Starvation Or Obesity
The Cape Times published here in South Africa has an inadvertent juxtaposition of stories on September 5, 2006. First there is a big article entitled “Global food scarcity crisis looms, warn UN experts.” This article explains: Food supplies are shrinking alarmingly around the globe, plunging the world into its greatest crisis for more than 30 […]
The Perishable Pundit Visits South Africa
Dispatch VIII: Marketing Proprietary Varieties
As a world-class exporter, South Africa deals with many cutting-edge varieties. For an exporter, controlling varieties that supermarkets want is a prime way to get their business. But in an age of proprietary varieties, some issues going on in South Africa as well as elsewhere are raising real questions about how these proprietary varieties will […]
Pundit’s Mailbag:
Where’s The Passion?
The issue of leadership is hot controversy. We started the subject off with a letter to the Pundit, which led to more and more again. Another letter writer weighs in today: Obviously, any good leader today embraces change and embraces technology. However, not all technology or software is a panacea for an organization, much as […]
Sweet Spots For Retail Competition
Here are two stories that intersect in the night. First the Seattle Times reports that Starbucks e-mailed some employees in the Southeast US and urged them to distribute electronic coupons to friends and family for a free iced coffee at Starbucks. It is unclear why Starbucks did this but, very quickly, and predictably, the coupons […]
The Perishable Pundit Visits South Africa
Dispatch VII: Roadblocks To
South Africa’s Future
As I spend more time in South Africa, I confess to starting to feel that the South African government and the broader culture, heavily influenced by European ideas about social welfare, are going to prevent this country from realizing its potential. Although South Africa is partially an advanced western country that produces world-class products and […]
Pundit Mailbag:
Sunkist Responds To Article
By now, after traveling with Danie Kieviet in South Africa, I think you probably should have a completely different opinion of what Sunkist is doing in South Africa and the citrus world in general. In working with Freshworld, Sunkist’s major strategic partner in South Africa, as well as Goede Citrus in Citrusdal, the Western Cape’s […]
The Meaning of Grass-fed Beef
The United States Department of Agriculture has proposed a standard for grass-fed meat and, since it doesn’t require 100% grazing on lush pasture, it has people upset. Patricia Whisnant, who is both a rancher in Missouri and also runs the American Grassfed Association, explains: “In the eye of the consumer, grass-fed is tied to open […]
The Pundit Visits South Africa
Dispatch VI: Caveat Emptor When It Comes To Tropical Plants
A continuation of our series on one day of reporting in Britain’s newspapers relevant to perishables: The Times featured a report that garden centers regularly sell tropical plants that are certain to die in the climate of the UK: Glorious displays of trendy plants, many of them originally from tropical countries, are too frequently being […]
The Pundit Visits South Africa
Dispatch V: Speeches, Meetings,
Observations And Opinions
ADVANCED PRODUCE EXPORT INDUSTRY A visit to the trade in South Africa is different than visiting Canada or even the UK. For one thing, it is very far from the US, and, for reasons of both geography and history, South Africa is not a natural trading partner to the US. So few Americans make the […]
International Positions
Of Two Citrus Companies
Seeing Bruce McEvoy here from Seald Sweet tells us a lot. First that both Bruce and Seald Sweet deserve a hat tip for making a commitment in South Africa that includes acquisition of land. Second, it demonstrates what an important part of its business South Africa has become. Third, it demonstrates the desirability of geographic […]
