10/31/05 Concord grape juice purchase

10/31/05 Concord grape juice purchase

Northwest Concord grape growers and Concord grape juice producers received some good news near the start of October. U.S.D.A. Secretary Mike Johanns announced that almost twenty-three million pounds of Concord grape juice would be purchased. That was good news also to U.S. Representative Doc Hastings of Washington who authored the bonus buy request to U.S.D.A. last summer. HASTINGS: I was very pleased that they made that purchase I had requested this year and also in the past, and frankly, what it does it takes some product off the market, puts it to good use, which of course will help stabilize the prices of our growers and producers. It certainly helps the market. Hastings notes that several Northwest juice production operations like Welch's should benefit as has been the case in previous years for previous bonus buys. In addition, Washington State is the largest Concord grape producer in the U.S. both in terms of acreage and in crop value. A U.S.D.A. press release states that the surplus Concord grape juice will be used by U.S.D.A. in its child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. Hastings says processors have or are receiving bid invitations. Concord grape growers interested in participating can get additional information by either calling U.S.D.A.'s Agricultural Marketing Service at (202) 720-4517 or go to A.M.S.'s web site, www.ams.usda.gov.
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