Industry News - wk ending 18 Mar '22
Potato News - North America
U.S. potato export agreement with Mexico must be honored, expedited write bipartisan leaders
U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Congressmen Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) led 30 of their Congressional colleagues in potato-producing states in a bipartisan, bicameral letter calling on the USDA to press its counter-agency in Mexico to honor and expedite the U.S.-Mexico trade deal restoring U.S. fresh potato exports to Mexico.
Western drought to worsen this year, NOAA says
For parched areas of the western United States, spring is unlikely to offer relief. Rather, historic drought conditions will probably worsen, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday in its annual spring outlook.
Will your operation realize profits in 2022?
Since we have already discussed the projections of increased producer costs, the question that remains is, Will these cost increases necessarily imply lower profits?
California slashes supplies to water agencies amid record drought
California water officials on Friday said they are slashing State Water Project allocations from 15% to 5% for urban water consumers and farmers as the state grapples with a third consecutive year of drought.
Officials Concerned Over Idaho’s Water Supply for the 2022 Growing Season
With water levels in Idaho’s reservoirs well below normal last fall, irrigators entered this winter hoping for above-average snowpack in order to ensure a reliable supply of water for the 2022 growing season.
Potato News - Overseas
Potato processors looking for palm oil: “sunflower oil will run out within three weeks”
The war in Ukraine causes a shortage of sunflower oil. The potato processors have to switch headlong to palm oil.
War has brought the world to the brink of a food crisis
"It's not whether we are going to have a food crisis. It's how large that crisis will be," Holsether told CNN Business.
Grower says potato planting 'the biggest gamble in a generation'
Potato growers face the greatest uncertainty in years as input costs have rocketed but markets remain stagnant – so growing the crop this year will be a major 'gamble.
Logistics News
Rising Gas Prices Could Force Food Banks to Scale Back Their Critically Important Work
Amid supply chain challenges and rising food costs, fuel price spikes are yet another headache for food banks
Container Freight Rates Set to Rise on More China Lockdowns
About 72 vessels were spotted off Qingdao port in Shandong Monday, almost double the amount at the end of February, according to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg. The increased delays there and in other parts of China are expected to push up freight rates.
The container logistics implications of war in Ukraine
Overall, the situation for container availability is likely to worsen, but this will vary by port and region. Central and Northern Europe is already congested, and any further trigger to the cargo flow will only worsen the state of container pileups.
The Oil Price Rally Is Bad. The Diesel Crisis Is Far Worse
In the U.S., average retail prices have surged above $5 per gallon for the first time ever. In the U.K., it’s selling above 1.70 pounds per liter, equal to more than $8.5 per gallon. The surge matters because of the ubiquity of diesel in modern life. As the fuel of transportation, the price rally will hit everyone, adding to inflationary pressures that are already running at a multi-decade high. More than the cost of oil, skyrocketing diesel prices should be the main worry of central banks.
Food Industry News
Upcycled food takes center stage at Expo West
The upcycled food movement is gaining momentum as product developers create new uses for previously overlooked ingredients. Exhibitors at Natural Products Expo West sampled nutritious food and beverages formulated with avocado seeds, celery scraps, orange peels and other landfill-bound leftovers.
Research shows consumers concerned about clear, understandable labels
Consumer research platform Attest recently took a poll of 2,000 nationally representative U.S. consumers, which shows that shoppers have a variety of concerns when shopping for food and beverage products that contain health-boosting ingredients ― most notably price and labeling.
'Everything we do requires gasoline.' Meals on Wheels, businesses worry about gas prices
With the majority of their clients receiving free meals, Hall said, they are counting on community support to ensure funding is available to provide the meals. So far, they have not had to pass the costs on to their private pay clients, she said.