More Artichoke News

The artichokes follow the weather, the packers follow the artichokes, the artichokes are a cash crop, the cash is not available... This is the reason for the rise in the Spanish Prices by 10% over last year in EX FACTORY terms. There are additional factors:

Duty Rate break is GONE... Back to the higher 14.9% (brine) and 10.2% (marinated).

Ocean Freight rates climbing solidly higher...

There is some offset to the rise with the stronger US $... Forecasting that, making solid bookings, all the conditions for stable market do not exist.

Oh, yes, in Peru and Spain principle packers are filing Chapter 11 (equivalents) bankruptcies.

BOOK NOW folks... Contact Us at Blue Planet Foods, ltd

Artichoke Crop Delays

I rec'd this news this week:

"Crop delayed due to bad weather (sure you have seen this week snow storms in Barcelona etc...?"

Quantity needs should be discussed now... Pass us your requirements.

If you are thinking that Peru will fill the void, we'll see. Conflicting reports keep coming regarding the financial viability of Peru's main packing companies. And in Spain, prior to this delay, there were forecasts of 30 % more crop but less financing available to the producing factories... result: less product packed.

Trucks and Others

While we all might be citizens of the Blue Planet, there are still long lines and histories to overcome. And it takes so long to get things moving...

With out any comment as to the NAFTA itself, here's a LINK HERE as the one year anniversary of breaking parts of a signed treaty leads to all sorts of headaches (tariffs, loss of jobs, etc.).

FDA Recalls Many Products Containing HVP

HERE's access to the listing of the specific products.

The responses are posted at FDA's Recall Twitter Site in almost real time...

FDA TWITTER SITE