Hand Sanitizers Cause a Kerfuffle at the Georgia Capitol

 Cooking & Eating, Disease Prevention, Health & Beauty  Comments Off
Feb 082012
 

Lately Olive Crazy has been masquerading as her normal self, Mary Squires, medical stop loss and self-funded health benefits lobbyist. While working at the Capitol I had the occasion to witness a kerfuffle between two doctors, one was a Doctor of Osteopathy who runs an emergency room at a large Georgia hospital and the other was a Medical Doctor who practices Internal Medicine. Their disagreement was about the value of hand sanitizers versus hand washing with soap and water.

The public parts of their disagreement were made from the rostrum of the House of Representatives on consecutive days. Here are their statements.

Doctor #1 (unaware that he was starting a kerfuffle)

“Just as the medical tip of the day … the antiseptic hand gels that you see around are good for killing viruses, but they’re no good for certain bacterial infections. If you are in contact with somebody with severe diarrhea, for example, you need to use soap and water to get those spores off your hands that will not be inactivated by the alcohol in the gels. So, soap and water for some situations with soap being the active ingredient.”

Doctor #2 (having taken exception to the above statement)

“I did want to clarify from yesterday about using the hand sanitizers … It does take care of almost every virus, almost every bacteria out there. There is one exception with Clostridium Difficile Colitis, and that is not a very common illness, but it is becoming more common. So certainly hand washing is the preference, but if that is not available, then using the hand sanitizers is the preference.”

Statement #1 is entirely correct and statement #2 is correct in part – the last sentence. I am not really sure why Doctor #2 felt compelled to add his statement since, from what I understand, he has little experience with infectious disease, and Doctor #1 has lots. Maybe it was a salvo in the ongoing MD versus DO war, maybe someone was offended that Doctor #1 said ‘diarrhea’ from the rostrum, or maybe Doctor #2 wanted badly to say Clostridium Difficile Colitis. Who knows.

This is a very important subject and seems to inflame passions especially from the commercial hand sanitizer industry (I hear a piggy bank rattling somewhere). I published two articles in September 2011, Before Handling Food, Wash Your Hands With … and 5 Tips to Protect Your Family From Foodborne Illnesses. Each is a result of solid research from the US National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration. I am going to repost Before Handling … below, but if you haven’t done so please read 5 Tips …

“Medical professionals I met while recovering from salmonella say there is a rise in foodborne illnesses in the United States, and the rise is due to misinformation. The misinformation is that hand sanitizers are as good as soap and water for cleaning hands. This is untrue. The worst part is that this untruth has been known for over a decade by the US Food and Drug Administration and other governmental agencies, yet manufacturers of hand sanitizers are still permitted to advertise their claim of killing up to 99.9% of germs. The claim is for surfaces, like counter tops, but not for skin.

I’m not going to go into the whys and wherefores of all this mess, because the point is – before handling food, wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. When moving from meat to vegetables, meat to meat, and vegetables to vegetables, etc. wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. After going to the toilet, taking a smoke break, texting your roommate, changing your child’s diaper, touching anything, and before handling food, wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.

Now, before you leave the computer to go munch on some olives or dip some crusty bread in extra virgin olive oil from that freshly opened bottle of Arbequina – go wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.”

May the sun shine through your branches.

www.olivecrazy.com

Olive Oil Marketing Order – Here’s a Little Education

 Farming & Gardening, Marketing, Olive Oil Standards, USDA  1 Response »
Jan 182012
 

Tomorrow is an important beginning to what I hope will become a powerful, well-run, and quality-centric industry in the United States – the olive oil industry. In Dixon, California at the Fairgrounds olive growers and olive oil processors will meet to begin the process of establishing a marketing order for olive oil. According to the sponsors, one of which I know is NursTech, the Spanish-owned super high density (SHD) olive tree supplier, this 1st Annual Olive Oil Conference is free to attend.

I saw this conference advertised over the last few weeks and decided to educate myself on marketing orders. One very important thing I learned is that there is a marketing order for table olives grown in California, but none for any table olives grown outside California, and no marketing order or agreement in the US for olive oil. I guess with so many folks in California growing olives for oil and with growers and processors now cropping up in other states the time has arrived to organize (not in the labor union sense).

Here is some of what I have learned from the Agricultural Marketing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and from the National Agriculture Law Center located at the University of Arkansas. It’s dry reading but I am convinced, after my research, that in order to have a strong olive oil industry the US growers and processors must engage in this procedure.

Marketing Orders and Agreements: “Marketing agreements and orders are initiated by industry to help provide stable markets for dairy products, fruits, vegetables and specialty crops. Marketing orders help to maintain the quality of produce being marketed, standardize packages or containers, and authorized advertising, research and market development. Each order and agreement is tailored to the individual industry’s marketing needs.”

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Orders:

“Federal marketing orders are locally administered by committees made up of growers and/or handlers, and often a member of the public. Marketing order regulations, initiated by industry and enforced by USDA, bind the entire industry in the geographical area regulated if approved by producers and the Secretary of Agriculture.

Marketing orders and agreements (1) maintain the high quality of produce that is on the market; (2) standardize packages and containers; (3) regulate the flow of product to market; (4) establish reserve pools for storable commodities; and (5) authorize production research, marketing research and development, and advertising.

Marketing agreements and orders are legal instruments authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and in subsequent amendments. The Secretary of Agriculture is vested with the power to exercise the use of these instruments to regulate the marketing of eligible commodities — fruits, vegetables, specialty crops, and milk — in certain clearly specified ways. Marketing orders help fruit and vegetable growers work together to solve marketing problems that they cannot solve individually. They help balance the availability of quality product with the need for adequate returns to producers and the demands of consumers.

Marketing orders are binding on all individuals and businesses who are classified as “handlers” in the geographic area covered by the order. Marketing orders are distinguished from marketing agreements, which are binding only on handlers who are signatories of the agreements. The definition of handler and handling depends on the particular program. As defined in most agreements and orders, a handler is anyone who receives the commodity from producers, grades and packs it, transports, or places the commodity in commercial channels. Handlers must comply with the grade, size, quality, volume, or other requirements established under the program.

All marketing orders are initiated by producers. Producers have an active role in the development of program provisions and support them at hearings. Approval by a two-thirds or larger majority (three-fourths of California citrus producers) by number or volume represented in a referendum is required before any program is implemented or amended.

For fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop marketing orders, local committees of farmers and handlers – appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture – administer the orders. Committee expenses, as set forth in budgets approved by USDA, are defrayed by assessments on handlers. Generally, any excess funds are set aside in a reserve fund for future needs, but they may be credited to handlers’ accounts against future assessments or returned to handlers at the end of each marketing season upon request.

Committees employ staffs to administer order provisions (e.g., collect assessments, assemble reports, oversee compliance with order provisions), and must maintain the confidentiality of all information submitted by handlers. Committees actively work with all handlers to explain marketing order requirements and to advise them on any particular concerns the handlers may have. Also, committees issue periodic instructions – written in plain English – and provide pertinent dates to comply with any required assessment payments, report submissions, or other program requirements. Committees place a special emphasis on helping small businesses that are handlers regulated under their programs for the first time.”

Steps to Establish a Marketing Order:

“The industry meets to identify mutual marketing problems and determine whether a marketing order could help the industry solve these problems. During these discussions, USDA staff may help the industry identify marketing order authorities relevant to the industry’s problems.

1. If there is general industry support for a program, a preliminary proposal is prepared by a steering committee of key industry people. Growers and shippers are included in discussions on the proposal.

2. A list of industry growers and handlers is developed by proponents. Next a request for a hearing on the proposal is sent to the Administrator of AMS. It should indicate the degree of industry support, the problems the program would address, and suggest a possible hearing site and approximate date.

3. AMS reviews the request and supporting documents, as well as any alternative proposals from interested parties. During this period, the staff of USDA is free to discuss the merits of elements included in any proposal with the industry.

4. A Notice of Public Hearing is then issued, and it is published at least 15 days before the hearing. USDA staff can comment only on procedural questions after this point.

5. A USDA Administrative Law Judge presides at the public hearing and a verbatim record is compiled of the testimony of opponents, proponents and others, including USDA personnel. Because proponents bear the burden of proof, they must present evidence to support the need for the program, and every provision in it. Briefs arguing for particular decisions may be filed with USDA after the hearing.

6. A recommended decision is issued by USDA based on hearing evidence. This is USDA’s formal recommendation on the proposal. Persons are allowed to file exceptions to it for a set time period.

7. After consideration of all exceptions to the recommended decision, USDA prepares a final decision. If it is favorable, a grower referendum is held on the proposal.

8. While producers are voting, copies of a companion marketing agreement are sent to handlers for their signature. Through their signatures on the agreement, handlers indicate their intention to abide by the terms of the program.

9. If at least two thirds of the growers voting by number or by volume approve the proposal, the Secretary of Agriculture issues the marketing order.

This process may take up to one and one-half years to complete, depending on the complexity of the proposal, the size of the industry, and the availability of resources within the industry and USDA to devote to the proposed program.“

Here is the link to the National Agricultural Law Center Reading Room on Marketing Orders. It has current legislative, regulatory, and case law. I really enjoyed reading up on marketing orders here. I love this stuff.

Now you can be an expert on Marketing Orders. Have fun.

May the sun shine through your branches.

www.olivecrazy.com

Olive Crazy Goes to Southeastern Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Learns Some Things About Olives

 Farming & Gardening, Marketing, Olives and Olive Oil in General, Seminars  1 Response »
Jan 122012
 

As soon as possible after stepping off a plane last Thursday, I tossed some clothes in the laundry, kissed Mr. Olive Crazy and the little olives hello and goodnight, and caught a few hours of sleep. Early the next morning I packed my car with the backpack I travelled to and from Florida with a few weeks ago and the toiletry bag I had to leave behind when I flew. I headed for Savannah and the Southeastern Fruit and Vegetable Conference.

It was tough to leave my family again but I was excited about seeing my farm-country buddies, especially the guys from Batten Tractor in Douglas, Georgia and from Oxbo International, a specialty harvester company with several locations around the US. I was also excited about attending the first Olive Educational Session to be held at the Conference.

While I waited in line at registration I looked around to see who I knew. I spotted extension agents, the Governor’s agriculture liaison, a couple of Congressional aides, a clump of blueberry growers, and some organic composting folks. Under normal circumstances I would have made the rounds, shakin’ hands, and howdy doin’, but I was on a mission. I needed to get to the Olive Session on time and get a good spot.

Inside the room I selected an aisle seat with an unobstructed view of the podium. Perfect. Now I was free to have lunch and wander about until the session began. I saw lots of friends and collected a whole bunch of cheek kisses. I also contributed my fair share too.

On the way back from the cheek kissing frenzy I ran into Paul Miller, the President of the Australian Olive Association. He was looking non the worse for wear considering all the world travelling he does in the name of olive oil quality, truth, justice and the insert-your-country-here way.

Paul was one of the presenters at the Olive Educational Session. Even though I had met Paul before, I had never heard him speak. I was looking forward to his presentation.

By the time the Session started the room was packed. Dr. Mark Hanley of Georgia Olive Growers Association and Jason Shaw of Georgia Olive Farms were two of the first speakers up. After dignitary shout-outs and thanks to helpful people, the educational part got underway.

Jason talked about the timeline of Georgia Olive Farms attempts to grow olives in the southeast. I’ve heard him make this speech several times and I still enjoy it.

Then came Kevin Shaw who, along with his cousin, Sam spends most of his time in the groves. Kevin went into detail about how Georgia Olive Farms consulted with specialists, selected the site, prepared the soil, and planted the trees. He talked about the tree and row distances they used, staking and trellising, and the fertigation system they employed. He then spoke about the years of care and worrying – the disasters (real and feared) and successes. He finished his speech by explaining harvesting trial and error, milling, and an extra virgin olive oil product that was not nearly enough to meet a fraction of market demand.

Kevin’s speech was honest. “This is farming,” he said – plain and simple. Even though olives grow in California and Texas there is no playbook for growing in the southeastern United States. It is a risk, but a risk Kevin and his cousins felt was worth taking.

The audience had lots of questions. I could tell from the type of questions that these were growers who were excited but cautious. Many had been burned before by promises of amazing results and big profits, and the Shaws did not make any promises. I thought that took a lot of restraint from guys who are distributors of the Super High Density (SHD) varieties available in the United States sold by the California company, Nurstech.

Next up was Paul Miller. Paul talked about the marketability in the United States of high quality olive oil, gave US market probability data, and acreage projections in the southeast. He talked about the world olive oil market and coming changes. His speech was full of great information. I would love to hear the long version of it sometime.

Just before the end of the Session was near, a couple of olive growers gave testimonials. Normally I would have zoned out at this part but one of the testimonials involved USDA funding that was sought by one of the growers. After initial approval the USDA denied the funding. The grower appealed and won. This was some news I had been waiting for and was pleased to hear.

I left the room having been “olive educated” and wanting more. As I walked through the convention center corridors headed for cocktails with my tractor and harvester buddies I thought about how I could synthesize all I learned and share it with you. I realized that synthesizing the information would not be useful. I decided that I will take certain aspects of the speeches, research those aspects and expand on them in separate articles.

The worldwide olive and olive oil industries are expanding and changing, some parts slowly and some parts very fast. I am committed to keeping up with what’s happening and keeping you informed.

May the sun shine through your branches.

www.olivecrazy.com

When It Comes to Agriculture Do US Government Agencies Speak to One Another?

 Farming & Gardening, Pests and Diseases, Quarantine  Comments Off
Sep 292011
 

I saw an article in Southern Oregon’s online news service the Mail Tribune. It is entitled “Olive tree is a gamble“. After I finished reading it I wondered if any of the US government agencies ever spoke with one another and coordinated their agriculture policies. Doesn’t seem like it.

In the article a woman, Emily R., comments and asks, “I recently returned from Greece with a small ‘airport-approved’ olive tree and was curious how the plant will hold up in this region?” WHAT?

Airport-approved? What does that mean? Was it purchased at the duty-free (this is not a substitute for destination, crop safety)? What about the US Department of Agriculture? What about the US Food and Drug Administration? What about the US Customs and Border Protection Agency? What about safe-guarding the world’s commercial olive crops, not just so someone can sell you a bottle of olive oil, but so you can have access to a healthy, human-digestible fat? What about the olive fruit fly? Did any of the government agencies who spend so much time controlling and quarantining plants and animals have any involvement in this “airport-approved” olive tree’s journey?

Yeah, it’s a gamble and not just because Emily’s olive tree might or might not survive living in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Here is some Olive Crazy advice – if you just got to have an olive tree, no matter where you live, buy it from an nursery inside the country you reside. That tree will more likely be a variety that can grow in your region and less likely to wreak havoc on your country’s olive industry and your valuable, food source.

May the sun shine through your branches.

www.olivecrazy.com

Can’t Wait ’til Next Thursday: Olive Probability Survey Report Coming

 NASS, USDA  Comments Off
Aug 042011
 

This is where the crazy part of Olive Crazy comes in. I am beyond excited that the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Olive Probability Survey Report will be coming out next Thursday, August 11, 2011.

What’s the big deal about this report? The Olive Probability Survey Report will let us know, based on a survey of this year’s olive crop, what the late 2011 – early 2012 olive crop should yield. It should also give some data as to the reasons for the probable yield.

I love this stuff. Until next Thursday.

May the sun shine through your branches.

www.olivecrazy.com