Buy Local-Raspberries Pt 2
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. If we knew more, we'd buy more. That's the message many American growers are trying to get through to consumers who might buy more U.S.-grown products if they knew more.
Washington Red Raspberry Commission director Henry Bierlink says his growers work primarily in the processed, juice or frozen market, but even there, U.S. quality is just better ...
BIERLINK ... "That's very true, I mean I'm not saying their crop isn't good, but on the whole, for one we know that a lot of what we're competing with is a byproduct from the fresh which means that it's something that didn't make grade there in the fresh raspberries, particularly in Mexico."
And, he says people may even buy both domestic and imported to save a little money ...
BIERLINK ... "We know it's not the quality we have. In fact, many of them probably buy some of that and then buy some of ours and then blend it just to kind of upgrade the end product, but it's just really hard for us to compete with those kind of numbers."
And of course, Bierlink says the trade pacts could be improved ...
BIERLINK ... "We're certainly talking to our elected officials and everything about how trade laws are put together and labeling laws is a big issue so customers can at least see where they're buying things?"
And, when it comes to labeling?
BIERLINK ... "When you go to the grocery store, can you really determine whether or not it's from this area or not. Labeling is not as effective as we'd like it to be."
Bierlink is optimistic progress can be made in trade talks, but says there are no guarantees.
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BL: Welcome back for another "Fruit Bites" brought to you by Valent U.S.A. Joining us again is Valent's Allison Walston. And this week Allison, we're talking about a new venomous spider in Oregon.
AW: Oh yes, the cousin of the black widow spider has been found in Oregon City, Oregon...the brown widow spider.
BL: Where does the Brown Widow come from?
AW: it is usually found in southern parts of Africa, Florida and southern California.
BL: How did it get to Oregon and is it time to panic?
AW: experts aren't sure how it got here yet, but it isn't uncommon for pests to hitch a ride in your luggage or on planes, trains & automobiles. It is not time to panic, just be on the lookout & take a picture to send to experts.
BL: Is the brown widow just as bad as the black widow?
AW: experts say that the brown widow is less likely to bite, but the venom will cause similar symptoms as a black widow bite. In both, the female spider has the reddish hourglass shape.
BL: Let's hope we have a cold winter ...
AW; or a potential mate doesn't also make it to Oregon.
BL: Well, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I'm Bob Larson.
https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2018/10/beware_--_new_venomous_spider.html#incart_push
