Raw Almonds update

[Guest guest]

Please see this web site for an update on the almond situation and how

to take action:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?

campaign_KEY=11403

 

Bottom line: Since the decision about the rule was made, Secretary of

Agriculture, Mike Johanns, has stepped down. He is temporarily

replaced by Chuck Conner. This may provide a new opportunity for

reversal.

 

Ron

[Guest guest]

I just saw this link posted on a website:

http://www.wholesale-almonds.com/FAQ.htm#Are%20Your%20Almonds%20Pasteurized

 

It is the site for D & S Ranches, from which individuals can order &

purchase raw, organic almonds (and walnuts) and which does not

pasteurize the almonds (because they are a " grower " rather than a

" handler " ).

 

Blanc

 

 

 

On Oct 21, 2007, at 6:14 PM, Ron Koenig wrote:

 

> Please see this web site for an update on the almond situation and how

> to take action:

> http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?

> campaign_KEY=11403

>

> Bottom line: Since the decision about the rule was made, Secretary of

> Agriculture, Mike Johanns, has stepped down. He is temporarily

> replaced by Chuck Conner. This may provide a new opportunity for

> reversal.

>

> Ron

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting that link, Blanc. It has some good, truthful information

about what's been happening in the almond industry and some of the reasons.

 

D & S Ranches should be commended for standing up for their right to sell their

products themselves, directly to the end-user. A couple things should be noted,

however. Firstly, D & S admits that they do not use organic growing practices on

their own farms and have to buy the organic nuts they sell from another farm

which does. So with regard to organic unpasteurized almonds, they are simply

" handlers " , not growers.

 

And secondly, we need to remember that most small farmers are too busy growing

food and wading through USDA regulations to do what D & S is doing. That's why it

is necessary for these farmers to deal with large " handlers " (middle-men) who

sell to retailers, who then sell to us, the public. D & S claims that it is these

middle-men who are out to strip farmers of their rights and merge all almond

production into one or two mega-corporations. It is further claimed that they

apparently played a large part in getting the pasteurization law passed.

 

That may or may not be true, I don't know enough to comment. It wouldn't

surprise me, however, knowing what I do about the inner workings of the food

industry. In any case, I feel the need to reiterate the distinction between

large and small handlers that D & S mentions all too briefly (imo) in their FAQs.

Speaking for myself, my reasons for getting into the " handling " business were to

not only procure unpasteurized almonds for myself and my fellow raw fooders, but

to shorten the supply chain in order to offer them fresher and for less money.

And, although the almond grower I'm buying from is getting certified, it is also

very important to me to give small farmers who operate sustainably and ethically

but who aren't necessarily large enough to jump through certification hoops the

opportunity to sell their products wholesale at a slightly higher price than

they would get from the conventional mega-handlers. This not only creates a new

opportunity for me and others like me, it represents a way for small farms to

stay in business, and it shortens the 'distance' between farm and consumer.

It's a win-win for everyone, except the mega-corps.

 

Btw, next year the almonds I'll be selling will be certified organic, which

means I'll be paying more than double for the same product. However, the price

I'll be selling for will still be lower than D & S's.

 

Regards,

Nora