Cranberry Stressline

Articles

June 8 - June 18, 2000

Read the 131 comments sent in to the USDA

New: The entire transcript
 of the June 6th CMC Meeting
(Ed note: This is a long document - 176 pages - divided into five web pages, each of which will take about 30 seconds to open.)

 

Thoreau: Cranberries

6/18/00 Did you know Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) had something of a love affair with cranberries? In a recently rediscovered and never before published manuscript called Wild Fruits, Thoreau writes eloquently about his love of, and his experiences with, cranberries. Of particular interest is his investigations into marketing cranberries himself, and his fondness for over-wintered spring fruit. Read "Common Cranberry" from Thoreau's rediscovered last manuscript Wild Fruits.


Moody's predicts food company acquisitions will continue

"In 1999, there were 753 acquisitions among food producers, processors, and retailers, the second busiest year for such transactions behind 1998."

6/14/00 Moody's Press release: In the wake of the announcement of Unilever's massive $24 billion acquisition of Bestfoods, Moody's Investors Service predicts that the trend toward consolidation in the food industry will continue as companies succumb to shareholder pressure to deliver higher growth.

More blockbuster deals, including the acquisition of Nabisco, are likely over the next year as momentum among large food companies has increased in recent months. Many other transactions should not be so large or leveraged as to place the companies' debt ratings at risk. Continued


In the news:

6/16/00 --Kingston (MA)-- Partners converting 42-acre sand pit in Kingston to bogs. From the Patriot Ledger

 6/16/00: If all the commercially zoned land in southeastern Massachusetts were developed to capacity, the result would be 18 Bostons springing up across the region, with enough jobs to attract more than 7 million people. From the Patriot Ledger


O.S. purchasing department praised in trade magazine

6/14/00 Without fanfare the Ocean Spray purchasing department has been saving the cooperative millions of dollars. In 1994 Purchasing Magazine printed a profile entitled "How purchasing provides a competitive edge," which " detailed the institution of supply-base reduction and supplier certification strategies at Ocean Spray, aimed at getting the most from fewer suppliers, careful budgeting and reducing total costs by $40 million, while adding value to the products they provide to consumers." Continued


Press Release

Foreign Trade Group Formed to Market Cranberry Surplus

6/15/00 Appleton, WI - Mid America trade Group, Inc. recently announced a plan to develop foreign markets for cranberries and cranberry products. After nine months of market research the company was formally organized and incorporated to put their marketing plan into full operation. Continued


Robert Hawthorne named to GMA board

6/12/00 From the press release: "The Grocery Manufacturers of America Board of Directors, during its annual meeting at the GMA Executive Conference, welcomed six executives as new members: Bart Becht, CEO, Reckitt Benckiser plc; Douglas N. Daft, Chairman & CEO, The Coca-Cola Company; H. Robert Hawthorne, President and CEO of Ocean Spray.

"GMA is the world's largest association of food, beverage and consumer product companies. With U.S. sales of more than $460 billion, GMA members employ more than 2.5 million workers in all 50 states. The organization applies legal, scientific and political expertise from its member companies to vital food, nutrition and public policy issues affecting the industry. Led by a board of 44 Chief Executive Officers, GMA speaks for food and consumer product manufacturers at the state, federal and international levels on legislative and regulatory issues. The association also leads efforts to increase productivity, efficiency and growth in the food, beverage and consumer products industry." Link.


From the E.P.A.

Agreement Reached on Elimination of Dursban Pesticide for Nearly all Household Uses

6/9/00 -- From the EPA -- To protect children and public health, EPA and the manufacturer of the pesticide Dursban have agreed to eliminate its use for nearly all household purposes and to move to significantly reduce residues on it on several foods regularly eaten by children. Continued


Deadline for comments about Diazanon

6/8/00 The deadline to submit your comments to the EPA on Diazanon is July 18, 2000. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs web site. By the year 2006 all pesticides will have been reviewed and cranberry growers can anticipate new standards for tolerances and the removal of some pesticides from the approved list. The report on Tolerance Reassessment is from the EPA:

Opinion

The E.P.A. on I.P.M.

6/9/00 Scroll down the page on the EPA web site where the news about Dursban is headlined and you'll find another new article about Integrated Pest Management. Continued


Garlic consumption triples in 10 yrs. 

6/8/00 According to the USDA, no other vegetable has had stronger growth in demand over the past decade than garlic. Americans ate 3.1 pounds of garlic per person in 1999 -- three times as much as in 1989. Garlic health supplements are a factor, as is the popularity of ethnic cooking. Garlic, like cranberries, is considered a "functional food,"  one that has taste and nutritional value plus health benefits.

During the 1990s, garlic prices rose in real terms,  which is unusual for vegetables. Prices peaked in 1997 at $47.90 per 100 pounds and last year averaged $30.20 per 100 pounds -- well above the $21.25 at the decade's start. Prices are expected to ease again this year due to 1999's record crop. Last year's U.S. garlic supply, including imports, was 923 million pounds, more than twice as much as in 1990.


In the news

6/9/00 From the Boston Globe: The perils of Coke, Tide and tomato soup - CEOs on the firing line - "...consumers are a fickle lot. They frequently change their preferences, forcing companies to change quickly along with them.... Consumer giants that aren't nimble enough to follow their customers risk losing business to more fleet-footed rivals."

6/8/00 From The Motley Fool:  "With the recent hubbub in the world of food stocks leading up to this week's acquisition of Bestfoods  by Unilever , there is speculation that Procter and Gamble may consider unloading its food and beverage lineup, which includes the likes of Pringles chips, Jif peanut butter, and Sunny Delight citrus drinks. Right now, product innovation is taking a back seat to profit preservation at P&G, a situation that is rarely attractive from a long-term investing standpoint."

6/7/00 Food industry may be logging last of big deals - New York Times : "More consolidation is expected, many food industry analysts said yesterday. But the number of potential buyers and attractive targets is shrinking."

6/7/00 Unilever deal for Best Food signals more acquisitions - New York Times : "Another likely takeover target is Quaker Oats, the maker of Gatorade, which would be worth about $85 a share if it attracted a price near the 14 times 1999 earnings that Unilever is paying for Bestfoods."

6/6/00: Makepeace weighing wide range of options - Standard Times

6/2/00: A cautionary tale about pesticides - Washington Post

6/1/00: EPA increases risk estimate of Dursban - Washington Post

 

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