After 16 Years Of Compliance, Florida-Mexican Tomato ‘Suspension’ Agreement Gets Challenged By Florida Growers Claiming Dumping Is Occurring: Is This Just Rent-Seeking?
The issue of “dumping” in fresh produce has been brought to the fore by the decision of Florida’s tomato growers to request that the U.S. Department of Commerce tear up the “suspension” agreement that established minimum reference prices for Mexican tomatoes sold in the United States. When the request was made back in June, Reuters […]
Pundit’s Mailbag —
When Confronted With A United/PMA Merger Question,
What Would Jesus Do?
Among the many letters in response to our articles on the United/PMA Merger, we received this one that brought in a reference to a well known Christian bible verse: Just when I thought your opus was complete, you outdid yourself again. Thank you for inspiring me on this matter. I’ve been mentally beat down after […]
As Certified Greenhouse Farmers Look To Develop Guidelines, Mexico’s Protected Agriculture Industry Continues To Build Marketshare
The issue of uniform definitions for marketing terms is not a new one. Indeed, we have addressed such issues in the sweet onion industry with pieces such as these: Sweet Onion Fraud Pundit’s Mailbag — With Proper Science And Marketing, Onions Could Be Sold As Mild, Medium Or Hot Pundit’s Mailbag — Sweet Onion Specifications […]
Pundit’s Mailbag — Good Ol’ Fashioned Produce Candor Needed
Our work on the United/PMA merger issue has brought many letters, including this one: Brilliant insight, as always. I’m still scratching my head at what took place on my watch. I wish good ol’ fashioned produce candor had been the driving force of the negotiations, only because I never learned differently. Maybe this Amish guy […]
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DYNAMICS THAT LED TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE UNITED/PMA MERGER: Buyer/Seller Disconnect And Consensus-builders Versus Nonconformists
With all the sturm and drang over the issue of merger between United and PMA, it is worth a moment to consider the role of buying organizations and the style of association board members in the industry discussions. The thrust toward merger has always been driven by vendors, by grower-shippers. Structurally this is because it is […]
Pundit’s Mailbag — Time To Join Hands And Unite In Prayer For Success
We have written a great deal on the PMA/United merger issue and find the responses coming in are increasingly spiritual: Jim, I enjoy your comments. They speak wisdom, sound reasons, and years of many battles. The joining of two great organizations is just a reminder of what is happening in all of agricultural endeavors and […]
Pundit’s Mailbag — ONE Global Produce Industry Needs ONE Voice
We’ve run lots of letters related to the United/PMA merger saga, including our Pundit of July 21st and our Pundit of July 30th, and they have generally come from leaders in the industry. Sometimes it is good to read a comment from an informed observer without any skin in the game: I have been following this […]
Pundit’s Mailbag — Get It Done
Our Pundit edition of July 30th included letters from 13 industry members including one from Rick Antle, CEO and President at Tanimura & Antle. Our continued focus on this issue led to this letter from a friend of Rick’s: Keep pushing on this. the problem is we don’t have a lot of BOLD leaders like we use to, […]
THIRTEEN VOICES: Industry Leaders Weigh In On United/PMA Merger
The issue of one national trade association for the produce industry and thus possible merger between PMA and United has long haunted the produce trade. The recent effort was the most extensive and professional ever undertaken and came closer than ever before to a unified association. So those who think having one association is important […]
Neither United Nor PMA Represent Production Agriculture
A line in our piece United/PMA Impasse More Than Just A Decision About A CEO — It Is A Battle For The Soul Of The New Association caught the eye of a frequent Pundit contributor: ‘United is perceived as the organization with the core responsibility for lobbying on behalf of the production agriculture base of the […]
