Turning Green into Gold by value addition in Horti-Business

The agriculture dates back to the era when man learnt to live in huts and cultivated plants which were used for his food, shelter, medicine and clothing. The world agriculture has grown up to highly mature, sophisticated and mechanized. In Pakistan agriculture is in developing stage. About 70% of the population is directly or indirectly related to Agriculture. Most of the farmers of our country are small land holder for agriculture but they are still affiliated with the conventional and traditional agriculture techniques and strategies hence net return from agriculture produce is low.
The farmers utilize huge amount resources, energy and money but functionality in agriculture business is not achieved. Further more market prices of agricultural inputs are touching the climax; hence the poor farmers are unable to purchase the good quality seed, fertilizers, pesticides and machinery. The solution of all these problems is that we should shift our farming from traditional to modern agriculture with updated techniques, practices and strategies. There may be gradual shifting from monoculture to multicropping farming pattern in which conventional crops can be grown along with modern crops keeping in view the local and world market demand. We can go for horticultural crops like cut roses, roses having essential oils, tunnel farming and commercial fruit production. Our mangoes and citrus are one of the best produce of the world but there is need of proper sanitation, post harvest management and marketing system.

A wide range of climatic conditions exist in plan and hilly areas of Pakistan which favors the cultivation of almost all kind of flowers of tropical and temperate region. The demand of the cut flowers in Europe rises when they have to grow flowers in green houses in severe winter but at that time here in Pakistan is favorable season for growth. Further more we have competitive advantage of cheap labor and low cost oil production as labor and farm mechanization is very high in Europe. Floriculture crops including Cut roses, gladiolus, tube rose, narcissus, tulip and others bulbs can be grown commercially for local and international market. These high value crops are demanded all over the world for there aesthetic and medicinal value.

Other important products of floriculture are essential oils and attars which are demanded for medicine, cosmetics and perfume industry all over the world. For attar production fragrant flowers are subjected to distillation, solvent extraction in which benzene or petroleum ether are used and newly introduced super critical carbon dioxide fluid extraction. Essential oils and rose water can be extracted by modern and conventional plants; however the efficiency of these plants may vary.

Currently various extraction plants are under operation in Institute of Horticultural sciences, UAF on trial basis like Shoxlet apparatus, steam distillation, solvent extraction. Here is the need to fulfill the gap between farming community and researchers to flourish this profitable floriculture base industry.
The amount and international market rate of some important essential oil is given in the table below.

Name of Specie Oil contents (%) Price/Kg
Rosa danacena 0.07% $14000
Rosa centifolia 0.06% $9400
Jasminum grandiflorum 0.07% $9350
Jasminum sambac 0.04% $ 8600
Tube rose 0.06% $7450
Murva 0.06% $ 7000

The Comparison of expenses and profit of conventional (Wheat etc) and non conventional crop (Rose)
1- Roses in Green House
Cost of one plant of rose = Rs. 20
Plants per acre in the green house = 15000
Total cost of plants =20x 15000= Rs. 300000
Cost of Green house construction = Rs. 40, 00000
Average life of Green house = 40 years
Annual cost of green house = Rs.100000
Labor cost @ Rs. 2 / Plant = Rs.30000
Running Cost
(Electricity, Fertilizers, Pesticides) = Rs. 3, 00000/ year
Total Cost during 1st year
Cost of plants+ Cost of green house/year+ Labour charges+ Running Cost = Rs.750000
Profit during 1st year = Rs. 750000- Rs.73, 0000
= Rs. 20000
Investment during 2nd year = Rs. 100000+Rs. 30000+Rs. 370000
(Green house Cost+ Labour+ Running Cost) = Rs. 500000
Total No. of flowers produced in 2nd year = 6,00000
Income = Rs. 2.5 x 600000 flowers
= Rs. 1500000
Net Profit in 2nd year = Rs. 1500000- Rs.500000
= Rs, 10, 00000
Note: Profit/year from 2nd to 8th year will be same
2- Conventional System of Wheat-Rice Rotation for one year
Net Profit/Acre from Wheat for six months = Rs. 20000
Net Profit/Acre from Rice for six months = Rs 25,000
So it is obvious from the feasibility of conventional and floriculture crops that cultivation of floriculture crops may boost up yield and net profit per acre.

About Author: Muhammad Nadeem is Working as Assistant professor of Floriculture and landscaping. He is also running a private firm "LandMarks Landscape" dealing in landscape business in Pakistan.

Mushroom Farming: The Fungal Goldmine

By Muhammad Zeeshan Farid & Dr Amjad Farooq

A global trend in agriculture has been a shift away from simple systems that rely on traditional crops, to those that increasingly seek new varieties of plants that cater to advanced dietary needs. To this end, scientists and growers have recommended several new crops that can augment the spectrum of agricultural produce.

Mushrooms, known locally as “khumbi”, are among this emerging cropping system. Mushrooms are essentially fungi, a group of organisms distinct from plants, animals and bacteria. They convert inedible plant waste into palatable food, which is savoured due to its biting texture and flavour. They form a complete diet as mushrooms contain essential vitamins and minerals, and are the best substitute for protein. They also contain traces of carbohydrates and fat.

Dr Amjad Farooq works as an assistant professor at the Department of Horticulture of the PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi. He explains that, according to estimates, there are more than 1,500 types of mushrooms found on planet earth – some of them are edible, but others are poisonous. The four most popular types are the button or European mushroom, the Japanese mushroom, the Chinese mushroom and the oyster mushroom. The best quality mushrooms available in Pakistan are the oyster mushroom, the white mushroom, the golden oyster mushroom, the phoenix (grey) oyster mushroom and the pink oyster mushroom. These strains grow all over the country, and are available usually after the monsoon season.

Mushrooms can be cultivated between October and March. Cultivation does not require land and can be grown in small houses and huts as a part-time activity. Mushroom cultivation does not require full time-labour, and all family members can look after different operations easily. There are two modes of propagation for a mushroom crop: open-air field cultivation and controlled cultivation.

After seven days of cultivation, small pin-like heads emerge from the mushroom, which turn into more mushrooms after three to five days. Branches which grow five to seven inches long, called flushes, are removed from the plants and dried. These can be used in cooking, or can be sold in the market. Flushes keep regenerating from the plant after every ten days of the removal of old ones: the cycle is very short, and as a result, highly productive.

“A single flush or branch of mushroom can yield more than half a kilogramme (kg) of edible food after each week for three months,” says Dr Muhammad Nadeem, from the Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).

Thus, 100 beds of mushroom can yield more than 120kg of mushrooms a week. At the rate of Rs150 per kg, they can generate a lump sum profit of Rs18,000 a week, or Rs72,000 in a month. Dr Nadeem says the “production of mushrooms touches approximately 1.5 million tons in the world, while about 90 tons of mushrooms are exported to Europe from Pakistan every year.”

Oyster mushrooms currently sell for around $6 a pound in the US. A growing area of around 200 square feet can produce 800 pounds per crop; or 5,000 pounds of mushrooms per year. This is worth almost $30,000 at current prices. It’s clear that growing oyster mushrooms for profit is a great way to make some extra cash.

However, it should be kept in mind that, given the large variety of poisonous strains of mushrooms, spawn should be developed only under the supervision of experts. It is available at the UAF, the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute and other government research stations.

Farmers who wish to cultivate mushrooms should book spawn well before the cultivation season, because it may not be readily available during the peak demand period. The UAF laboratory has developed some thermo-tolerant strains of the most widely grown button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus cystidiosus).

As basic training is required for profitable mushroom cultivation, the Continuing Education Department of the UAF offers a short course suited for farmers. Furthermore, the UAF’s Mushroom Lab can be contacted for guidance and information, and it can give proper suggestions and recommendations to those willing to invest in this lucrative business.

Source: The express tribune

Published on: 10/01/2012

UK scientists discover ripening control protein

Scientists at Leicester University in the UK have discovered a protein that ripens fruits early and could boost their value and sales dramatically.
The finding would enable farmers to accelerate or delay the ripening of entire fruits to prevent them falling victim to unseasonal weather.
The researchers have applied for a patent and are planning to test their discovery on tomatoes, bell peppers and citrus fruits.

They demonstrated for the first time that a regulatory system that governs how proteins are broken down in plant cells also affects chloroplasts – structures that control photosynthesis.

Using thale cress they showed that altering a particular gene could change the speed with which chloroplasts transform into other structures in plant cells, including those involved in the ripening of fruit.
Testing the mechanism on crop plants will prove whether it could one day be used commercially to ensure fruit always ripens at the right time, the researchers explain.
“We are already transferring the work into tomatoes. So I would think, within a year, we will know whether or not it is going to work in principle," project leader Paul Jarvis says.
"It is incredible to get to this point – it has been a long journey. We have known for some time that this was going to be a big breakthrough.”
Because the same regulatory system governs various other aspects of plant development, such as how quickly leaves age, it could also be used for other purposes such as keeping crops alive for longer periods, he says.

Source: Fresh Plaza
Published on: 11/23/2012

Experts link kinnow industry growth with removal of middlemen

Horticulture experts have linked growth of the kinnow industry to the removal of middleman saying that exports of the citrus fruit could be enhanced manifold provided the farmers are provided direct benefit.

At present Pakistan is among the top 10 citrus growing countries in the world and the world export market for horticulture products is about $80 billion, in which Pakistan’s share is not up to mark.

The kinnow exports reached to $100 million in the fiscal year 2010-11,” Chief Executive Officer Harvest Tradings Ahmad Jawad said adding that the exports could be enhanced by strengthening input from farmers.

“The exports can be increased further if all the stake holders remove the role of middleman and strengthen the farmer input who is the real stakeholder of this emerging industry,” Jawad told APP.

Giving details about the citrus exports, Ahmad Jawad said about 200,000 metric tones of kinnow were exported during 2005-06, showing more than a 100 percent increment over the previous year’s exports.

In 2008-09, the kinnow exports were recorded at 177 million kilograms that climbed to 361 million kgs in 2009-10 earning $45.5 million in 2008-09 and $97.8 million in 2009-10.

The exports reached to $100 million in 2010-11, Jawad added.

Kinnow is known as a special variety of citrus fruit and due to unique climatic conditions it is grown in Pakistan, he said adding it has tremendous potential of export to many countries.
The CEO Harvest Tradings said so far Kinnow has already been introduced in more than 25 countries of the world adding its exports can further be increased by manifold if modern marketing techniques are applied.

The fruit is among the main exportable horticulture commodities from Pakistan.

Annual production of citrus on an average is estimated about 2 million-ton, of which 90 percent are kinnow, and export also reached to 360,625 tonnes.
Pakistan exports to Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and CIS that are been supposed as traditional markets from many years.

East Europe, Iran, Indonesia and China are emerging markets, he said adding the export to Russian Federation reached 31,000 tonnes, Ukraine 5,000 tonnes and Iran 22,000 tonnes.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) requirements of exports urge for strict compliance with international quality and health safety standards.

WTO also required best agricultural practices and dedicated production for specific markets both in terms of timely availability in particular tastes, size and colour.

“Therefore, the producers and processors need to upgrade their capacities and facilities to produce fruits of international standard, which is essential,” Jawad added.
He said that the tax relief and other support measures announced by the government over the past years in support of the horticulture crop production and agro industry development would also help to improve the competitiveness of the product and would fetch better prices but needs to continue.

He said that the government should declare horticulture as a priority sector and make efforts to improve the value chain and identifying new markets.

The provision of effective infrastructure such as dry ports, export zones, transportation hubs, etc is essential for the export growth, he said adding cold storage facilities are also basic need for cost effective marketing of perishable products, as they reduce post harvest losses and minimised health risks.

Cold storage facilities increase the shelf life of the product to make products available for longer time at selling stores.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2011

Mango: US, Japanese markets to remain out of reach

Production is likely to stand around 1.2 million tons of mangoes against the production of 1.7 million tons recorded during the previous season.

Pakistan, which is going to start exporting mangoes by May 25, is likely to remain shut out of the lucrative US and Japanese markets.

Despite initiatives taken by the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to introduce Pakistani mangoes in US and Japanese markets, export of the fruit to these countries remain unlikely this year because of the lack of a well-equipped fruit treatment facility in the country.

The country is also estimated to be facing a 30% loss in production due to climatic changes in the country. Production is likely to stand around 1.2 million tons of mangoes against the production of 1.7 million tons recorded during the previous season.

Last year, 0.134 million tons of mango were exported, generating revenues of at least $38 million, according to PFVA co-Chairman Waheed Ahmed. This year, the target was fixed at 0.15 million tons, with estimated revenues of $50 million.

The reduction in production, he said, was mainly because of climatic changes which affected mango trees in Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas and Mityari in Sindh; and Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Shuja Abad, Muzaffar Garh and Khanewal in Punjab.

Japan last year approved the mangoes tested through a small VHT facility in the country; but it is not viable to use the same facility for commercial purposes because of its limited functionality and capacity. Thus, exports to Tokyo remain a distant dream, Ahmed said.

The absence of a quarantine facility in the country is also not favourable to exporters; as no exporter wishes to risk sending an entire consignment to the US before quality approval, while also bearing the huge freight cost, he said.

A proposal for the setting up of a commercial processing plant and a common facility centre has already been sent to the Ministry of Commerce, but the ministry has yet to take a step in this regard.

Beside the two important foreign markets, the country is also losing the market in Iran because of sanctions imposed by the US, as commercial banks are reluctant to be involved in financial transactions in this regard. Iran is regarded as a valuable market in terms of prompt payment for imported fruits; existing exports or smuggling will not benefit the country in terms of revenue, Waheed said.

He also revealed that a delegation from Australia was due to visit Pakistan this month to inspect mango farms and processing units in the country. The opening of Australian markets for the Pakistani mango – expected during this year – will be an important development for the country’s fruit exporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2012.

Mango: US, Japanese markets to remain out of reach

Production is likely to stand around 1.2 million tons of mangoes against the production of 1.7 million tons recorded during the previous season.

Pakistan, which is going to start exporting mangoes by May 25, is likely to remain shut out of the lucrative US and Japanese markets.

Despite initiatives taken by the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to introduce Pakistani mangoes in US and Japanese markets, export of the fruit to these countries remain unlikely this year because of the lack of a well-equipped fruit treatment facility in the country.

The country is also estimated to be facing a 30% loss in production due to climatic changes in the country. Production is likely to stand around 1.2 million tons of mangoes against the production of 1.7 million tons recorded during the previous season.

Last year, 0.134 million tons of mango were exported, generating revenues of at least $38 million, according to PFVA co-Chairman Waheed Ahmed. This year, the target was fixed at 0.15 million tons, with estimated revenues of $50 million.

The reduction in production, he said, was mainly because of climatic changes which affected mango trees in Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas and Mityari in Sindh; and Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Shuja Abad, Muzaffar Garh and Khanewal in Punjab.

Japan last year approved the mangoes tested through a small VHT facility in the country; but it is not viable to use the same facility for commercial purposes because of its limited functionality and capacity. Thus, exports to Tokyo remain a distant dream, Ahmed said.

The absence of a quarantine facility in the country is also not favourable to exporters; as no exporter wishes to risk sending an entire consignment to the US before quality approval, while also bearing the huge freight cost, he said.

A proposal for the setting up of a commercial processing plant and a common facility centre has already been sent to the Ministry of Commerce, but the ministry has yet to take a step in this regard.

Beside the two important foreign markets, the country is also losing the market in Iran because of sanctions imposed by the US, as commercial banks are reluctant to be involved in financial transactions in this regard. Iran is regarded as a valuable market in terms of prompt payment for imported fruits; existing exports or smuggling will not benefit the country in terms of revenue, Waheed said.

He also revealed that a delegation from Australia was due to visit Pakistan this month to inspect mango farms and processing units in the country. The opening of Australian markets for the Pakistani mango – expected during this year – will be an important development for the country’s fruit exporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2012.

Export of Agricultural products much lower than potential

"We can exploit our export potential by adopting international standards,” UAF vice chancellor.

 

Exports of agricultural and livestock products from Pakistan have consistently increased in recent years, but these are much less than actual potential and are restricted to old wholesale markets, says the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) vice chancellor.

“The share of our agricultural products in the fast growing high-price super markets is meagre,” said Dr Iqrar Ahmad while addressing the inaugural session of a five-day training course. The course was organised by the Endowment Fund Secretariat and AUS Aid.

Ahmad said the close proximity of markets in the Middle East, Iran and Afghanistan, and market access to Malaysia, offered enormous potential for the export of agricultural and livestock products from Pakistan. “We can exploit our export potential by adopting international standards,” he stressed.

Tariq Qamar, an international auditor, said: “New pressures from consumers, retailers and legislation have placed new demands on farmers,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2012.

What Is Agribusiness?

 

In short, agribusiness is the business of farming. However, the word is a loaded term, especially among critics of corporate farming. For people who view large-scale commercial farming negatively, agribusiness is the antithesis of traditional small-scale family farms. For people involved in it, of course, the word is simply a convenient shorthand for saying that one is in the business of agriculture.

Agribusiness includes the production, processing, and supply of agricultural goods that range from lettuce to corn syrup. Companies may focus on things like cut flowers, fresh vegetables, or byproducts of farming such as fuels derived from farm waste. Agribusiness also encompasses farming equipment, machinery, chemicals, suppliers, and personnel. Several large companies control the bulk of the share of business, especially in the United States; this has been a cause for criticism among people who are concerned about monopolies and price fixing.

Several things characterize agribusiness, differentiating it very distinctively from family farming. The first is the scale, which is typically quite large. The second is considerable vertical and horizontal integration. For example, a company might own a facility that processes frozen vegetables, along with a controlling share in farms which produce these vegetables and companies which provide personnel to harvest and transport them. Agribusiness is also distinguished by being run like a true business, with administrators rather than farmers at the helm of companies in the agriculture business.

This highly efficient and streamlined organization allows agribusiness to keep food costs low. This is an important priority for many consumers and governments, who also appreciate its standardization, which is in theory supposed to limit the possibility of food borne contamination and other issues with the food supply.

The rise of agribusiness began in the 20th century, when citizens of countries in the developed world began flocking to their cities, leaving a shrinking population of farmers struggling to meet the demand for food. Over time, agricultural companies arose, using their size and business experience as leverage to create a highly efficient system of farming and transporting agricultural goods. One major criticism of agribusiness is that it has been too successful, driving down price points and forcing small farms out of business as they cannot compete with big firms.

Critics have also expressed concerns about a heavy focus on chemicals to control problems which arise on farms. Pesticides, herbicides, and a variety of pharmaceuticals are all often a big part of agribusiness, for example. It also distances people from the source of their food, as any glance at the produce section at a major market will confirm; rather than meeting food producers, people can purchase grapes from Chile, peppers from Africa, and rice from China.

Cornucopia Institute reveals agribusiness conspiracy to mislead consumers over almonds Monday, April 09, 2007 by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger Editor of NaturalNews.com The Cornucopia Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes honest food and sustainable farming practices, has revealed details of the USDA's conspiracy with agribusiness interests to mislead consumers over the sterilization of almonds. A press release from the Cornucopia Institute, reprinted below, explains that new rules concerning the pasteurization of almonds are an "inside job," made without any real opportunity for public comment. The new rules requiring all California almonds to be pasteurized would also place a heavy financial burden on small growers and family farms, ultimately putting many of them out of business, further concentrating control of the food supply in the hands of a few powerful corporations. The Cornucopia Institute is concerned about the general trend towards the secretive processing of foods with chemicals or radiation, without honest labeling. The USDA and agricubusiness interests are right now plotting to allow irradiated food to be labeled "pasteurized," with no indication whatsoever of them being subjected to radiation. The purpose of this deception is to deny consumers information about how their foods have been processed, tricking them into purchasing irradiated foods that they might normally avoid. "USDA is being run lock, stock, and barrel by agribusiness and has abandoned its duty to protect the public and the farming community. This USDA decision, along with FDA's long-standing refusal to label genetically engineered food, and its recent decision to attempt to label irradiated foods as "pasteurized," is a conscious effort by the Administration to leave consumers in the dark about the dangers lurking in their food." - Andrew Kimbrell, the Director of the Center for Food Safety Action item: Write the USDA To help consumers take action against this assault on raw almonds and honest food labeling, the Cornucopia Institute has posted a sample letter that may be used to file a comment or complaint with the USDA. Click here to download the sample letter (.DOC format). Be sure to modify the letter to state your complaint or comment in your own words. The address to send it to is included in the letter. Here is the full press release from the Cornucopia Institute: USDA and Agribusiness Conspire to Mislead Consumers "Raw" Almonds Must Soon be Steam-Heated or Treated with Toxic Chemical CORNUCOPIA, WI: Small-scale farmers, retailers, and consumers are outraged over a new federal regulation that will require all almonds grown in California to be sterilized with various "pasteurization" techniques. The rule, which the USDA quietly developed in response to outbreaks of Salmonella in 2001 and 2004, traced to raw almonds, mandates that all almonds undergo a sterilization process that includes chemical and / or high-temperature treatments. Although the final rule was just published in the Federal Register, The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based farm policy research group, is asking the USDA to reopen the proceeding for public comment. Cornucopia contends that the rule was never effectively announced to the public, and that the reasoning behind both the necessity and safety of the sterilization processes should be questioned before the rule goes into effect this September. "The new rule is unwarranted and could have many harmful impacts," said Mark Kastel, senior farm policy analyst at Cornucopia. "The costs of the chemical and heat treatments, in addition to the costs of transporting and recording the new procedures, will be especially onerous on small-scale and organic farmers, and could force many out of business." The only exemption to these new regulations will be organic "raw" almonds that will not be fumigated, but will undergo the steam-heat treatment, and small-scale growers who can sell truly raw almonds but only direct to the public from farm stands. Although foodborne illnesses have garnered headlines in recent years, including contamination of California-grown spinach and lettuce, raw produce and nuts are not inherently risky foods. Contamination occurs when livestock manure or fecal matter is inadvertently transferred to food through contaminated water, soil, or transportation and handling equipment. Raw foods can also be infected by poor employee sanitation either on the farm or in processing facilities. Glenn Anderson, a small-scale organic almond farmer in the central valley of California, worries that "This could be one more way for the big companies and the government to put us small farmers out of business." The equipment to sterilize almonds is very expensive. A propylene oxide chamber costs $500,000 to $1,250,000, and a roasting line can cost as much as $1,500,000 to $2,500,000. Anderson also questions the scientific logic behind the rule. He and some other growers believe that the sustainable farming methods they use, such as mowing and mulching, rather than controlling weeds by chemical herbicide applications, protect biodiversity and naturally prevent the spread of harmful bacteria more effectively than the artificial process of pasteurization (sterilization) -- which attempts to mitigate contamination after the fact. According to growers practicing sustainable farming methods, the USDA plan ignores the root causes of food contamination -- the dangerous and unsustainable farming practices on industrial farms. Consumers who oppose the new regulation also worry about its impact on the quality and nutrition of pasteurized almonds, since the Almond Board of California (a marketing arm of the USDA) has conducted the only study on the practice. Their research concluded that "there was no significant degradation in the quality" of the almonds. "The validity of these findings is questionable given the vested interests of the research panel," Kastel stated. The most common method of sterilizing almonds is by propylene oxide fumigation. Propylene oxide is a genotoxic chemical and is listed as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency on Cancer Research. In lab experiments, the chemical leads to gene mutation, DNA strand breaks, and neoplastic cell transformation. It is listed as a "possible" carcinogen because no long-term studies have been done with humans. Its use for treating food for human consumption is banned in the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and most other countries. It is The Cornucopia Institute's contention that even if independent research concludes that treated almonds are in fact safe, labeling them as "raw" is misleading and deceptive to consumers, many of whom wish to purchase truly raw, unprocessed almonds. "Raw foods are increasingly in demand. The new rule is another case of the public being deprived the opportunity to intelligently choose their food supply," said Jimbo Someck, who owns and operates four of the country’s leading independent natural food stores, in the San Diego area. The new regulation to sterilize almonds coincides with the recent announcement by the Food and Drug Administration that it intends to relax its labeling requirements for irradiated food. The FDA proposal will also allow irradiation, the controversial ionization process, to be called pasteurization -- a reference that is troubling many food safety watchdogs. "Consumers deserve to know how their food has been processed," said Food and Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter. "Mislabeling irradiated food as 'pasteurized' or treated food as 'raw' is an industry attempt to make consumers buy products that they otherwise might avoid." In light of heightened public concern, the Cornucopia Institute has appealed to USDA Secretary Mike Johannes to postpone implementation of the new regulatory requirements and reopen the almond docket to public comment. Only 18 public comments -- all from the almond industry -- were received on the proposal. Unlike consumers, retailers, or other organizations concerned with food safety, all almond handlers received a personal letter or fax from the USDA alerting them to the sterilization proposal and inviting them to comment. "The industry and the USDA tried to slip this through quietly, under the radar, without adequate public scrutiny," Cornucopia's Kastel lamented. "We are asking the Secretary of a unit of government that Abraham Lincoln referred to as the ‘People's Department’ to intervene so concerned citizens can have a say. The close collaboration, away from the eyes of the citizens and the media, we are sure, is not something the Secretary will feel good about." An action alert with instructions for contacting the USDA, and a sample letter interested consumers can send to the USDA and California Almond Board, can be found on the Cornucopia Institute Website: www.cornucopia.org According to Andrew Kimbrell, the Director of the Center for Food Safety, "The decision to foist fumigants on unsuspecting almond consumers is just another example of an agency out of control." Adds Kimbrell, "USDA is being run lock, stock, and barrel by agribusiness and has abandoned its duty to protect the public and the farming community. This USDA decision, along with FDA’s long-standing refusal to label genetically engineered food, and its recent decision to attempt to label irradiated foods as "pasteurized," is a conscious effort by the Administration to leave consumers in the dark about the dangers lurking in their food." FDA regulations currently require that all single-ingredient foods that have been irradiated and are sold by retailers must be labeled as "treated with irradiation" and must display the radura symbol. A comprehensive fact sheet on the almond issue can be viewed at www.cornucopia.org/Almond_FactSheet.pdf and a sample letter for interested individuals to send to the USDA can be found at www.cornucopia.org/Almond_SampleLetter.doc The Cornucopia Institute (www.Cornucopia.org) is dedicated to the fight for economic justice for the family-scale farming community. Through research, advocacy, and economic development, our goal is to empower farmers both politically and through marketplace initiatives. Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/021783_the_USDA_food_labeling.html#ixzz2FQBXMr00