Border security

As a broker and consultant, I am very familiar with the vagaries of crossing the U.S.-Canadian border at several posts.  For the most part, the guards on both sides are compentent and alert, however, I wonder how secure even this border between two of the friendliest nations of the world can be.   I recently read a document from U.S. customs directed at exporters from Canada to the U.S.  Everything contained in the text was unexceptionally thoughtful and intended to help the exporter tighten the security around his packing shed and associated buildings.  However, once the truck leaves the compound, it is totally independent until the driver makes delivery on the American side.  Literally thousands of tractor trailers cross the border each way every day.  Just saying.

The progressive vision thing

I haven't seen or heard it yet, but it looks like the President stepped up and decided to stand for something.  After the mean spirited budget proposed by Ayn Rand fanboy Paul Ryan it is refreshing to see someone who doesn't want to put granny and everyone else who needs help on an ice floe to nowhere! (especially with global warming)  We'll see if he follows through, but at least for now, someone is sticking up for those of us without a well paid lobbyist.

In the Shark Tank

Ah spring!  The smell of blood in the water.  Farmers in New York, Quebec and Ontario eagerly anticipate the coming of the planting season and hope for that perfect storm of customer demand, perfect weather and bumper crops.  Many will gather this week in Montreal for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Trade Show.  And the sharks from the chain stores, the produce wholesalers in Boston, N.Y. and Philadelphia will attend also.  The usual promises will be made and the later broken.  Everyone will feel the anticipation.  The difference is the kind of anticipation each side feels.

Spring Fling

It was a wild Monday in the North Country.  Overnight thunderstorms turned the lazy creeks to rivers and the rivers to raging torrents.  I took a ride to see Ralph Child in Malone, N.Y. this afternoon and the Great Chazy river looked like a grade 5 rapid.  It was 75 degrees and a 30 MPH wind was rapidly melting the remaining snow, although Chazy and Chateaugay lakes still have some ice on the surface.  The rest of the week promises to remain mild, so young farmers  (and older ones also) turn to thoughts of planting.

Master's Sunday

   It was a great day for the Gs, gardening and golfing.  I got onions and shallots planted, trimmed most of the fruit trees and hit a bucket of balls at the local driving range.  We are in the mid to upper 50s here in beautiful Peru, N.Y.  Here's hoping tomorrow at the office will be as productive.  With Passover and Easter in the offing, the veg business should pick up, but it has been a tough slog for the past couple of weeks.  The spring mix deal in Florida has been brutal with high temps and tropical rainstorms impacting quality.  Of course, that means every chain store we deal with will want to put baby leaf salad on special for the next two weeks.  We live in interesting times.

Time to eat your veggies

What's happening out there in America?  The farm gate price of almost every vegetable in America is falling like Glenn Beck's ratings on Fox.  A month ago, 24 ct cello lettuce was $36.00/case FOB California.  Now it is $6.00/case and buyers are scarce on the ground.  Ditto celery, romaine, and broccoli.  Unfortunately, these prices are not reflected at the grocery store.  This drives customers away which leads to further price cuts and an unvirtuous circle is reinforced.  It is the type of downward spiral which makes a produce broker despair.  But enough of gloom;  the east coast savoy spinach deal is about to start.  Fresh, local and good for you.  It's  the trifecta of the produce world.  Coming soon to a store near you.

April in Paradise

Mother Nature is still not finished with her winter agenda.  We have snow showers in the forecast all week, but when the sun comes out it feels like spring.  Started some veg seedlings in the coldframe; broccoli, cabbage, lettuces, onions, etc.  At least it feels like I have faith in summer.