Industry News - wk ending 15 Jul '22
Potato News - North America
A Wet Spring, Rising Inflation Pressure Northwest Ag Profits
The outlook suggests profitable returns for both contract and uncontracted potatoes. Rising operational costs for growers, increases in packing expenses and inflation will create headwinds for processors.
First estimate of potato area planted in North-West European countries.
The total area of potatoes in the four North-West European countries (Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands) is expected to increase on average by 2% in 2022 to reach 507,300 hectares (+10,100 hectares).
Idaho Farmers Plant 25,000 Fewer Potato Acres In 2022
Idaho farmers planted 25,000 fewer potato acres this year, an 8 percent decrease compared with 2021.
USDA Makes It Easier For American Farmers To Grow Food, Ease Burdens For American Families
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reducing the economic risk of raising two crops on the same land in one year, making it easier for U.S. farmers to grow food in America, increase food supply, and lower food costs for American families. This action is part of a broader set of commitments made earlier this year by President Biden and Secretary Vilsack to increase domestic food production amid potential global food shortages related to the invasion of Ukraine.
Potato News - Overseas
In Russia, at the end of the year, we expect an increase in the vegetable harvest
According to preliminary data, this year the area under potatoes and ground vegetables has grown by 2.5%. At the same time, the weather conditions are more favorable for these crops than last year.
Logistics News
Diesel Sheds 10.7¢ to $5.568 a Gallon
The national average price of diesel dropped 10.7 cents, marking the third consecutive decline, according to Energy Information Administration data released July 11.
The World Can’t Get Enough of US Diesel as Exports Surge
As much as 1.39 million barrels a day of diesel has left the U.S. Gulf Coast so far this month, around 10% higher than the previous daily record for a month set in July 2017, according to oil analytics firm Vortexa, which began trading the data in 2016. Adding gasoline, fuel exports out of the Gulf Coast topped 2 million barrels a day in the first half of July, also a record.
Global Energy Crisis May Get Worse, IEA Warns
“The world has never witnessed such a major energy crisis in terms of its depth and its complexity,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said Tuesday at a global energy forum in Sydney. “We might not have seen the worst of it yet — this is affecting the entire world.”
Driverless Long Hauls, Digital Freight: The Trucking Tech That Can't Come Fast Enough
With fuel prices at an all-time high, the cost of transportation is forcing price increases across the board, and beginning to impact consumer demand.
National diesel average falls more than 10 cents, for the second straight week, reports EIA
The national average price per gallon for diesel gasoline saw a significant decline for the week of July 11, in tandem with recent declines in oil prices, according to data recently issued by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Food Industry News
USDA, Statistics Canada forecast sharply higher oats production
Faced with unprecedented demand amidst record low supplies, the trade has exceptionally high expectations for the 2022 oat crop. But a late-seeded North American crop, perplexing government crop status reports and macro-economic effects pressuring cereal prices lower are keeping things somewhat chaotic for the oats market.
Acreage report lacks shockers but highlights factors to watch
The US Department of Agriculture in its annual Acreage report on June 30 estimated the area planted to spring wheat other than durum at 11,110,000 acres, down 2.7% from 2021. The estimate was within the range of analysts’ pre-report expectations, but above the average expectation of 10,844,000 acres. The estimate included hard red spring wheat at 10.4 million acres.
Analysis linking grains and diabetes called flawed
Contrary to conclusions reached by Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committees both in 2015 and 2020, scientific data do not suggest an association between higher intake of refined grains and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), said Glenn A. Gaesser, a professor in the College of Health Solutions, University of Arizona, Phoenix.
The FAO Food Price Index drops for the third consecutive month in June
The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 154.2 points in June 2022, down 3.7 points (2.3 percent) from May, marking the third consecutive monthly decline, though still 29.0 points (23.1 percent) above its value a year ago.
FDA finalizes hazard analysis, preventive controls guidelines
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized its Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals guidelines July 6. The guidelines aim to help animal food production facilities comply to the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls requirements.
New data finds no correlation between refined grains and type 2 diabetes
Findings refute commonly held belief that refined, non-whole grains can directly lead to type 2 diabetes.
IFT panelist challenges idea consumers read labels
In a panel discussion at IFT FIRST, July 11-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Mr. Lilienfeld said as few as 5% of consumers read labels and that consumer packaged foods companies should not rely on labeling to communicate messages to consumers.
Opinion: Foods targeting health conditions face shifting trends
It has been a longstanding goal of many food and beverage product developers to formulate products that deliver benefits beyond basic nutrition. Whole product categories have emerged focused on improving digestive health and cognitive function, alleviating joint pain and, most recently, improving immune system function, to name a few. Yet the depth of consumer interest in such products appears to be questionable.
New single food safety agency proposed
Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro and US Senator Dick Durbin introduced legislation that would remove food safety oversight functions from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Food Safety Administration Act would establish the Food Safety Administration under the Department of Health and Human Services. The single food safety agency would remove existing food programs within FDA, and leadership appointments would require Senate confirmation.
Higher imports boost US sugar supplies
The US Department of Agriculture in its July 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report raised from June its forecasts for US sugar supply and use for both 2021-22 and 2022-23, resulting in higher ending stocks-to-use ratios for both years.
Consumers seek sustainability claims in addition to organic
Organically certified might not be enough to convince some consumers to choose a product.
IFT FIRST: Upcycling before upcycled was ‘cool’
Barbara Mandrell released the hit song “I was country (when country wasn’t cool)” in 1981. More than 40 years later executives of companies selling certain ingredients may relate to the tune. Those companies were marketing upcycled ingredients before upcycling was cool, or even before the term was gaining recognition in the food and beverage industry through the Upcycled Certified mark.