09/21/2011 CALIFORNIA OLIVE ASSOCIATION LETTER TO THE EDITOR, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

As described in the September 18 article in the Chronicle, the California olive industry has been competing for many years with cheap imports from Europe and Africa. Imported olives are inexpensive because, in many cases, the quality is inferior and growers are receiving generous government subsidies. The flood of cheap products into the U.S. has caused thousands of acres of olive trees to be removed in California, hurting growers and processors.
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PROPOSITION 65 LAWSUIT FILED CLAIMING LEAD IN FRUIT

On September 28, 2011 the Environmental Law Foundation ("ELF") filed a lawsuit alleging lead is present in a variety of children’s and baby foods, including products made of or with carrots, peaches, pears or sweet potatoes and foods and beverages for children and adults including packaged peaches, pears, fruit cocktail and grape juice. The suit claims that each of the products contains enough lead in a single serving to require a consumer warning under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (aka "Proposition 65" or "Prop 65").
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CARB RELENTLESSLY PURSUING AB 32 DESPITE STATE'S CONTINUED ECONOMIC WOES

Despite daily headlines and increasing pessimistic economic outlooks the CA Air Resources Board (CARB) continues to relentlessly pursue the implementation of California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). As a result of this single-minded obsession, AB 32 and its related components (the renewable energy portfolio standards, low-carbon fuel standards), are poised to become one of the main obstacles to any California economic recovery.
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THE FOOD DIALOGUES

On September 22, the California League of Food Processors attended The Food Dialogues, an effort launched by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance to answer questions on how food is grown, raised and produced in the U.S. as well as to explore different viewpoints on the future of food. Sustainability, population growth, the need for innovation and research, science, food security, conservation/diminishing resources, conventional, organic and GMO-produced foods were some of the topics discussed among panelists and audience members. Four panels located throughout the U.S. (Fair Oaks, Ind.; Washington, DC, Davis, Calif. and New York) encompassed leaders and voices across the food chain. Among the distringuished panelists at UC Davis was Stuart Woolf, President, Woolf Farming and Processing.

 

DFA OF CALIFORNIA FUMIGATION SEMINARS

DFA of California will be presenting two Pesticide & Fumigation Seminars. The first will be held Nov. 9, 2011 at the Ramada Inn, Fresno, Calif. CDPR has approved eight hours of Continuing Education for this seminar, including four hours of Law and Regulations. The second seminar will be held March 29, 2012 at The Plaza Room, Yuba City, Calif.

To register, or if you have any questions, please contact Erika Tarr at (559) 233-7249, ext. 108, or email address erikat@agfoodsafety.org.