Oakland protest slows San Joaquin Valley exports [Modesto Bee]
A
truckers’ work stoppage at the Port of Oakland held up some of the Northern San
Joaquin Valley’s farm exports Monday. The protest halted commerce at one of the
biggest terminals of the port, from where much of the valley’s farm exports are
shipped to overseas markets….“It’s killing us right now,” said Ron Martella of
Grower Direct Nut Co., a walnut processor near Hughson. “We’ve got walnuts
coming out of our ears, and we can’t get them shipped.”…It was not clear
whether the protest would continue today, according to the San Francisco
Chronicle. The Port of Oakland Truckers Association, which represents about a
quarter of the drivers who bring cargo to and from the port, organized the work
stoppage. The group is demanding that terminal owners help with the costly
upgrades needed for trucks to comply with new environmental laws. The truckers
also are asking to be paid when they have to wait for cargo loads for two hours
or more.
Bogus
truckers pilfering big hauls [Associated Press]
To
steal huge shipments of valuable cargo, thieves are turning to a deceptively
simple tactic: They pose as truckers, load the freight onto their own
tractor-trailers and drive away with it. It's an increasingly common form of
commercial identity theft that has allowed con men to make off each year with
millions of dollars in merchandise, often food and beverages. And experts say
the practice is growing so rapidly that it will soon become the most common way
to steal freight….The thefts are little-known and seldom discussed outside the
world of commercial trucking. Companies that have been victimized are often
reluctant to talk about their losses. But crime reports and Associated Press
interviews with law enforcement and industry leaders reveal an alarming pattern
that hurts commerce, pushes up consumer prices and potentially puts Americans'
health and safety at risk….The California Farm Bureau Federation warns about
clues that could indicate a suspicious hauler: temporary name placards or
identification numbers on the truck, abrupt changes in the time of the pickup
and lack of a GPS tracking system on the truck. Another suggestion is to get a
thumbprint from the truck driver.
Driver
said he was suspicious when hired to transport 43,000 pounds of almonds
[Bakersfield Californian]
Francisco
Javier Lopez Martinez admitted he was a little suspicious of the delivery job
he was offered Oct. 9. Martinez said he was paid $180 and told to pick up
43,000 pounds of almonds from the Sunny Gem facility in Wasco and drive them to
a location on 46th Street in Los Angeles. His orders were to park the truck at
the location and just walk away. That seemed strange, as did the fake driver's
license he was given for the job. He asked why he needed the fake license. In
answer, he was asked if he wanted the job or not. Martinez later told deputies
he was unemployed so, despite his misgivings, he took the job. That's how he
landed in Lerdo Jail charged with six felonies, including attempted grand
theft.
Nitrate
pollution continues for decades after fertilizer use [Los Angeles Times]
Nitrates
from agricultural fertilizer could continue to leach into groundwater for at
least 80 years after initial use, according to researchers who conducted a
long-term study of nitrogen uptake. Using isotope tracers, scientists followed
the fate of nitrogen-based synthetic fertilizers applied to fields planted in
France with wheat and sugar beets….Nitrate pollution is widespread in
California's agricultural regions, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley,
where contamination of municipal water supplies and domestic wells from
agricultural runoff poses a threat to public health. The nitrate's lingering
nature means that even if steps are taken to cut the contamination, the effects
of earlier use endure.
Experts:
State's economy depends on solving water woes [Sacramento Business Journal]
The
state's $25 billion plan to fix the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a
start, experts told a group of civic, government and business leaders Monday.
But much more work is needed to prevent water woes from devastating
California's economy in the long term. A workshop convened by the economic
development organization Valley Vision, the Sacramento Metro Chamber and others
brought leaders together to hear about California’ water challenges. Experts
said the state needs extensive — and expensive — changes to its water
infrastructure, regulatory system and political environment to solve those
problems….Indeed, the Delta plan in isolation is not enough, several speakers said.
A more comprehensive plan for the state’s water problems, the Statewide Water
Action Plan, has the support of water agencies from north to south, including
many who traditionally are at odds, said Timothy Quinn, executive director of
the Association of California Water Agencies. Quinn said the association
recently submitted the plan to the governor and hopes for his strong support.
It sets out 15 measures needed to improve the state’s water supply, protect
local water rights, protect the integrity of California’s water infrastructure
and promote better stewardship of water.
Machine-tenderized
beef may require tougher labeling [Los Angeles Times]
The
Foster Farms salmonella outbreak this month has underscored the importance of
cooking and handling poultry properly. Now attention is turning to beef because
of a little-known practice called mechanical tenderization. To soften a cheaper
grade of beef, producers machine-puncture meat with a row of needles or blades
that break up tough muscle fibers. The punctures are too small to recognize
with the naked eye. While the process can tenderize the toughest cuts, it
raises the risk of food-borne illness because it can potentially deliver
bacteria deep into the center of the beef where it’s harder to cook off….Last
week, Consumer Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports magazine,
called for even stricter rules. Among them: nationally uniform labeling for the
product and instructions to cook the meat well-done to at least 160 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Ag
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