January 2021 - 31

INDUSTRY NEWS
Fresh apple holdings
dip 13.1% from 2019
U.S. Apple Association released
its December 2020 edition of
Market News. This is the second
report on the 2020 apple crop.
nominate Tom Vilsack to be his
Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack
previously
served from
2009-17 as
USDA Secretary
under the
Obama
According to the survey, this
year's fresh apple holdings on
Dec. 1, 2020, totaled 102.8 million
bushels, 13.1% less than the
inventories reported for Dec. 1 of
last year.
Processing holdings totaled 44
million bushels, 1.3% more than
last year on Dec. 1. The total
number of apples in storage on
Dec. 1, 2020, was 146.8 million
bushels, 9.2% less than last
December's total of 161.7 million
bushels and 5.2% below the 5-year
average for that date.
Ag Labor Survey
reinstated by USDA
USDA's National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS) intends to
reinstate the Agricultural Labor
Survey that was suspended on
Sept. 30.
According to
a Dec. 10 news
release, NASS
will mail the
questionnaires
and collect data immediately for
the survey previously scheduled
for October 2020. The report,
to be published on Feb. 11, will
include data for the July and
October 2020 reference dates,
including annual average wage
rates, hired workers and hours
worked.
The original Sept. 30 action
by President Donald Trump's
administration canceled USDA's
Farm Labor Survey of agricultural
employers that is used by the
Department of Labor to set the
main minimum wage under the
H-2A agricultural guestworker
program.
The notice of revision stated it
would not collect data in October
for the past two quarters of the
2020 fiscal year. In the absence of
the USDA wage survey results, the
Department of Labor would not
have the survey results that, under
the H-2A program regulations,
it uses to set the " adverse effect
wage rate " for 2021.
Vilsack nomination
planned by Joe Biden
President-elect Joe Biden
announced Dec. 8 that he would
administration.
" United Fresh
is pleased to
see Secretary
Vilsack return
to USDA,' said
remainder is natural wetlands,
which will be left undisturbed for
biodiversity and environmental
sustainability.
TOM VILSACK
United Fresh Produce Association
CEO Tom Stenzel. " Under his
steady leadership we worked
together to further the gains of
the industry and broaden access
to fresh fruits and vegetables,
particularly for children. There is
no shortage of issues to work on
over the next four years - from
trade to climate change. "
Vilsack served for eight years
under President Barack Obama
at USDA and was previously the
governor of Iowa. During his
tenure at USDA he worked with
United Fresh on a number of
issues including the prioritization
of good nutrition, aid to produce
farmers and the supply chain
and ensuring that USDA worked
with other federal agencies to
harmonize their efforts to address
issues relating to trade, food safety
and immigration
" Given all the stresses placed
on the food and agricultural
system by the pandemic in
particular, it will be good to have
an experienced person resume
administration of the Agriculture
Department, " California Farm
Bureau President Jamie Johansson
said in a news release. " Tom
Vilsack will be able immediately
to guide USDA for the benefit of
farmers, ranchers, rural residents
and all the people who depend
on our nation's agricultural
production. "
Wish Farms expands
Florida strawberry farm
Plant City, Florida-based
international grower and
year-round marketer of
strawberries, blueberries,
blackberries and raspberries, Wish
Farms, is adding acreage to its
Florida strawberry farm operation.
Founded in 1987, G&D Farms
is named as a tribute to the
original founders of the company,
Gershon and Daniel. Before the
land addition, it was already
widely considered to be the largest
contiguous strawberry farm in the
world.
According to a news release, the
purchase adds just over 800 acres
of land, around 600 of which will
be designated for farming. The
" This expansion is very exciting
for our team, " said farm manager
Chris Parks. " Not only is the land
directly adjacent to our current
farm, but we can immediately
start farming organically. The
ground hasn't been utilized for
many years, so we can bypass the
regulated waiting period. It gives
us a lot of flexibility with rotation,
ensuring that we are good
stewards of the land. "
movement proves the quality.
We're running 18% over last
year's sales to date, " said Scott
Swindeman with Midwest region
SweeTango lead Applewood Fresh
Growers.
" We have a record crop, and
now record sales - well ahead of
previous years here in Canada.
The unmatched quality and eating
experience of this variety, along
with a refreshed go-to-market
strategy, has brought new retailers
and new consumers to the party, "
said Dennis MacPherson with
Canadian marketing and sales
lead Scotian Gold. " We are super
excited about where things are
headed. "
CHRIS PARKS
Wish Farms is farming 55 acres
of it this coming season, with a
gradual ramp up of usage in each
season following.
" I believe there will be strong
demand for Pink-A-Boos in the
coming years, and this land will
allow us to expand that program
without having to reduce our red
strawberry acreage, " said owner
Gary Wishnatzki.
Marketing aids record
SweeTango apple sales
A coordinated strategy of
aggressive retail push and
consumer pull activities has
already driven sales of 2020-crop
SweeTango apples to the top of
the charts this season, growers of
the managed variety report.
According to Nielsen scan data,
SweeTango is among the top
three managed apple varieties
this season, notable for a variety
that is still seasonal. Growers and
packers with the Next Big Thing,
A Growers Cooperative pointed
to this year's fruit quality, and
the loyal fan base the apple has
built since it first hit the market
in limited quantities in 2009.
David Scott, D-Georgia,
chairing House ag panel
The House Democratic Caucus
approved Representative
David Scott, D-Georgia, to
serve as the chairman of the
House Agriculture Committee.
Representative Glenn " GT "
Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, will
serve as the ranking member of
the Agriculture Committee after
being selected by the Republican
Steering Committee.
REP. DAVID SCOTT
" The fact that this apple with
limited but growing volumes has
this much demand, that just speaks
to its future, " former retailer
Roger Pepperl with Western
region SweeTango marketing and
sales lead Stemilt Growers, said in
a news release.
" This apple's eating quality
coming out of storage is
exceptional this year. And our
" We at the American Farm
Bureau Federation congratulate
Representative Scott on his
selection to be the next chair of the
House Agriculture Committee. For
almost two decades Congressman
Scott has worked on behalf of
farmers and ranchers, " American
Farm Bureau President Zippy
Duvall said in a news release. " His
legislative experience, a childhood
working on his grandparents'
farm, and being the first African
American chosen to lead the
committee all give him a unique
perspective needed to tackle the
challenges facing rural America.
" I am honored to have been
chosen by my colleagues in the
Democratic Caucus to serve as
chairman of the House Agriculture
Committee, " Scott said in a news
release. " I will use this critical
opportunity to represent the values
of our entire caucus and advance
our priorities for trade, disaster
aid, climate change, sustainable
agriculture, SNAP, crop insurance,
small family farms, specialty crops
and rural broadband. "
FGN | JANUARY 2021 | 31
January 2021

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