Posts Tagged “Western Growers”
By Western Growers
IRVINE, Calif. – Western Growers has revamped its Produce Price Index (PPI) website to allow consumers to easily identify the price difference between what customers pay at grocery stores for fresh produce and what farmers actually receive for their products. In an effort to educate consumers and stakeholders on how much farmers receive for the fruits and vegetables they grow, the PPI details the selling price at the farm, the average price charged at major retail stores and the percentage spread between the two.
“The escalating input costs farmers have to pay in order to sustain a nutritious and reliable global food supply is often overlooked,” said Tom Oliveri, director of trade practices & commodity services at Western Growers. “With this improved Produce Price Index, we’ll continue to educate the public on the gap between farm and retail prices, as well as help consumers understand the pricing structure in the agriculture industry.”
Western Growers has been providing pricing data on fresh produce items since 1996. The index, which is now outfitted with an improved interface and easier navigation, highlights how farmers continue to remain price takers rather than price makers. Many consumers do not realize that on average farmers receive less than 16 cents of every $1 spent on food. Due to rising input costs for farmers—including labor, water, land and other resources—and the continuous implementation of costly buyer and regulatory demands, the historically-lean profit margins for fresh produce farmers continue to tighten, requiring continuous innovation by farmers in order to maintain the long-term economic viability of many family farming businesses.
The PPI is updated weekly and lists prices from U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and New York. Users now have the ability to search the database by commodity, date range and location. Visit the PPI website at http://www.producepriceindex.com/. For more information, contact Tom Oliveri at (949) 885-2269.
About Western Growers:
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California and Colorado. Our members and their workers provide half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.
Truck brokers, freight forwarders, as well produce grower/shippers and receivers could face fines totaling as much as $10,000 per violation and per day if refrigeration equipment on the trucks they hire is not in compliance with new California regulations becoming effective with the New Year. The penalties apply even if the trucks are only passing through California and do not stop in the state. The rules apply under California’s Health and Safey Code.
The regulations stem from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and covers truck and rail owners and operators, plus any “hiring entity” using their services.
These issues were dicussed during a recent web seminar sponsored by Western Growers, Irvine, Calif., the California Grape and Tree Fruit League, Fresno, and C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn. Also participating was Rodney Hill, an air pollution specialist from CARB who helped develop the rule.
As an example of rule violations, Hill said a truck loaded in Arizona and traveling through California on its way to a delivery point in Oregon could be fined, even though no deliveries are made in California. The rule applies because the truck is operating within the state. It doesn’t matter where the truck is licensed.
Hill Compliance for hiring entities shouldn’t be too difficult, though, according to Hill and others in the Web seminar.
Matt McInerney, Western Growers executive vice president, said due diligence and documentation are the keys to keeping produce companies out of trouble. Hill agreed with that assessment.
“Begin changing your contracts now so you will be ready Jan. 1,” McInerney said.
“For those of you who have pre-printed pads of bills of lading, I know you want to use up what you have. But you should get new ones printed, or get a stamp made with the right language so you can add it to the forms you have on hand.”
Hiring entities and loading dock personnel, Hill said, will not be expected to inspect refrigeration equipment to see if it is compliant.
However, if the equipment is not compliant and the hiring company’s contracts and other documents don’t have language showing it required the carrier to use compliant equipment, citations and fines will be issued, Hill said.