French farmers ransack Spanish fruit trucks laden with cheap imports as fallout from E.coli crisis rumbles on

By Gavin Allen

Last updated at 9:27 AM on 12th August 2011

French farmers have begun attacking shipments of fruit and vegetables from Spain as an international crisis rips through the European agriculture industry.

Huge losses suffered by Spanish farmers during the E.coli crisis has led to them slashing the prices of their produce, undercutting the native growers in France by as much as 40 cents a kilo.

That has led to angry scenes with members of the French farmers union (FDSEA) breaking into Spanish fruit trucks and throwing the loads onto the ground, destroying entire cargos of fresh edible fruit.

Ransacked: French farmers empty the contents of Spanish fruit trucks onto the road in a row over undercutting in harsh economic times for the whole European agriculture market

Fruit flies: Members of the French regional farmers union (FDSEA) attacked these vans at the Lancon de Provence toll plaza in France

Vegetables of France, a union of vegetable producers, said the undercutting is possible because Spanish farmers are far more relaxed about labour costs and the enforcement of rules regarding the use of pesticide.

The problems stem from the lethal E.coli outbreak in Germany in June that killed 26 people and left thousands more seriously ill.

Germany originally blamed Spanish cucumbers for the outbreak, a claim later retracted, but not before it led to thousands of tons of uncontaminated fruit going to waste.

However, it is not just the Spanish who were affected by the E.coli outbreak. The whole European market is suffering and the French say that being undercut by the Spanish growers is preventing the French from recovery.

Angry incidents have taken place throughout France the week. These photographs were taken at the Lancon de Provence toll plaza, where distraught Spanish drivers were forced to watch as their deliveries were ransacked by a mob of more than 100 furious French farmers.

Trucks of Spanish nectarines were sabotaged as they crossed the border into France on Tuesday, while the European Union farming lobby Copa-Cogeca reported dozens of trucks have been emptied over the last few weeks at a crossing in Boulou en Roussillon.

Squashed: A Spanish lorry driver look on disconsolately as the contents of his delivery truck lie wasted on the ground before him

  Hard times: French farmers say they are being undercut by as much as 40 cents per kilo leading to angry scenes while, right a French gendarme watches on as his countrymen destroy the Spanish deliveries

Earlier this week in the Gard and Pyr?n?es-Orientales regions, five Spanish trucks were halted on the A9 motorway and emptied.

Later the same day a wholesalers in Nimes had much of its supplies cast onto the warehouse floor, while last month French growers poured Spanish shipments of peaches onto he ground outside the Spanish consulate in Perpignan.

The direct French action has been condemned by Copa-Cogeca in a letter to the European Commission, which has announced compensation packages for European farmers.

A fighting fund of 226million euros has been set up with Spain set to receive the lions share.

However, Spanish authorities say their 71million euro settlement doesn't even begin to cover losses which it says amounts to some 225million euors a week since the crisis began.

Angelique Delahaye, president of Vegetables of France, told the Wall Street Journal: 'We don't oppose the free market so long as rules are the same for everybody, but we oppose unfair competition.'

Setting out their stall: A member of the French regional farmers union waves the FNSEA union flag while his colleagues work

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Fruit and vege markups call for supermarket conduct code

 

Supermarkets are regularly marking up fruit and vegetables between 100 and 300 per cent, according to a Green Party survey, but the figures are being rubbished by the big two supermarket chains.

The survey, released today, of 121 fruit and vegetable growers has found that despite high retail prices for fruit and vegetables, growers as well as consumers are struggling.

It showed that supermarket pricing practices need to be investigated and a supermarket code of conduct and ombudsman established, Green Party food spokeswoman Sue Kedgley said.

"Seventy-eight per cent of growers in our survey are being forced to sell their produce, at times, for less than it costs them to produce it."

Ms Kedgley said that of the growers that were being forced to sell their produce below cost, more than a third had to so on a frequent basis.

"Supermarkets are still routinely putting substantial mark-ups of 100-300 per cent on fresh fruit and vegetables.

"This suggests that supermarket mark-ups remain a key factor in the high price consumers are paying for fresh local produce, and that the low prices many growers are getting for produce are not being passed onto consumers."

Ms Kedgley said many growers detailed the returns they got for produce, and the amount their produce retailed for. Some growers reported margins of up to 800 per cent on their produce, while most suggested supermarket margins were around 100-200 per cent.

One grower said they received less than $2 for a tray of 20 avocados - which cost $8 to produce - which the supermarket then sold for $19.80, a margin of 880 per cent.

One apple grower said he was getting the same price of 50 cents a kilogram as they did in 1998.

Many reported seeing their produce marked up between 100 and 300 per cent in the supermarkets.

The survey found 87 per cent of growers supported a supermarket code of conduct, while 83 per cent believed a voluntary code would not be effective.

Ms Kedgley said serious questions needed to be asked about why supermarkets put such high mark-ups on fresh produce, while they put virtually no mark-ups on alcohol, and the mark-ups on processed foods are normally around 23 per cent.

But Foodstuffs managing director Steve Anderson told the Sunday Star-Times the survey contained "blatant and deliberate misinformation".

"Consumers are not being overcharged in our stores and accusations that supermarkets make mark-ups of the nature claimed in this survey are outrageous, and insult the intelligence of all shoppers."

Foodstuffs had almost completed its own supplier relationship guidelines and it opposed a mandatory code because it would add costs for consumers, he said.

A Progressive spokesman told the paper the figures provided by growers were "grossly inaccurate".

Responding to the call for a code of conduct, he said the company had very good relationships with produce suppliers.

"We pay them a fair price and we have regular reviews. We are interested in supporting growers because without them, we wouldn't be able to put quality kiwi produce on our shelves."

Horticulture NZ said a code could benefit growers and consumers as it was aware of frustration over the issue of mark-ups.

"We would definitely be interested in having a look at it because Australia and the UK have progressed it," a spokeswoman said.

"There is a concern that there isn't enough transparency. Who knows what goes on?"

- NZPA

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Fewer Canadians eating fruit and veg: StatsCan

Updated: Tue Jun. 21 2011 09:46:55

CTV.ca News Staff

Statistics Canada says Canadians are eating fewer fruits and vegetables for the first time in a decade, according to its latest analysis of the country's state of health.

In its latest Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada reports that just 43 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and older ate fruit or vegetables more than five times a day in 2010. That's down from 46 per cent the year before.

Broken down by gender, the survey found that half of all women reached for fruit and vegetables five or more times daily compared with just 36 per cent of men.

The data is based on an ongoing survey of 65,000 Canadians on a gamut of more than 30 health indicators.

Other highlights from the latest edition of the annual snapshot include:

Six in 10 Canadians reported their own state of health as very good or excellent. Canadians nevertheless reported a slight increase in their daily stress levels, with 24 per cent describing most days are either extremely or quite stressful. That was up two percentage points from 2008. The number of Canadians whose height and weight categorizes them as obese under Health Canada guidelines was virtually unchanged from the year before, at approximately 4.5 million or 18 per cent of the overall population. For the first time, Statistics Canada found the same number of women as men reporting they had been diagnosed with hypertension. Overall, nearly 1 in 6 Canadians said they had high blood pressure. One-in-eight of the 15 per cent of Canadians who said they had no regular medical doctor, reported easy access to alternative medical care such as a walk-in clinic. Among the 21 per cent, or 6 million Canadians who said they were either daily or occasional smokers, more men (24 per cent) lit up in 2010 than in the year before. The number of women smokers fell two percentage points, however, to 17 per cent in 2010.

In its bulletin announcing the results online Tuesday, Statistics Canada suggested the trend among women may continue, and indeed spread to men in the coming years as well.

"Since people typically begin smoking during their teenage years, the percentage who had not started smoking by age 20 is an indicator of future smoking rates," StatsCan wrote, noting that 57 per cent of women between the ages of 20 and 24 said they had never smoked.

That's up from 41 per cent in 2003.

And the same holds for young men too, 45 per cent of whom reported no prior experience with tobacco.

That also represents "a considerable increase" from the 37 per cent of young men who said the same in 2003.

Although the survey captures data from Canadians in every province and territory, Residents of Indian reserves, health care institutions, some remote areas and full-time members of the Canadian Forces are not included.

Comments are now closed for this story

Two things have happened.
First, we paved over farmland to build houses and big box stores and now we have to import all our food. When we put local farmers out of business and decide to rely on foreign food supplies, we doom ourselves to live with the vagaries of the open market and now people simply cannot afford to eat sensibly. I point to the Pickering Airport boondoggle as a prime example; paving over 7200 hectares of prime farmland to build an airport we don't need. The second thing that happened is that we allowed family run companies like Loblaws and Sobeys to put a stranglehold on the supply of food into this country. Both of these privately owned companies make record profits every quarter and collect a kings ransom off of charging a nickel plus HST for a grocery bag. Where are the protests over this? Why isn't the federal Conservative party investigating the monopoly on food in this country? All it will take is a war or natural disaster in one of the countries we buy our food from and we're screwed. Any nation that cannot grow it's own food is doomed. We're doomed. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Just like our telecommunications sector, the resource sector, the electricity market, etc., the government has allowed one or two companies to establish virtual monopolies and put the shaft to Canadians by gouging them to death.

scott nova scotia
I live in an area where I see many people on welfare when I walk to work. Some how they cannot afford to feed the children fruit and veggies but they sure can afford their cigarettes and booze. I do not make much money at all but my family always has fruit and vegetables. It is all about priorities.

FoundationalIssue
I think people need to stop with the whole "I can't afford fruits and veggies", maybe take a look at the foundational issue and find a job that works. Find a second income, or find something that can make you some residual income. Open your eyes there are lots of opportunities out there. Your ability to feed your family and yourself lays within your own hands. Stop blaming others and take responsibility for your actions. You buying that huge 60" plasma screen T.V. isn't making your family healthier. Sell the XBox, cut down on spending, get outside be active! Stop the blame game, enough is enough.

Samantha
I think the excuse that F&V are "too expensive" doesnt have much merit - most of the F&V I buy from both the grocery store and the market are by far cheaper than the other items I buy when I do groceries. It really comes down to what you buy and when, and what your motivations are. Unfortunately, fruit doesnt taste as good as something pumped full of artificial flavours and sodium, so people arent likely to choose it if theyre given a choice. I really do believe that if more people invested themselves in growing their own (even in limited space, you can grow some things!) and supporting their local growers, we would be a lot healthier.

Go to your local market, get to know your local farmers, it will benefit your body AND mind!

KK Calgary
6 months ago my husband & I made a lifestyle change...before we have a major illness. In this time we have found that we actually spend LESS on groceries than before. We are buying fruits vegatebles, meat ect but we are not buying pre-package suppers, junk food, cheeses. juices and pop. We have learned to make time to make our own soups, stews, pies ect and freeze then for the nights we are on the go. With a little organization you can make your meals ahead of time and they are healthier as you are not adding obscene amounts of sugar or salt. You know what goes into your food when you make it yourself. When grocery shopping stick to your list and do not impulse buy. It is hard and yes we do buy an occassional treat, just not all the time.

Doug ^^^ BC
Whoa!! Good one "PhDMED"It's sad,but true that in a free country,many people make bad choices.Buying unprocessed fod means you have to prepare it.Then,when you think about how cheaply you can eat some processed garbage,to man people make the wrong choice. Apparently a lot of people prefer to skimp on the things they NEED,so they can spend more on the things that they WANT.Then they come up with a litany of excuses for why they haven't made better choices. And yes,I'm often guilty of making the wrong choice too.But I do give myself decent marks for being able to "fess up" when someone calls me out.It's MY choice.It's MY decision.And ONLY I am responsible for how that works out.I have no reason to blame farmers,super markets,my neighbours,or my government.Maybe personal responsibility is a price we pay for what we all call "freedom".

Jason
Yeah, maybe if 3 days of fruit and vegetables didn't cost me the same amount as a month supply of regular grocieries, I might be more inclined to eat it.There may be some other fundamental problems with this statistic if Health Canada bothered doing an investigation as to WHY.When I'm visiting in the states or B.C., I eat a SIGNIFICANTLY larger amount of fruits and vegetables because the pricing is almost half, or even more than half price in some cases.

Andre
Health Canada pontifications are getting on my nerves. The snobs at Health Canada need to get their arse in a grocery store and see prices for veg/fruit are ridiculously high and organic is going the way of gold pricing. Please soapbox clowns stop yapping and do something about lowering prices if you expect us to swallow your constant B.S.!

Margot
The poverty population cannot afford to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at today's current prices for each member to have 5 different types of fruit and veg. They are lucky if they can afford two for each person, one fruit and one veg. As a senior on government limited pensions I cannot afford more that three fresh fruits for a week, i apple, 1 pear, 1 banana, the rest is frozen veg and forget salads. I have always been overweight even when I was fed all frest fruit and veg as a child, frozen was unknown as was a freezer and tinned was unacceptable. Fresh or go without. That also meant to imported foods from other countries. So, no chance of poison from pesticides and fertilizers. That slam-dunks the fresh food helps the obese. It is genetics. Age and health prevent me from growing my own veg in the garden. This winter I will try growing my own veg in pots in the house.

Kim from Ottawa
If you're worried about pesticides, considered participating in a farm share program. I have bought into an organic one for the past 3 years and not only is the produce amazing but it ensures that I am getting the recommended daily veggies. It is also relatively inexpensive and you are supporting your local farmers.

SuperSizeMe
A KFC Double Death sandwhich or a Little Mac, as long as they have more than a daily recommended sodium and fat intake I'm happy. Poutine is good too, oh my god I love Poutine.

Tracy from Winnipeg
There appears to be some items that either weren't reported on or weren't included in the original study - the reasons WHY people are eating fewer fruits and veggies. Cost is a big one - unless something is in season locally, it can be prohibitively expensive to purchase fruit. The other reason that I don't see included is the horrible choices. Once summer rolls around, and we have the option to buy locally grown produce, there's a nice choice. But buying tomatoes, lettuce oranges, etc in the dead of winter? Thanks to being picked when they're not ripe, and spending a lot of time in the back of a truck and in the dark, a lot of available produce in the winter tastes like cardboard. Why would you pay the exorbitant prices the stores are charging, to eat something that doesn't really have flavor?

Original Canadien
To cut costs, I've cut back on veggies in my diet and somehow lost 26 lbs(I do not eat any fruit, don't like the taste as I'd rather eat raw meat and have been doing dso for over 40 years - never sick) but I still make sure I have frozen veggies in my meals at all times - frozen being better than canned and so called "fresh" since vitamins are locked in within hours as opposed to sitting in transport and on shelves for days.BTW celery uses up more calories to digest than you take in so it is good for you beyond just the fiber.

tsousav
As a strong supporter of F&V consumption I believe that the best way to change this is from the bottom up. We need to teach the benefits of healthy eating with school aged children and to do that we need to support from provicial and federal health ministers. There are sites like freggietales.ca that helps educate kids on what the benefits are to eating F&V and there are also school programs like freggie fridays that has now started to roll out as a program but is being done on a school by school basis as the government really hasn't latched on to the opportunity. The pros of consuming F&V far outweigh the cons. F&V is clourful and tastes great. You might hate broccoli but love apples. There is nothing wrong with that. The produce industry works very hard to get the product toothe store shelves with the quality that you have come to expect. Use this report as a call to education for ourselves and our future generations.

The Village Idiot
Pretend all you want that fruits/vegetables are delicious but unless you put something on them they taste blah! You can only eat so much of this crap before it gets stale in the diet and you are pining for a cheese burger. I mean seriously you go on one of these veggie diets and it's fine for a week until you start turning a shade of deathly pale, feeling weak and getting grouchy because you want some meat! Unless you slather the broccoli in a fabulous cheese sauce that stuff is pretty hard to swallow without gagging. All this fruit and veggie talk is making me hungry...yeah...for a big bag of greasy movie popcorn slathered in coconut oil. I'm going to enjoy it and I don't feel the least bit guilty! You only live once and the Grim Reaper is comin' for all of us anyway. You can't beat death!

Ella-Max
So if Canadians are healthier because they eat healthier foods then our taxes going towards supporting our "health care system" should go down? I can only assume that health board of directors and all their staff could be down-sized since being healthy means we have less need for that bureaucracy and high salaries that come with it via our tax dollars. And the amount of studies being paid for by the government via our tax dollars should also decrease if we are healthier because of eating habits too. And wait times in hospital emergency rooms should be a thing of the past since we will all be healthier. Maybe with all the money we save Quebec will be able to score more than the "60%" in federal equalization transfer payments that they've been getting annually for years to pay for $7 daycare and Free IVF treatments costing between $10,000.00 - $30,000.00 per case. After all with all the money healthier eating will save the nation there will definitely be a boondoggle somewhere and we all know that "that" usually means French Disney Land gets the icing on the cake!

Jarrett, Ottawa
Lorne, if there are more pesticides and herbicides on your fruit and vegetables there are also going to be contaminants in everything else. Do you think they dont use pesticides on the wheat used to make the pizza dough of that frozen pizza, growth hormones in your beef and pork, heavy metals in your fish? Trickle down effect, you have to eat though. Just because the media tells you there are contaminants on your fresh fruit and vegetables you must be pretty naive to think it is not is the rest of the food. Might as well eat the fresh stuff.

MCW
In an "ideal" world designed by limousine liberals we could all be aware and afford arugula salad with bean sprouts night after night but the grocery stores aren't making "healthy" cheap. Go to Loblaws and check out the $9.99 watermelons.

Jennifer
How the hell can Canadians afford fruits and vegetables when the prices are so high? Go to a grocery store and look! People's salaries/wages are at 1980 levels while CEOs keep getting richer and outsourcing jobs to "Made in China" - forcing Canadians into lower salary/have-a$s jobs/no benefits/no nothing and many struggling and using the easy-squeezy credit card (backed by communist China) with high interests leading to bankruptcy. And "we" are supposed to eat better and by "organic" (even more expensive) because healthy Canadians are less a burden on the "wonderful" (sarcasm intended) health care system we're so heavily taxed to pay for. Yes some of Canada's armchair elites sure are good at telling us what to do because with their Harvard University degree they have 6/7 figure salary jobs and can well afford to spout off at the mouth about what we mere mortal Canadians should be doing. Get out in the real world you champagne socialists and see how the real Canadians making beer wages live and struggle. It's not pretty!

URU
Thats because food is sooo expensive and the Gov't isn't doing much to help the poor.

Doug ^^^ BC
Personally,I eat a lot more fruit and vegetables during the local growing season,and a lot less the rest of the year. I don't find these products overly expensive when I compare them to processed food in the same category. BUT,and maybe I'm to particular,but I find the quality of a lot of these imported fruits and vegetables to be less than desiberable.I canot speak for every region of Canada,but my taste buds tell me that local produce,no matter what it is I am eating,actually tastes good.Fruit from the Okanogan Valley is a prime example.I find the apples imported from the southern hemisphere have no taste,when compared to an apple grown in the valley.The same thing applies when I buy strawberries.The season here is short,but local strawberries taste like strawberries.I buy those big,red things from California,and it seems like I'm eating styrafoam. So,as another posterf askes,"why would we be inclined to eat some of this stuff".The residue from pesticides is an issue for some.The taste is an issue for some(or,at least me),and shelf life is an issue too.By the time you get a lot of imported produce home,it's not all that fresh any more. And finally.People do need to know that our parents and grandparents thrived of preserved fruit and produce for a long,long time.They had the same short growing seasons as we did,and they had no infrastructure to get imported food to local markets.

Sandusky
This is completely unacceptable people! The results of this survey should have been that 100% of Canadians consume five or more servings of fruits per day, not 43%. There is no excuse for this. Fruits and vegatables are cheaper than most other items at the grocery store, and the only natural source of the vitamins and nutrients that we need to keep our bodies healthy. If you don't maintain your health as Priority #1, then you will be incapable fo even formulating a Priority #2 or #3. Our health care costs are going through the roof and a simple way to control these costs is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I'm concerned that my tax dollars are being used to support unhealthy lifestyles nationally.

Canucks Fan
Anne, celery is a great fibre and good for the body. Too bad about the pesticides. I guess there has to be a fine balance. Wash well, and even after the fruit is cut, wash wash wash.Fruits and veggies are only part of the obese issue. Having a good sleep, exercise, turning off the TV might help too. Just a thought.

SAM
It's pricey....but, I'm buying more organic. I admit that when I focus on eating much more fruit and veggies that I feel better. However, I too am concerned about all the pest/fungicides in our produce. Cancer doesn't appeal to me any more than diabetes or heart disease. It's been reported that some of the newer East Indian fruit growers in BC's Okanagan don't follow package directions when treating their fruits with sprays. This is frightening.

PhDMED
The problem is that so many people are cheap with food, opting out for less expensive foods (canned, frozen, junk food,etc). Yet they dont see how eating badly may cost you your life in the long run.

Anne
Fruits and veggies 5 servings a day. Nice in theory, expensive in practice? I make sure the kids have the fruit, I'll do without if the fruitbowl is looking lean. Veggies is easier for dinner, since canned ones are not expensive. Carrots in the kids lunch. Celery too, but not sure how much nutrition there is in celery. Fewer taxes and more money in my take home pay would help with more fruits and fresh veggies.

Lorne
A study was just released a few weeks ago that outlined the amount of pesticides being used on fruit and vegetables.I would suspect that people will continue to eat less and less fruit and vegetables. The majority of Canadians are either in very good or excellent health. Why eat something that will only harm your health?Health Canada has still not issued their own report on the question of pesticides and what they do to your health.Why take a chance on killing yourself or ruining your health?

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Fruit and vegetable consumption declines

Canadians ate fruits and vegetables fewer times last year for the first time since 2001, Statistics Canada said.

About 43 per cent of respondents aged 12 and older reported they consumed fruit and vegetables five or more times each day in 2010, down from 46 per cent in 2009, the agency reported Tuesday.

"It's the first time we've seen a dip since we've been collecting the data," said analyst Ed Rama.

The data didn't address why.

"As an aside, what we do know is that the Canadian Price Index, their price for the fruit and vegetable basket has increased two per cent from January 2010 to January 2011," said Rama.

"I can't say there's any causality there, any link, but it's an interesting fact that they seem to be moving in the opposite directions."

Women generally consumed fruits and vegetables more often than men, according to the report.

About half of women last year consumed produce five or more times a day compared with 36 per cent in men.

Young males aged 12 to 19 were an exception. Almost 48 per cent in that age group ate fruits and vegetables, while after age 20, men ate considerably less, said Rama.

"That could have an effect of basically young men still eating at home, as opposed to moving out on their own and having the [instant pasta] diet," he speculated.

The 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey also surveyed about 65,000 people across the country on more than 30 indicators, including obesity, blood pressure, stress, smoking and access to a family doctor.

Last year, the survey results suggested that the first time, more than half of the population was classified as overweight or obese based on the body mass index or BMI that uses height and weight calculations.

Since 2003, the trend towards higher weights has been rising for men and women but the trajectory is not skyrocketing, Rama said.

Self-reports of heights and weights tend to be underestimates.

For blood pressure or hypertension, Statistics Canada said 17 per cent of respondents aged 12 and over said they have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

"For the first time since these data have been collected by the survey, men and women reported the same rate of hypertension," the report said.

"Prior to 2010, women were more likely than men to report that they had been diagnosed with high blood pressure."

In 2010, nearly one-quarter (24 per cent) of Canadians aged 15 or older reported that most days were extremely or quite stressful, up from 22 per cent in 2008.

Women were more likely to report stress, particularly in younger age groups. Overall, one-quarter of women reported that most days were quite or extremely stressful, compared with 22 per cent of males.

Daily stress rates were highest in the core working ages 35 to 54 with about 30 per cent reporting stress.

Last year, 6.0 million people, or 21 per cent of the population aged 12 or older said they smoked daily or occasionally.

Since people typically begin smoking during their teenage years, the percentage who had not started smoking by age 20 is an indicator of future smoking rates, the report said.

In 2010, 57 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 had never smoked, a considerable increase from 41 per cent in 2003. Among men in the same age group, 45 per cent had never smoked, also a considerable increase from 37 per cent in 2003.

About 4.4 million people, or 15 per cent of the population aged 12 and older, reported that they did not have a regular medical doctor in 2010.

Of the 4.4 million Canadians without a regular medical doctor last year, 82 per cent said they had a usual place to go when they needed medical care or health advice. Most of these, 62 per cent, reported using a walk-in clinic, while another 13 per cent visited a hospital emergency room.

Residents of Indian reserves, health care institutions, some remote areas and full-time members of the Canadian Forces were excluded from the survey.

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Fruit, vegetable exports surge in first four months

Fruit, vegetable exports surge in first four months

HA NOI — Viet Nam earned US$213 million from exports of fruit and vegetables during the first four months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 44.1 per cent, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Exports of fruits and vegetables to the US, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand have seen several modest breakthroughs.

The US has allowed imports of fresh rambutan from Viet Nam, while Japan and South Korea have given authorisation to imports of fresh blue dragon fruit and New Zealand has allowed imports of fresh mango from Viet Nam.

Thanks to those developments, the country is expected to earn over $500 million in exports of fruits and vegetables for the whole year.

Nikkiso Viet Nam ships first GE blocker doors

HUNG YEN — Nikkiso Viet Nam Inc shipped its first set of GE Blocker Doors to Spirit AeroSystems earlier this month, marking a milestone for the company. The blocker door is a key component on Boeing 777 airplane engines.

The parts, which are made of composites, are delivered to the nacelle manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems, Inc in Wichita, KS. They will be installed on the GE115 and shipped to Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Everett, WA, for final assembly of Boeing 777 aircraft.

Ca Mau targets $5 billion in seafood exports

CA MAU — The southernmost province of Ca Mau aims to generate an annual seafood export turnover of US$5 billion from now to 2015, according to the provincial Association for Seafood Exporters and Producers.

To this end, the province would ensure its traditional export markets in addition to seeking new markets and working to foster technology innovation to increase processing capacities and compliance with international standards on quality and food safety.

Nghe An industrial zones attract investment

NGHE AN — Industrial zones in the central province of Nghe An have to date attracted 80 projects, including nine foreign-invested projects, worth a combined US$1.85 billion. Of the total, 42 are already operational.

Last year, enterprises operating in the provincial industrial zones posted an industrial production value of VND8.54 trillion ($400 million), marking a 6.2-fold increase over the figure 10 years ago.

An Giang to host trade, tourism fair

AN GIANG — A trade, investment and tourism fair will take place next Thursday in the southern province of An Giang.

The week-long event is expected to attract the participation of 500 domestic and foreign businesses. It will feature agricultural products, processed food, machine and equipment, construction materials and apparels. — VNS

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FreshPlaza: Fruit and vegetables keeping setting new price records in Ukraine

HILLSBOROUGH — Ask Nancy Rabinowitz what she and her husband, Paul, are planting in their garden, and she?ll pull out a neatly printed plan, complete with illustrations.

Tomatoes, melons and zucchini are among their choices. The plot itself is one of about 200 at the new Duke Farms Community Garden, which opened earlier this spring to gardeners who registered and won a parcel through a lottery.

?We had a very large garden at our house, but what?s happened over the last 10 years is the trees have grown up to a point where they block the sun,? said Paul Rabinowitz. ?It became very frustrating. We got sun until mid-May, but when the leaves were all there, forget it.?

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Chart: Fruit and Vegetables Only for the Rich?

A few weeks ago the USDA in conjunction with the ERS released a map of food deserts in the United States, low-income areas with little access to healthy food. In most cities the signs are unmistakable, the grocery stores turn into liquor stores, the supermarkets disappear. The chart above from the USDA details what may be the effects--or the causes, as it's hard to tell--of these neighborhoods: the closer people get to the poverty line, the less they spend on healthful foods, in the form of fruits and vegetables.

Houses with incomes above 300 percent of the federal poverty line, spent over 50 percent more on fruits and vegetables per person than households with incomes below and just over the poverty line. The breakdown amounts to a difference in dollars a week, as the group earning up to 130 percent of the poverty line spends $3.09 per person on fruits and vegetables, while those earning over 300 percent of the poverty line spent $4.98. This may be indicative of another trend as well, a Gallup report from last fall quotes the CDC to show that a majority of all American's still fail to meet government goals in terms of fruit and vegetable consumption overall.

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