diabetes treatment."
Taiwanese researchers have also found that Indian almond stops the spread of lung cancer in animal models.
Shu-Chen Chu, Shun-Fa Yang, Shang-Jung Liu, Wu-Hsien Kuo, Yan-Zin Chang and Yih-Shou Hsieh in a study titled "In vitro and in vivo antimetastatic effects of Terminalia catappa L. leaves on lung cancer cells" investigated the effect of the extract of T. catappa leaves (TCE) on invasion and motility of tumor cells to find that TCE exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the invasion and motility of highly metastatic A549 and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells.
Metastasis is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. Only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize. Metastatic disease is a synonym of metastasis. Cancer cells can "break away", "leak", or "spill" from a primary tumor, enter lymphatic and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream, and settle down to grow within normal tissues elsewhere in the body. Metastasis is one of three hallmarks of malignancy (contrast benign tumors).
According to the study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology, to further investigate the precise involvement of TCE in tumor metastasis, A549 and LLC cells were treated with TCE at various concentrations, up to 100 _g/mL, for a specified period and results from zymography and Western blotting showed that a TCE treatment may decrease the expressions of tissue inhibitors, in a concentration-dependent manner.
Zymography is used for the detection of enzyme activity. Western blot analysis can detect one protein in a mixture of any number of proteins while giving information about the size of the protein.
Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of TCE on the growth and metastasis of LLC cells in vivo was proven. These results indicated that TCE could be applied to be a potential antimetastatic agent.
Researchers have also assessed the biological value of Terminalia catappa seed meal-based diet in rats. Nasir O. Muhammad and Oyelola B. Oloyede of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, investigated the effects of defatted the seed meal on the growth performance and carcass of rats.
According to the study published in Biokemistri, 12 weaning albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) with an average weight of 24.0 � 3.4g were maintained on diets composed of defatted T. catappa seed meal (Tc meal) and soybean meal (control) for six weeks.
The weights of the rats were monitored on weekly basis, at the same period of the day and before being served the (weighing) day's feed. The organs and carcasses of the rats were weighed after they were sacrificed and disemboweled, and the chemical compositions of the carcasses were also determined.
The body weights of the rats maintained on defatted Tc meal were significantly reduced to one-third of the weights of the control animal. The organ to body weight ratio of the Tc meal rats was significantly higher than that of the control.
In the carcass of rats fed Tc meal diet, ether extract, crude protein and ash contents were significantly reduced when compared with the control. However, the crude fibre and the nitrogen free extract (NFE) were significantly higher in the Tc meal rats than that of the control.
The researchers concluded: "It can be deduced that the defatted Terminalia catappa seed meal could cause depression in growth rate, enlargement of rat tissues with adverse effects on carcass of rats."
Researchers have also studied the effects of Terminalia catappa seeds on sexual behaviour and fertility of male rats.
W. D. Ratnasooriya and M. G. Dharmasiri of the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, evaluated the aphrodisiac potential of Terminalia catappa seeds using a suspension of its kernel (SS) in one per cent methylcellulose in rats. Methyl cellulose (or methylcellulose) is a chemical compound derived from cellulose. It is a hydrophilic white powder in pure form and dissolves in cold (but not in hot) water, forming a clear viscous solution or gel.
Preliminary chemical testing showed the presence of alkaloids, oils, amino acids and peptides in the seed kernel.
According to the study published in Asian Journal of Andrology, male rats were orally treated with 1500 mg/kg or 3000 mg/kg SS or vehicle, and their sexual behaviour was monitored three hours later using a receptive female. Another group of rats was orally treated with either 3000 mg/kg SS or vehicle for seven consecutive days. Their sexual behaviour and fertility were evaluated on days one, four and seven of treatment and day seven post-treatment by pairing overnight with a pro-oestrous female. The estrous cycle comprises the recurring physiologic changes that are induced by reproductive hormones in most mammalian placental females.
The results showed the 1500 mg/kg dose, had a marked aphrodisiac action (prolongation of ejaculation latency) but no effect on libido-sexual desire- (per cent mounting, per cent intromission and per cent ejaculation), sexual vigour (mounting-and-intromission frequency), or sexual performance (intercopulatory interval). An aphrodisiac is a substance, which is used in the belief that it increases sexual desire.
In contrast, the higher dose (3000 mg/kg) reversibly inhibited all the parameters of sexual behaviour other than mounting-and-intromission frequency and copulatory efficiency. The effects of high dose SS were not due to general toxicity, liver toxicity, haemotoxicity, stress, muscle deficiency, muscle incoordination, analgesia, hypoglycaemia (reduced blood sugar) or reduction in blood testosterone level. They were due to marked sedation.
The researchers concluded that the kernel of T. catappa seeds has aphrodisiac activity and may be useful in the treatment of certain forms of sexual inadequacies, such as premature ejaculation. "The present findings show that seeds of T. catappa possess potent aphrodisiac activity and provides scientific evidence in favour of the claims made in Ayurvedic medicine in Sri Lanka regarding this action. The results also suggest that moderate consumption of kernel of seed of T. catappa could be useful in the treatment of men with sexual dysfunctions resulting primarily from premature ejaculation."
Nigerian researchers have also studied the anti-sickling activity of Terminalia catappa leaves harvested at different stages of growth.
The researchers include: J. O. Moody, F. I. Segun and O. Aderounmu Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan; and O. O. Omotade, Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
According to the study published in the Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine, the aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Terminalia catappa, a fruit bearing tree, popular in folkloric medicine for the treatment of sickle cell anaemia disease were assessed for their in-vitro anti-sickling activities. Extracts were prepared from the reddish-brown freshly fallen leaves, reddish-brown leaves and green leaves of the plant by maceration in the solvents.
Phytochemical examination of the extracts showed that cardiac glycosides are present in abundance in the reddish-brown freshly fallen leaves, moderate in the reddish-brown leaves and in trace amount in the green leaves. High concentration of saponin was however observed in the green leaves, while only present in trace amount in the reddish-brown leaves and absent in the reddish-brown freshly fallen leaves. Alkaloids were detected present in all the three samples of the leaves but anthraquinones and tannins were completely absent.
Antisickling activities of the extracts obtained from leaves harvested at different stages of growth (green leaves, reddish-brown leaves, reddish-brown freshly fallen leaves) were evaluated using p- hydroxybenzoic acid, (5mg/ml) and normal saline as controls. The method employed involved the inhibition of sodium metabisulphite-induced sickling of HbSS red blood cells collected from confirmed non-crisis sickle cell patients.
The researchers concluded that both the aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of the reddish-brown freshly fallen leaf exhibited highest anti-sickling activity (78 per cent inhibition at 180 min incubation and 77 per cent inhibition at 90 minutes incubation respectively).
Nigerian researchers have also studied the antimicrobial activities of methanolic extracts of Terminalia catappa against some pathogenic microorganisms
H. Babayi of the Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna; and I. Kolo, J. I. Okogun and U. J. J. Ijah of the Pharmaceutical Microbiology Division, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu - Abuja, investigated the ethanolic extracts of leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Terminalia catappa for in vitro microbial activities by agar dilution method.
The phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts of the medicinal plants revealed the presence of saponin, saponin glycosides, steroid, cardiac glycoside, tannins, volatile oils, phenols and balsam (gum). The methanolic extracts of the two plants inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 103207 and Clinical strain respectively) but had no inhibitory effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli.
Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of staph infections. It is a spherical bacterium, frequently found in the nose and skin of a person. About 20 per cent of the population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. S. aureus can cause a range of illnesses from minor skin infections, such as pimples, impetigo (may also be caused by Streptococcus pyogenes), boils, cellulitis folliculitis, furuncles, carbuncles, scalded skin syndrome and abscesses, to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis endocarditis, Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and septicemia. Its incidence is from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections. It is still one of the four most common causes of nosocomial infections, often causing postsurgical wound infections.
Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive, catalase-positive bacterium commonly found in soil. B. subtilis is not considered a human pathogen; it may contaminate food but rarely causes food poisoning
Monday, November 10, 2008
Weekly Cashews Update
NOV 8, 2008
Cashew market was quiet this week. Prices came down a few cents mainly due to lack of activity. At the lower levels, very limited business is being done by a few processors for nearbys e.g. W240 from 2.65 to 2.75, W320 from 2.35 to 2,.45 FOB. Large packers were asking few cents more for nearbys (and also forwards). Stray business was done at the higher levels
Very small quantities have been purchased in this week’s tenders in Tanzania, mainly by local processors. RCN traders and Indian processors are not showing interest as the price expected (over US$ 1000) is high – about 20/25 cents disparity with current kernel prices, Indonesia RCN prices have inched up a bit – current quotes are around US$ 900 C&F
Shipments from India & Vietnam in third quarter have been good but there are no reports of any excess inventories in USA / Europe (of course the tightness of first half is not there but supplies are not as comfortable as they were for a few weeks in Aug/Sep). Financial restraints are adding to the need to control inventories
Fundamentally, current prices should be comfortable for all segments as they are near the historical average (of course we have seen lower prices several times in the past for long periods but since then, processing costs have gone up and prices of all commodities have moved on to higher ranges. Also, purchasing power in general – except for the recent past – has been higher than it was when prices were below 2.00 dollars). So, one would expect prices to stabilise and maybe even move up a bit but the external factors like the financial turmoil, general downturn in major economies, currency volatility, lack of confidence & reduced position taking in all segments of the chain are having a “pull down” effect on demand & prices of almost everything (especially lower priority products) in the short & medium term
The potential for a significant move in prices in late 2008 / early 2009 is strong.. But it is difficult to predict which way things will go. If drop in usage in fourth quarter is not as bad as expected and if economic situation settles down, we could see a lot of buying interest in first quarter for deliveries second quarter onwards because everybody is working with thin inventories and forward cover. But if the problems we have seen in Sep/Oct continue into 2009 then buying interest will continue to be slow & for nearby positions only
Would appreciate your comments on the market situation, any special news or info and your views / expectation of demand & price trends in coming weeks / months
Regards
Pankaj N. Sampat
Cashew market was quiet this week. Prices came down a few cents mainly due to lack of activity. At the lower levels, very limited business is being done by a few processors for nearbys e.g. W240 from 2.65 to 2.75, W320 from 2.35 to 2,.45 FOB. Large packers were asking few cents more for nearbys (and also forwards). Stray business was done at the higher levels
Very small quantities have been purchased in this week’s tenders in Tanzania, mainly by local processors. RCN traders and Indian processors are not showing interest as the price expected (over US$ 1000) is high – about 20/25 cents disparity with current kernel prices, Indonesia RCN prices have inched up a bit – current quotes are around US$ 900 C&F
Shipments from India & Vietnam in third quarter have been good but there are no reports of any excess inventories in USA / Europe (of course the tightness of first half is not there but supplies are not as comfortable as they were for a few weeks in Aug/Sep). Financial restraints are adding to the need to control inventories
Fundamentally, current prices should be comfortable for all segments as they are near the historical average (of course we have seen lower prices several times in the past for long periods but since then, processing costs have gone up and prices of all commodities have moved on to higher ranges. Also, purchasing power in general – except for the recent past – has been higher than it was when prices were below 2.00 dollars). So, one would expect prices to stabilise and maybe even move up a bit but the external factors like the financial turmoil, general downturn in major economies, currency volatility, lack of confidence & reduced position taking in all segments of the chain are having a “pull down” effect on demand & prices of almost everything (especially lower priority products) in the short & medium term
The potential for a significant move in prices in late 2008 / early 2009 is strong.. But it is difficult to predict which way things will go. If drop in usage in fourth quarter is not as bad as expected and if economic situation settles down, we could see a lot of buying interest in first quarter for deliveries second quarter onwards because everybody is working with thin inventories and forward cover. But if the problems we have seen in Sep/Oct continue into 2009 then buying interest will continue to be slow & for nearby positions only
Would appreciate your comments on the market situation, any special news or info and your views / expectation of demand & price trends in coming weeks / months
Regards
Pankaj N. Sampat
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Cranberry Update
Good day,
The 2008 North American Cranberry harvest has just finished, and here is what we know so far:
Wisconsin – Very good
Massachusetts – Excellent
Quebec/Eastern Canada – Average
Pacific Northwest – Poor to Fair
Overall, we believe that this will mean a reasonable amount of fruit should be available for the coming year. It is not a record crop, but not a disaster either.
We should be able to quote new crop prices in 2-3 weeks.
Many thanks for the opportunity to be of service.
Best regards,
Marc
The 2008 North American Cranberry harvest has just finished, and here is what we know so far:
Wisconsin – Very good
Massachusetts – Excellent
Quebec/Eastern Canada – Average
Pacific Northwest – Poor to Fair
Overall, we believe that this will mean a reasonable amount of fruit should be available for the coming year. It is not a record crop, but not a disaster either.
We should be able to quote new crop prices in 2-3 weeks.
Many thanks for the opportunity to be of service.
Best regards,
Marc
Friday, September 05, 2008
The weather pattern over California this week
The weather pattern over California this week brought near normal conditions for the middle of August. The state is very dry, except for extreme northern California, north of the city of Ukiah. The Pacific High continues to dominate the Golden State steering most storms into the Pacific Northwest. However, rain did fall north of Ukiah, California from the tail end of cold fronts moving into the Northwest, ranging from a trace up to about half an inch of precipitation. Sky conditions were mostly clear for the rest of California. Daytime high temperatures throughout the state were seasonable with 60s and 70s along the immediate coast, 80s to upper 90s in the valley and foothills, uppers 90s to around 120 in the desert, and 70s through the lower 90s in the mountains.
Nut crops
Almond harvest remained underway. Some groves were still being irrigated. Walnut orchards were being prepared for harvest. Some walnut groves were also irrigated. Treatments for husk fly and mites continued in some areas.
Nut crops
Almond harvest remained underway. Some groves were still being irrigated. Walnut orchards were being prepared for harvest. Some walnut groves were also irrigated. Treatments for husk fly and mites continued in some areas.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Kenya: "Ban cashew nut exports",
Kenya: "Ban cashew nut exports", State toldThe Government has been urged to ban the exportation of raw cashew nuts to revive the industry. The chairman of Millennium Management Limited, a local nut processing firm, Mr Charanjit Singh Hayer, said cashew nut processors only handle about 22,000 tons of the raw nuts produced in the country. He said that it was estimated that more was exported to India by other players in the industry.He was speaking to 38 MPs from the East African Legislative Assembly based in Arusha in Tanzania who paid him a courtesy call in his office.Mr Hayer said: "If the Government controls the marketing of the raw nuts in the country and leaves it to local processors, employment opportunities can be created."Severe problemsHe said that only four companies were involved in the processing of cashew-nuts in the country. Mr Hayer said that his company was faced with severe problems in getting raw nuts as they were being bought by traders who exported the produce to India.He added that they had collected only about 270 tonnes this season, enough to run the factory for only 30 days."The purpose of our tour is to give legislators the opportunity to see and learn the problems facing the private and public sectors in the region so that when we are talking in our Parliament we can see how to tackle the issues emerging in every member state," said Speaker Abdirahim Abdi.Source: allafrica.com
Monday, August 25, 2008
TROPICAL STORM FAY HITS SE PEANUT BELT
TROPICAL STORM FAY HITS SE PEANUT BELT – Tropical Storm Fay pounded the Florida peanut belt and finally started moving its slow trek West across North Florida bringing lots of rain to the Florida Panhandle, Southern Georgia, Southern South Carolina and Southern Alabama. Some parts of Florida received over 2 feet. The impact on peanuts is unknown, but drainage should be quick since the area was so dry and many farmers hope to get back to harvest next week. The rains should help the peanut crop, provided the peanuts can drain. Harvest in Georgia and Alabama has not started, likely after Labor Day.
UPDATE ON GEORGIA ACREAGE – Peanut Farm Market News had reported 653,156 acres, two percent higher than the estimated 640,000 acres from the 2008 peanut acreage estimate. FSA reported this week that some counties were late and now the certified acreage number is 684,680 acres, almost a 7% increase above the estimate and 31.6% above last year. This number could change again until about September 1. Top 10 counties on acreage are:
Worth – 33,902; Mitchell - 32,192; Decatur – 26,199; Early -25,892; Dooly – 24,711; Irwin - 24,477; Bulloch - 24,040; Coffee - 23,223; Miller – 22,943; and Colquitt - 21,880.
– Tropical Storm Fay pounded the Florida peanut belt and finally started moving its slow trek West across North Florida bringing lots of rain to the Florida Panhandle, Southern Georgia, Southern South Carolina and Southern Alabama. Some parts of Florida received over 2 feet. The impact on peanuts is unknown, but drainage should be quick since the area was so dry and many farmers hope to get back to harvest next week. The rains should help the peanut crop, provided the peanuts can drain. Harvest in Georgia and Alabama has not started, likely after Labor Day.
UPDATE ON GEORGIA ACREAGE – Peanut Farm Market News had reported 653,156 acres, two percent higher than the estimated 640,000 acres from the 2008 peanut acreage estimate. FSA reported this week that some counties were late and now the certified acreage number is 684,680 acres, almost a 7% increase above the estimate and 31.6% above last year. This number could change again until about September 1. Top 10 counties on acreage are:
Worth – 33,902; Mitchell - 32,192; Decatur – 26,199; Early -25,892; Dooly – 24,711; Irwin - 24,477; Bulloch - 24,040; Coffee - 23,223; Miller – 22,943; and Colquitt - 21,880.
UPDATE ON GEORGIA ACREAGE – Peanut Farm Market News had reported 653,156 acres, two percent higher than the estimated 640,000 acres from the 2008 peanut acreage estimate. FSA reported this week that some counties were late and now the certified acreage number is 684,680 acres, almost a 7% increase above the estimate and 31.6% above last year. This number could change again until about September 1. Top 10 counties on acreage are:
Worth – 33,902; Mitchell - 32,192; Decatur – 26,199; Early -25,892; Dooly – 24,711; Irwin - 24,477; Bulloch - 24,040; Coffee - 23,223; Miller – 22,943; and Colquitt - 21,880.
– Tropical Storm Fay pounded the Florida peanut belt and finally started moving its slow trek West across North Florida bringing lots of rain to the Florida Panhandle, Southern Georgia, Southern South Carolina and Southern Alabama. Some parts of Florida received over 2 feet. The impact on peanuts is unknown, but drainage should be quick since the area was so dry and many farmers hope to get back to harvest next week. The rains should help the peanut crop, provided the peanuts can drain. Harvest in Georgia and Alabama has not started, likely after Labor Day.
UPDATE ON GEORGIA ACREAGE – Peanut Farm Market News had reported 653,156 acres, two percent higher than the estimated 640,000 acres from the 2008 peanut acreage estimate. FSA reported this week that some counties were late and now the certified acreage number is 684,680 acres, almost a 7% increase above the estimate and 31.6% above last year. This number could change again until about September 1. Top 10 counties on acreage are:
Worth – 33,902; Mitchell - 32,192; Decatur – 26,199; Early -25,892; Dooly – 24,711; Irwin - 24,477; Bulloch - 24,040; Coffee - 23,223; Miller – 22,943; and Colquitt - 21,880.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Pecan Crop Outlook
Pecan Crop Outlook
Millions of pounds of pecans were shipped to China this year... which gave farmers in Georgia an unexpected boost in business. But as Eyewitness Reporter Kim Carapucci explains, this new demand from abroad will dramatically affect prices here in the U.S.
Some say pecan, others say pe-can. But either way, one thing's for sure... these nuts are about to get pricey.
Paul Joseph is the manager of the South Georgia Pecan Company gift shop. "You'll probably see a 10-15% increase in the price of pecans."Joseph has been in the pecan business for over 24 years and says he's never seen anything like this before."It's just simple economics with supply and demand. With China's demand going up three-fold this year over last year, it's just gonna put a lot more pressure here in the U.S."
Next year, the pecan crop is predicted to yield only half as much as last year...And with less supply and more demand, the price will only rise.Which is good news for farmers, but bad news for buyers.
Buck Paulk owns one of the largest pecan groves in South Georgia."We see expanding our market as a good thing. So I can't see any justification where it would be..anytime there's an increase in demand for your product that it could be anything but good."
Paul Joseph: "We're definitely concerned because people are having to spend so much money now for gas and necessities . Pecans are almost gonna be a luxury item this year and people probably won't buy as many."
Luxury or not, people will be shelling out more cash for these shelled nuts.
The prices are expected to rise by fall, so if you have a taste for pecans, you might want to buy them now.
Find this article at: http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/26936864.html
Millions of pounds of pecans were shipped to China this year... which gave farmers in Georgia an unexpected boost in business. But as Eyewitness Reporter Kim Carapucci explains, this new demand from abroad will dramatically affect prices here in the U.S.
Some say pecan, others say pe-can. But either way, one thing's for sure... these nuts are about to get pricey.
Paul Joseph is the manager of the South Georgia Pecan Company gift shop. "You'll probably see a 10-15% increase in the price of pecans."Joseph has been in the pecan business for over 24 years and says he's never seen anything like this before."It's just simple economics with supply and demand. With China's demand going up three-fold this year over last year, it's just gonna put a lot more pressure here in the U.S."
Next year, the pecan crop is predicted to yield only half as much as last year...And with less supply and more demand, the price will only rise.Which is good news for farmers, but bad news for buyers.
Buck Paulk owns one of the largest pecan groves in South Georgia."We see expanding our market as a good thing. So I can't see any justification where it would be..anytime there's an increase in demand for your product that it could be anything but good."
Paul Joseph: "We're definitely concerned because people are having to spend so much money now for gas and necessities . Pecans are almost gonna be a luxury item this year and people probably won't buy as many."
Luxury or not, people will be shelling out more cash for these shelled nuts.
The prices are expected to rise by fall, so if you have a taste for pecans, you might want to buy them now.
Find this article at: http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/26936864.html
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Global California almond shipments soar
Aug 12, 2008 10:25 AM
Exports of California almonds soared for the marketing year just closed, according to the Almond Board of California, Modesto, Calif. Almonds soared to new all-time records, indicating continued strong global demand.
Record shipments accompany the industry’s largest crop ever. 1.38 billion pounds of almonds, 24 percent more than the previous year, were harvested during 2007.
Total worldwide shipments grew by 18 percent over the prior crop year to reach 1.26 billion pounds. Specifically, shipments within the U.S. rose 7.2 percent to reach 394.8 million pounds. The U.S. is the largest single market for California almonds. Domestic shipments accounted for 31 percent share versus 69 percent for export shipments.
Almond shipments to overseas markets increased to 866.4 million pounds, up 24 percent over the previous year, led by strong growth in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Notably, almond exports have achieved new monthly records for the past 13 consecutive months.
Western Europe and Asia remained the top two export destinations on a regional basis, with shares of 54 percent and 23 percent respectively. Exports to Western Europe grew 24 percent over the previous year, while exports to Asia grew 20 percent, driven by strong demand in markets such as India, China and Korea where new shipment highs were recorded. In terms of individual markets, the top five export destinations were Spain, Germany, India, Japan and China.
“The growers and handlers of California almonds have set the stage for this unprecedented growth with forward-thinking, strategically sound programs administered by the Almond Board of California. From the research in the field aimed at creating a more sustainable environment for growing almonds to the investment in research to understand almond nutritional benefits, the entire almond community has been focused on making record crops and record demand a reality,” said Almond Board President Richard Waycott. “In fact, almonds continue to be the second most frequently used nut worldwide for new nut product introductions and if demand continues to grow at this rate, almonds will become the number one nut for global new product introductions in 2008.”
Find this article at: http://www.westernfarmpress.com/tree-nut-crops/almond-shipments-0812/index.html
Exports of California almonds soared for the marketing year just closed, according to the Almond Board of California, Modesto, Calif. Almonds soared to new all-time records, indicating continued strong global demand.
Record shipments accompany the industry’s largest crop ever. 1.38 billion pounds of almonds, 24 percent more than the previous year, were harvested during 2007.
Total worldwide shipments grew by 18 percent over the prior crop year to reach 1.26 billion pounds. Specifically, shipments within the U.S. rose 7.2 percent to reach 394.8 million pounds. The U.S. is the largest single market for California almonds. Domestic shipments accounted for 31 percent share versus 69 percent for export shipments.
Almond shipments to overseas markets increased to 866.4 million pounds, up 24 percent over the previous year, led by strong growth in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Notably, almond exports have achieved new monthly records for the past 13 consecutive months.
Western Europe and Asia remained the top two export destinations on a regional basis, with shares of 54 percent and 23 percent respectively. Exports to Western Europe grew 24 percent over the previous year, while exports to Asia grew 20 percent, driven by strong demand in markets such as India, China and Korea where new shipment highs were recorded. In terms of individual markets, the top five export destinations were Spain, Germany, India, Japan and China.
“The growers and handlers of California almonds have set the stage for this unprecedented growth with forward-thinking, strategically sound programs administered by the Almond Board of California. From the research in the field aimed at creating a more sustainable environment for growing almonds to the investment in research to understand almond nutritional benefits, the entire almond community has been focused on making record crops and record demand a reality,” said Almond Board President Richard Waycott. “In fact, almonds continue to be the second most frequently used nut worldwide for new nut product introductions and if demand continues to grow at this rate, almonds will become the number one nut for global new product introductions in 2008.”
Find this article at: http://www.westernfarmpress.com/tree-nut-crops/almond-shipments-0812/index.html
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Weekly Cashews Update
Aug 2, 2008
Cashew market undertone has been steady this week – although there was very little activity, prices are holding up and there is hardly any selling interest at lower levels. Prices continued to be in a wide range i.e. 3.40-3.55 for W240, 3,30-3.45 for W320, 3.10-3.25 FOB for W450. Splits and Pieces moved up in Indian market but were reportedly soft in international market
Traditionally, July is quiet but it has been unusually quiet this year… this makes it all the more difficult to judge market trend. If buying interest for nearbys is limited, prices may ease a bit as small & medium packers will have product to sell for Aug-Oct shipment. If buyers need to cover large quantities for this period, then prices will remain around current levels and may even move up a bit
During Aug/Sep, EU buyers do major portion of their buying for the next year and USA buyers do their top-up buying for rest of the current year. This year, there is a lot of uncertainty about both and this will make it difficult for all stakeholders to take decisions on pricing & extent of position taking.. The historically high prices and higher level of uncertainty are a challenge (and for some, an opportunity)
General feeling is that prices will remain around current levels or little higher in the coming weeks – it will be interesting to see what impact this has on the volume of business that people are able (willing) to do for 2009 shipments
What is your opinion about market situation & trend ? Would appreciate your views & forecast on consumption / demand trends and any other info & news
Regards
Pankaj N. Sampat
Cashew market undertone has been steady this week – although there was very little activity, prices are holding up and there is hardly any selling interest at lower levels. Prices continued to be in a wide range i.e. 3.40-3.55 for W240, 3,30-3.45 for W320, 3.10-3.25 FOB for W450. Splits and Pieces moved up in Indian market but were reportedly soft in international market
Traditionally, July is quiet but it has been unusually quiet this year… this makes it all the more difficult to judge market trend. If buying interest for nearbys is limited, prices may ease a bit as small & medium packers will have product to sell for Aug-Oct shipment. If buyers need to cover large quantities for this period, then prices will remain around current levels and may even move up a bit
During Aug/Sep, EU buyers do major portion of their buying for the next year and USA buyers do their top-up buying for rest of the current year. This year, there is a lot of uncertainty about both and this will make it difficult for all stakeholders to take decisions on pricing & extent of position taking.. The historically high prices and higher level of uncertainty are a challenge (and for some, an opportunity)
General feeling is that prices will remain around current levels or little higher in the coming weeks – it will be interesting to see what impact this has on the volume of business that people are able (willing) to do for 2009 shipments
What is your opinion about market situation & trend ? Would appreciate your views & forecast on consumption / demand trends and any other info & news
Regards
Pankaj N. Sampat
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Food industry bitten by its lobbying success
By LARRY MARGASAK Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON — One of the worst outbreaks of foodborne illness in the U.S. is teaching the food industry the truth of the adage, "Be careful what you wish for because you might get it."The industry pressured the Bush administration years ago to limit the paperwork companies would have to keep to help U.S. health investigators quickly trace produce that sickens consumers, according to interviews and government reports reviewed by The Associated Press.
In this Feb. 2, 2007 file photo, Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson speaks at a political forum in Henderson, Nev. Thompson had pushed to increase the number of food safety inspections, and is now part of a coalition lobbying to increase the FDA budget and turn around several years of stagnant spending on food. Thompson has acknowledged he had to compromise when the food industry opposed tough food tracing and record-keeping rules. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)The White House also killed a plan to require the industry to maintain electronic tracking records that could be reviewed easily during a crisis to search for an outbreak's source. Companies complained the proposals were too burdensome and costly, and warned they could disrupt the availability of consumers' favorite foods.The apparent but unintended consequences of the lobbying success: a paper record-keeping system that has slowed investigators, with estimated business losses of $250 million. So far, nearly 1,300 people in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada have been sickened by salmonella since April.Investigators initially focused on tomatoes as a culprit. Now they are turning attention to jalapeno peppers.A former member of Bush's Cabinet and three former senior officials in the Food and Drug Administration told the AP that government food safety experts did not get the strong record-keeping and trace-back system originally proposed under a bioterrorism law to cope with a major foodborne illness."In retrospect, yes, if they (the regulations) had been broader and a bit more far-reaching, it could have helped with this," said Robert Brackett, senior vice president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. "It wouldn't have hurt, for sure." Brackett formerly was a top safety official at the FDA.Under pressure in 2003 and 2004, the White House agreed to dilute record-keeping proposals by FDA safety experts."If the FDA had been given the resources and authority years ago that it asked for to solve these kinds of problems, I think we would have solved this already," said William Hubbard, a former FDA associate commissioner.Tommy Thompson, who was health secretary during the industry's lobbying campaign, acknowledged that a more robust food-tracking system — opposed by business groups as too expensive — could have helped stem the current illnesses and business losses."We went in with the larger package but knew we had to compromise," Thompson told the AP. "I was satisfied with this being the first step. It's always better to be a Monday morning quarterback. We could have ended up with nothing. If we had more, would it help the situation now? Yes."According to government records reviewed by the AP, business groups met at least 10 times with the White House between March 2003 and March 2004, as the FDA regulations were under debate. Food industry lobbyists successfully blunted proposals using arguments familiar in other regulatory debates: The government's plans would saddle business with unnecessary and costly regulations."The FDA's strong proposed bioterrorism rules were significantly watered down before they became final," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director at the Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest. The private advocacy group obtained the White House meeting records under the Freedom of Information Act and provided them to the AP.Participants in the meetings included companies and trade groups up and down the food chain, including Altria Group Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc., when Altria was Kraft's parent; The Kroger Co.; Safeway Inc.; ConAgra Foods Inc.; The Procter & Gamble Co.; the American Forest and Paper Association; the Polystyrene Packaging Council; the Glass Packaging Institute; the Cocoa Merchants' Association of America; the World Shipping Council; and the Food Marketing Institute.The Grocery Manufacturers Association spent $2.6 million on lobbing in 2003 and 2004, the period when the FDA rules were under consideration, according to federal lobbying records. The Food Marketing Institute spent $1.7 million during the period. The figures were for all lobbying by the trade groups and on their behalf.The grocery group complained during the comment period that the FDA was overstepping authority that Congress had granted under the new bioterrorism law. It said the FDA wanted a "cradle-to-grave record-keeping system" to track every morsel of food delivered to every retail grocery shelf and said more tracking information does not always produce a better result.The marketing institute said a proposed tracking system as envisioned by the FDA "would be exorbitantly costly."The food industry now says it will agree to a better tracing system operated by the government, as long as the industry can advise how to design it."We support the government requiring industry to have traceability systems that are effective and work," said Jill Hollingsworth, group vice president for food safety programs at the marketing institute. "But industry has to come up with a system that follows products throughout the food chain."The FDA official in charge of the current salmonella investigation, David Acheson, said the agency slowly is reviewing paper records to help trace tainted produce. But Acheson disputed arguments that an electronic records system would necessarily have helped investigators."We still haven't managed to figure out this outbreak," he said in an interview days before the case's biggest break — discovery of a tainted Mexican-grown jalapeno in a southern Texas warehouse.The White House Office of Management and Budget defended its meetings with food industry groups in 2003 and 2004, saying it regularly meets with companies and individuals with a stake in proposed government rules."Our door is open for anyone — from non-profits, industry representatives to individual citizens — who request meetings on regulations," OMB spokeswoman Jane Lee said. "These are listening sessions in conjunction with personnel from the regulating agency and we publicly post these meetings online."
By LARRY MARGASAK Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON — One of the worst outbreaks of foodborne illness in the U.S. is teaching the food industry the truth of the adage, "Be careful what you wish for because you might get it."The industry pressured the Bush administration years ago to limit the paperwork companies would have to keep to help U.S. health investigators quickly trace produce that sickens consumers, according to interviews and government reports reviewed by The Associated Press.
In this Feb. 2, 2007 file photo, Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson speaks at a political forum in Henderson, Nev. Thompson had pushed to increase the number of food safety inspections, and is now part of a coalition lobbying to increase the FDA budget and turn around several years of stagnant spending on food. Thompson has acknowledged he had to compromise when the food industry opposed tough food tracing and record-keeping rules. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)The White House also killed a plan to require the industry to maintain electronic tracking records that could be reviewed easily during a crisis to search for an outbreak's source. Companies complained the proposals were too burdensome and costly, and warned they could disrupt the availability of consumers' favorite foods.The apparent but unintended consequences of the lobbying success: a paper record-keeping system that has slowed investigators, with estimated business losses of $250 million. So far, nearly 1,300 people in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada have been sickened by salmonella since April.Investigators initially focused on tomatoes as a culprit. Now they are turning attention to jalapeno peppers.A former member of Bush's Cabinet and three former senior officials in the Food and Drug Administration told the AP that government food safety experts did not get the strong record-keeping and trace-back system originally proposed under a bioterrorism law to cope with a major foodborne illness."In retrospect, yes, if they (the regulations) had been broader and a bit more far-reaching, it could have helped with this," said Robert Brackett, senior vice president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. "It wouldn't have hurt, for sure." Brackett formerly was a top safety official at the FDA.Under pressure in 2003 and 2004, the White House agreed to dilute record-keeping proposals by FDA safety experts."If the FDA had been given the resources and authority years ago that it asked for to solve these kinds of problems, I think we would have solved this already," said William Hubbard, a former FDA associate commissioner.Tommy Thompson, who was health secretary during the industry's lobbying campaign, acknowledged that a more robust food-tracking system — opposed by business groups as too expensive — could have helped stem the current illnesses and business losses."We went in with the larger package but knew we had to compromise," Thompson told the AP. "I was satisfied with this being the first step. It's always better to be a Monday morning quarterback. We could have ended up with nothing. If we had more, would it help the situation now? Yes."According to government records reviewed by the AP, business groups met at least 10 times with the White House between March 2003 and March 2004, as the FDA regulations were under debate. Food industry lobbyists successfully blunted proposals using arguments familiar in other regulatory debates: The government's plans would saddle business with unnecessary and costly regulations."The FDA's strong proposed bioterrorism rules were significantly watered down before they became final," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director at the Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest. The private advocacy group obtained the White House meeting records under the Freedom of Information Act and provided them to the AP.Participants in the meetings included companies and trade groups up and down the food chain, including Altria Group Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc., when Altria was Kraft's parent; The Kroger Co.; Safeway Inc.; ConAgra Foods Inc.; The Procter & Gamble Co.; the American Forest and Paper Association; the Polystyrene Packaging Council; the Glass Packaging Institute; the Cocoa Merchants' Association of America; the World Shipping Council; and the Food Marketing Institute.The Grocery Manufacturers Association spent $2.6 million on lobbing in 2003 and 2004, the period when the FDA rules were under consideration, according to federal lobbying records. The Food Marketing Institute spent $1.7 million during the period. The figures were for all lobbying by the trade groups and on their behalf.The grocery group complained during the comment period that the FDA was overstepping authority that Congress had granted under the new bioterrorism law. It said the FDA wanted a "cradle-to-grave record-keeping system" to track every morsel of food delivered to every retail grocery shelf and said more tracking information does not always produce a better result.The marketing institute said a proposed tracking system as envisioned by the FDA "would be exorbitantly costly."The food industry now says it will agree to a better tracing system operated by the government, as long as the industry can advise how to design it."We support the government requiring industry to have traceability systems that are effective and work," said Jill Hollingsworth, group vice president for food safety programs at the marketing institute. "But industry has to come up with a system that follows products throughout the food chain."The FDA official in charge of the current salmonella investigation, David Acheson, said the agency slowly is reviewing paper records to help trace tainted produce. But Acheson disputed arguments that an electronic records system would necessarily have helped investigators."We still haven't managed to figure out this outbreak," he said in an interview days before the case's biggest break — discovery of a tainted Mexican-grown jalapeno in a southern Texas warehouse.The White House Office of Management and Budget defended its meetings with food industry groups in 2003 and 2004, saying it regularly meets with companies and individuals with a stake in proposed government rules."Our door is open for anyone — from non-profits, industry representatives to individual citizens — who request meetings on regulations," OMB spokeswoman Jane Lee said. "These are listening sessions in conjunction with personnel from the regulating agency and we publicly post these meetings online."
Monday, June 23, 2008
Unbridled Cashew Speculation - History Lesson 102
June 20, 2008
By David Rosenthal
"Enhancing" contracts?
On May 28th members of the Association of Food Industries Nut and Agricultural Section met with diplomats at the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington DC to discuss the magnitude of cashew defaults from Vietnam over the past several months. It is reported that approximately 2000 container loads have been defaulted on by Vietnamese cashew shippers between November 2007 and April 2008. These actions by the Vietnamese shippers have had a major impact on cashew prices with some grades increasing by over $2.00 per pound. Importers are being forced to pay 'enhancements' in order to have their contracted product shipped. This puts the importing community in a position to lose millions of dollars, depending on the volume of contractual obligations to roasters at lower market prices. Several importers who had agreed to these enhancements have been caught off guard when shippers again refused to ship already renegotiated containers unless they agreed to further increases to the enhancements as a result of higher market prices at the time of shipment. Diplomats at the Vietnamese Embassy gave very little hope to the importers and roasters who attended the May meeting. They asked for the AFI members affected by the defaults to have sympathy for the suppliers who have suffered due to higher production costs, increases in raw material and high inflation rates. One roaster commented that he could understand the plight of the Vietnamese cashew suppliers if the enhancements were a one time event, but that asking for further enhancements to release shipments was unsustainable. Three weeks have passed since this meeting and in this short time the FOB price on 320's has moved up by almost $0.35 per pound.
Flashback to 1999
Industry wide defaults by cashew suppliers are not new to the industry. In 1999 Indian shippers defaulted in unprecedented numbers, resulting in tremendous market increases, and huge losses were absorbed by the importing and roasting community. Ironically, these actions by Indian shippers resulted in increased support of the Vietnamese cashew industry. Now that we have experienced this behavior from both major cashew producing countries we may have to reassess the way we conduct business, as taking forward positions has proven to be a very risky venture. Understandably this is a difficult proposition since retailers continue to demand long term contractual agreements to lock in pricing, in some cases for more than one year. With a market certainty time frame of approximately 3 months, the speculative nature of the business has always presented a risk for the cashew commodity trader. Traditionally, if a trader called the market wrong he stood to lose a great deal of money. In today's environment, the trader runs the risk that, even if he calls the market right, his profitable forward position may turn out to be a worthless printout of uncollectible contracts.
Speculative Trading Now Riskier
The current conditions in the cashew market clearly indicate the high price paid for aggressive speculative trading practices from unreliable sources. The desire to get the lowest price sends many importers to small, poorly funded suppliers who not only have questionable manufacturing practices, but also have proven to be unreliable when markets go against them. The ripple effects of this behavior became so far reaching this year that even major Vietnamese suppliers that have been historically reliable caved in to the temptation to demand "price enhancements" in order to fulfill contractual obligations.
Hard Lessons
The cashew industry has experienced the same devastating events twice within one decade. Price increases of over $2.00 lb. are bound to have a negative impact on business with retailers - indeed cashew consumption is already down as consumers, faced with increased fuel and food expenses, cut back on snacks and luxury items. No one in the importing or roasting sectors is benefiting from the present conditions. The great American philosopher, George Santayana once said "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". We've had two hard lessons - do we really want to continue on this path?
www.cashewconcern.com
By David Rosenthal
"Enhancing" contracts?
On May 28th members of the Association of Food Industries Nut and Agricultural Section met with diplomats at the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington DC to discuss the magnitude of cashew defaults from Vietnam over the past several months. It is reported that approximately 2000 container loads have been defaulted on by Vietnamese cashew shippers between November 2007 and April 2008. These actions by the Vietnamese shippers have had a major impact on cashew prices with some grades increasing by over $2.00 per pound. Importers are being forced to pay 'enhancements' in order to have their contracted product shipped. This puts the importing community in a position to lose millions of dollars, depending on the volume of contractual obligations to roasters at lower market prices. Several importers who had agreed to these enhancements have been caught off guard when shippers again refused to ship already renegotiated containers unless they agreed to further increases to the enhancements as a result of higher market prices at the time of shipment. Diplomats at the Vietnamese Embassy gave very little hope to the importers and roasters who attended the May meeting. They asked for the AFI members affected by the defaults to have sympathy for the suppliers who have suffered due to higher production costs, increases in raw material and high inflation rates. One roaster commented that he could understand the plight of the Vietnamese cashew suppliers if the enhancements were a one time event, but that asking for further enhancements to release shipments was unsustainable. Three weeks have passed since this meeting and in this short time the FOB price on 320's has moved up by almost $0.35 per pound.
Flashback to 1999
Industry wide defaults by cashew suppliers are not new to the industry. In 1999 Indian shippers defaulted in unprecedented numbers, resulting in tremendous market increases, and huge losses were absorbed by the importing and roasting community. Ironically, these actions by Indian shippers resulted in increased support of the Vietnamese cashew industry. Now that we have experienced this behavior from both major cashew producing countries we may have to reassess the way we conduct business, as taking forward positions has proven to be a very risky venture. Understandably this is a difficult proposition since retailers continue to demand long term contractual agreements to lock in pricing, in some cases for more than one year. With a market certainty time frame of approximately 3 months, the speculative nature of the business has always presented a risk for the cashew commodity trader. Traditionally, if a trader called the market wrong he stood to lose a great deal of money. In today's environment, the trader runs the risk that, even if he calls the market right, his profitable forward position may turn out to be a worthless printout of uncollectible contracts.
Speculative Trading Now Riskier
The current conditions in the cashew market clearly indicate the high price paid for aggressive speculative trading practices from unreliable sources. The desire to get the lowest price sends many importers to small, poorly funded suppliers who not only have questionable manufacturing practices, but also have proven to be unreliable when markets go against them. The ripple effects of this behavior became so far reaching this year that even major Vietnamese suppliers that have been historically reliable caved in to the temptation to demand "price enhancements" in order to fulfill contractual obligations.
Hard Lessons
The cashew industry has experienced the same devastating events twice within one decade. Price increases of over $2.00 lb. are bound to have a negative impact on business with retailers - indeed cashew consumption is already down as consumers, faced with increased fuel and food expenses, cut back on snacks and luxury items. No one in the importing or roasting sectors is benefiting from the present conditions. The great American philosopher, George Santayana once said "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". We've had two hard lessons - do we really want to continue on this path?
www.cashewconcern.com
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Cashew prices firm up on lower global output
Vietnam, Brazil, Indonesia may witness fall in crop
Ground realities
Some crop damage has been reported from the major producing regions such as Kerala and Mangalore due to incessant rains.
Firm price trends likely to persist till the end of the current year
Our Bureau
Kochi, June 16 Cashew prices have begun to firm up on projections of lower production in Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia this year.
Raw nut production
Raw cashew nuts production for 2007-08 is expected to be lower by 20 and 10 per cent in Vietnam and Brazil respectively, while the Indian crop is expected to be normal, the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) has pointed out.
Preliminary indications are that shortfalls are expected from the Indonesian crop as well.
Increased global cashew consumption and greater consumption from India are also expected to contribute to the firm price trends.
Some crop damage has been reported from the major producing regions of the country such as Kerala and Mangalore due to incessant rains. Prices, which had been reigning low for close to a decade have begun to climb back to the peaks of 1999.
Record price
F.o.b prices of cashew grade W-320 have risen to $3.04 a pound in April, closing in on the record price of $3.16 a pound attained in August 1999.
Prices had subsequently touched a low of $1.66 a pound during March 2003. The price spurt of 1999 was mainly contributed by rising domestic and global consumption, CEPCI said.
Rise in acreage
However, there has been significant growth in area and production of cashew since then. The area under cashew registered a growth of 4.2 per cent to 8.5 lakh hectares and production grew by eight per cent to 6.2 lakh tonnes in 2007-08, as against the previous year. This is far ahead of the 7.06 lakh hectares under the crop and 5.2 lakh tonnes production of 1999.
On the processing front, import of raw cashew nut this year was reported to be 6.05 lakh tonnes and the kernel exports stood at 1.14 lakh tonnes. The domestic consumption is also expected to be higher this year on account of increased disposable income of the people and better health awareness. Though raw cashew nut imports have risen this year, kernel exports have dropped due to the sharp appreciation in the value of the rupee.
Trend to persist
Going by the present trends in production, consumption and growing purchasing power in the hands of the consumers, industry sources were optimistic that the firm price trends would persist to the end of the current year and future trends would become evident with the next crop.
Ground realities
Some crop damage has been reported from the major producing regions such as Kerala and Mangalore due to incessant rains.
Firm price trends likely to persist till the end of the current year
Our Bureau
Kochi, June 16 Cashew prices have begun to firm up on projections of lower production in Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia this year.
Raw nut production
Raw cashew nuts production for 2007-08 is expected to be lower by 20 and 10 per cent in Vietnam and Brazil respectively, while the Indian crop is expected to be normal, the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) has pointed out.
Preliminary indications are that shortfalls are expected from the Indonesian crop as well.
Increased global cashew consumption and greater consumption from India are also expected to contribute to the firm price trends.
Some crop damage has been reported from the major producing regions of the country such as Kerala and Mangalore due to incessant rains. Prices, which had been reigning low for close to a decade have begun to climb back to the peaks of 1999.
Record price
F.o.b prices of cashew grade W-320 have risen to $3.04 a pound in April, closing in on the record price of $3.16 a pound attained in August 1999.
Prices had subsequently touched a low of $1.66 a pound during March 2003. The price spurt of 1999 was mainly contributed by rising domestic and global consumption, CEPCI said.
Rise in acreage
However, there has been significant growth in area and production of cashew since then. The area under cashew registered a growth of 4.2 per cent to 8.5 lakh hectares and production grew by eight per cent to 6.2 lakh tonnes in 2007-08, as against the previous year. This is far ahead of the 7.06 lakh hectares under the crop and 5.2 lakh tonnes production of 1999.
On the processing front, import of raw cashew nut this year was reported to be 6.05 lakh tonnes and the kernel exports stood at 1.14 lakh tonnes. The domestic consumption is also expected to be higher this year on account of increased disposable income of the people and better health awareness. Though raw cashew nut imports have risen this year, kernel exports have dropped due to the sharp appreciation in the value of the rupee.
Trend to persist
Going by the present trends in production, consumption and growing purchasing power in the hands of the consumers, industry sources were optimistic that the firm price trends would persist to the end of the current year and future trends would become evident with the next crop.
Monday, June 16, 2008
India: Cashew nut union leader shot dead this is really getting ugly
India: Cashew nut union leader shot dead at ChatrapurIn a stunning incident, K Srinivash Rao, a union leader of cashew nut traders has been shot dead on broad day light at Chatrapur, the district headquarter town of Ganjam on Saturday. According to the cashew nut traders of nearby areas who were gathered at the post mortem centre at MKCG Medical College, two miscreants riding on a motorbike on the highway alleged fired two rounds at him from the back when Srinivash along with U Ramesh, a businessman returning from the factory in Chatrapur.The local people in Chhatrapur says the fateful incident took place at around 7.30 am near the Ujuli maa temple, outskirts of chhatrapur. Srinivash, president of the Ganjam district union of cashew nut traders has received two bullets; one below his neck and another at back near backbone. He had been taken to the hospital at Chatrapur and then shifted to the MKCG Medical but declared dead after some time in MKCG.Ramesh who was shocked after seeing the deadly seen lost his consciousness after some time of the incident and was not in a condition to reveal all the details about the murder. Meanwhile National Congress party (NCP) leader Rabi Rath demanded a crime branch inquiry into the murder of Srinivash, adding that he was very popular among the local businessman.
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