The Prosperity Paradox

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Martin
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
Farm Labor ◽  
Labor Laws ◽  
New Era ◽  
Labor Policies ◽  
The Us ◽  
Vulnerable Workers

Why do farm workers become more vulnerable as countries get richer? As countries get richer, the share of workers employed in agriculture falls. In richer countries, hired farm workers do ever more of the work on the fewer and larger farms that produce most farm commodities. These hired workers include local workers who lack the skills and contacts needed to get nonfarm jobs that usually offer higher wages and more opportunities as well as legal and unauthorized migrants from poorer countries who may not know or exercise their labor-related rights. Government enforcement of labor laws depends on complaints, and vulnerable workers rarely complain. The Prosperity Paradox explains why farm-worker problems often worsen as the agricultural sector shrinks and lays out options to help vulnerable workers. Analysis of farm labor markets in the US, Mexico, and other countries shows that unions and fair trade efforts to protect farm workers cover a very small share of all workers and are unlikely to expand quickly. Most labor-intensive fruits and vegetables are eaten fresh. Unsafe food that sickened consumers led to voluntary industry and later government-mandated food-safety programs to ensure that food is safe when it leaves the farm, with protocols enforced by both government inspectors and buyers who refused to buy from noncompliant farms. This food-safety model offers the most promise for a new era in protective labor policies.

Buyers, Consumers, and Farm Workers

2020 ◽  
pp. 160-186
Author(s):  
Philip Martin
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Labor Laws ◽  
Rich Countries

Could buyers of labor-intensive fruits and vegetables do more to protect farm workers? In many rich countries, fewer than five supermarket chains account for most fresh produce sales, giving enormous power to a relative handful of produce buyers if they elect to purchase only from farms that comply with labor laws. The food-safety model shows that buyers can change supplier practices. After contaminated produce sickened and killed consumers and reduced demand and grower prices, major farming associations developed and tested best practices to minimize contamination that were later incorporated into law, so that both private-sector buyers and government agencies enforce food safety protocols. The alternatives to government and buyers, such as NGOs that certify compliant farmers fee, cover a very small share of the fresh produce consumed in rich countries.

scholarly journals Building local brand for fresh fruits and vegetables: A strategic approach aimed at strengthening the local agricultural sector

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Just ◽  
Amir Heiman
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Political Landscape ◽  
Political Views ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Fresh Vegetables ◽  
The Us ◽  
Willingness To Purchase ◽  
Vegetables And Fruits

Abstract The debate about whether to reduce import barriers on fresh produce in order to decrease the cost of living and increase welfare or to continue protecting the local agricultural sector by imposing import duties on fresh vegetables and fruits has been part of the Israeli and the US political dialog. The alternative of building a strong local brand that will direct patriotic feelings to support of the agricultural sector has been previously discussed in the literature as a non-tax barrier to global competition. The motivation of consumers to pay more for local fresh fruits and vegetables are better quality, environmental concerns, altruism, and ethnocentrism. Local patriotic feelings are expected to be stronger among national-religious consumers and weaker among secular left wing voters. This project empirically analyzes consumers’ attitude toward local agricultural production, perceptions of the contribution of the agricultural sector to society and how these perceptions interact with patriotic beliefs and socio-political variables perhaps producing an ethnocentric preference for fruits and vegetables. This patriotic feeling may be contrasted with feelings toward rival (or even politically opposing) countries competing in the same markets. Thus geo-political landscape may help shape the consumer’s preferences and willingness to purchase particular products. Our empirical analysis is based on two surveys, one conducted among Israeli shoppers and one conducted among US households. We find strong influences of nationalism, patriotism and ethnocentrism on demand for produce in both samples. In the case of Israel this manifests itself as a significant discount demanded for countries in conflict with Israel (e.g., Syria or Palestine), with the discount demanded being related to the strength of the conflict. Moreover, the effect is larger for those who are either more religious, or those who identify with right leaning political parties. The results from the US are strikingly similar. For some countries the perception of conflict is dependent on political views (e.g., Mexico), while for others there is a more agreement (e.g., Russia). Despite a substantially different religious and political landscape, both right leaning political views and religiosity play strong roles in demand for foreign produce. 

Mexican Farm Labor

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-99
Author(s):  
Philip Martin
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Farm Labor ◽  
Labor Reform ◽  
The North ◽  
The Us ◽  
Spanish Colonies ◽  
Internal Migrants ◽  
Local Residents

Mexico, like other Spanish colonies in the Americas, developed a haciendas or latifundia system of farming that required local residents to work for large landowners in exchange for housing and food; 2,000 families owned almost 90 percent of Mexico’s rural land on the eve of the revolution that lasted from 1910 to 1917 and gave land to the peasants. Post-revolution labor reform in the 1920s created ejidos, plots of land that could be farmed and transferred to heirs but not sold. The Mexican constitution was changed in the early 1990s to allow ejido land to be rented or sold on the eve of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), loosening ties between rural Mexicans and ejido land and contributing to massive Mexico–US migration between the mid-1990s and the 2008–9 recession. NAFTA also speeded up changes in Mexican agriculture, contributing to the expansion of farms that export fresh fruits and vegetables to the US. Large Mexican farms that export fruits and vegetables to the US rely on a million hired workers, including local residents employed seasonally and internal migrants from poorer areas.

US Farm Labor

2020 ◽  
pp. 29-66
Author(s):  
Philip Martin
Keyword(s):  
Farm Workers ◽  
Farm Labor ◽  
Guest Workers ◽  
United Farm Workers ◽  
Farm Work ◽  
Western Us ◽  
The Us ◽  
Rural Mexico ◽  
Hired Labor ◽  
Labor System

Hired farm workers do two-thirds of US farm work. The hired labor system that developed in the western US in the nineteenth century has spread across the US, as the large farms that hire most farm workers expect seasonal crews to be available when needed and to fend for themselves in the off season. The major source of seasonal US farm workers is rural Mexico. Most Mexicans arrive as unauthorized workers and move to nonfarm US jobs after gaining experience in the US. Unions such as the United Farm Workers tried and failed to turn seasonal farm work from a decade-long job into a lifelong career. Farm-labor costs have been rising since the 2008–9 recession slowed unauthorized Mexico–US migration, prompting the 4-S adjustments: satisfy current workers to reduce turnover; stretch current workers with mechanical aids that increase their productivity; substitute machines for workers where possible and switch to less labor-intensive crops; and supplement current workforces with H-2A guest workers.

Food Safety on the Farm: Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices – Packing Operation Sanitation

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesscia A. Lepper ◽  
Aswathy Sreedharan ◽  
Renée Goodrich Schneider ◽  
Keith R. Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Good Agricultural Practices ◽  
Produce Safety ◽  
Foreign Countries ◽  
Safety Rule ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Voluntary Program ◽  
Federal Guidelines

Good agricultural practices (GAPs) and good handling practices (GHPs) encompass the general procedures that growers, packers and processors of fresh fruits and vegetables should follow to ensure the safety of their product. GAPs usually deal with preharvest practices (i.e., in the field), while GHPs cover postharvest practices, including packing, storage and shipping. This factsheet covers GAPs relating to packing operation sanitation. There are seven other Florida Cooperative Extension factsheets in the ‘Food Safety on the Farm’ series that focus on specific aspects of the GAPs program and how they relate to Florida crops and practices. Under the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), GAPs are a foundation of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). Other than for round tomatoes in Florida (T-GAPs regulation), GAPs have mainly been a voluntary program. Additionally the PSR mandates all non-exempt operations to follow these new FSMA federal guidelines (6), but all exempt commodities and for those producers exporting to foreign countries, GAPs may still be required. Both the mandatory PSR and GAPs aim to reduce the foodborne illness burden associated with produce.

Terms and Balance of Trade of Indian Agricultural Sector during Pre and Post-WTO Period

2020 ◽  
pp. 288-293
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Terms Of Trade ◽  
Basmati Rice ◽  
Agricultural Exports ◽  
Unit Value ◽  
The Us ◽  
Balance Of Trade ◽  
Frozen Shrimp ◽  
Plantation Crops

India is the world’s third-largest economy after the US and China. India is also one of the leading producer of spices, fish, poultry, livestock and plantation crops, and leading exports consisted of basmati rice, meat of bovine animals, frozen shrimp and prawns, cotton and refined sugar. The study was based on secondary data collected from the various published sources, viz., various issues of handbook of RBI, FAO trade yearbook, Statistical Abstract of India, FAOSTAT, etc. The data were grouped into two periods Pre-WTO 1975-94 and Post-WTO 1995-2015.The exports volume indices for agricultural sector of India were increased by 129.41 percent from 17 in 1975 to 39 in 1994. Besides, the volume indices of imports declined by 56.16 percent from 73 in 1975 to 32 in 1994 for agricultural sector of India. The unit value indices of agricultural exports of India declined by 17.69 percent from 113 in 1975 to 93 in 1994. However, the agricultural import indices grew considerably 171.42 percent from 42 in 1975 to 114 in 1994.The quantity terms of trade for agricultural sector of India was deteriorated by 80.89 percent from 429.41 in 1975 to 82.05 in 1994. Likewise, value terms of trade for agricultural sector of India also depreciated by 67.44 percent from 269.05 in 1975 to 81.58 in 1994. The exports volume indices for agricultural sector of India were increased by 125 percent from 72 in 1995 to 162 in 2015. The volume indices of imports were also enlarged by 934.78 percent from 23 in 1995 to 238 in 2015 for agricultural sector of India. The unit value indices, which measure the average price realization, indicated a significant increase in unit value indices of agricultural exports of India turn up by 131.76 percent from 85 in 1995 to 197 in 2015. However, the agricultural import indices declined by 0.64 percent during post-WTO period. The quantity terms of trade, as well as value terms of trade for agricultural sector of India, was improved by 359.95 and 133.25 percent, respectively during post-WTO regime. The trade balance of Indian agricultural sector showed a favorable balance during pre-WTO period as well as post-WTO period.

ANALISIS PENGEMBANGAN KLASTER HORTIKULTURA DI KABUPATEN NGAWI

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-117
Author(s):  
Nurul Istiqomah ◽  
Nunung Sri Mulyani ◽  
Izza Mafruhah ◽  
Dewi Ismoyowati
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
Base Points ◽  
Vegetables And Fruits

Indonesia as an agricultural country has the potential to compete in the agricultural market in the international market, in line with the existence of the ASEAN / ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Free Market. Ngawi Regency is a fertile area and is one of the buffer zones of the agricultural sector in East Java. Horticulture commodities are one of the main sources in the agricultural sector, because they have high potential and can contribute to the economy of a region. Horticultural commodities in the form of fruits and vegetables are an important food source to meet the nutritional needs of the community. Agriculture with a focus on horticultural crops in Ngawi Regency was developed with a cluster system based on the level of progress, harvest area and by considering agro-climate to map the superior horticultural commodities. The purpose of this study was to map the conditions of horticultural agriculture and analyze problems in the cluster of horticulture plants in Ngawi Regency. The research method is a mixed method using descriptive analysis, Geographic Information System (GIS), and using the Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP). The conclusion of this study is that the potential development of horticultural clusters in Ngawi Regency requires structuring and developing the location of base commodities in accordance with the conditions of the agro-ecosystem. The development of existing commodities at these base points will make the commodity superior and support the creation of horticultural cluster centers and the development of existing agribusiness in an area. Development of horticulture base commodities for seasonal vegetables and fruits can be adjusted to the LQ results for each sub-district in Ngawi Regency. The results of the Indepth interview processed using AHP obtained results that in fact there were three main factors in the development of clusters, namely production consisting of four derivative factors namely research and development, superior seeds, fertilizers and anti-pest drugs and then marketing with derivative factors namely product standardization, packaging , traditional markets and modern markets. Then the third factor of the institution consists of training, networking, government support and assistance. 

scholarly journals Chemical Contamination Pathways and the Food Safety Implications along the Various Stages of Food Production: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5795
Author(s):  
Kgomotso Lebelo ◽  
Ntsoaki Malebo ◽  
Mokgaotsa Jonas Mochane ◽  
Muthoni Masinde
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
Chemical Toxicity ◽  
Chemical Substances

Historically, chemicals exceeding maximum allowable exposure levels have been disastrous to underdeveloped countries. The global food industry is primarily affected by toxic chemical substances because of natural and anthropogenic factors. Food safety is therefore threatened due to contamination by chemicals throughout the various stages of food production. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the form of pesticides and other chemical substances such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) have a widely documented negative impact due to their long-lasting effect on the environment. This present review focuses on the chemical contamination pathways along the various stages of food production until the food reaches the consumer. The contamination of food can stem from various sources such as the agricultural sector and pollution from industrialized regions through the air, water, and soil. Therefore, it is imperative to control the application of chemicals during food packaging, the application of pesticides, and antibiotics in the food industry to prevent undesired residues on foodstuffs. Ultimately, the protection of consumers from food-related chemical toxicity depends on stringent efforts from regulatory authorities both in developed and underdeveloped nations.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Visualization of Insecticides and Fungicides within Fruits and Vegetables Using Gold Nanoparticle-Immersed Paper Imprinting Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1327
Author(s):  
Run Qin ◽  
Ping Li ◽  
Mingyi Du ◽  
Lianlian Ma ◽  
Yudi Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Gold Nanoparticle ◽  
Pesticide Residue ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Imaging ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Spatiotemporal Visualization

Food safety issues caused by pesticide residue have exerted far-reaching impacts on human daily life, yet the available detection methods normally focus on surface residue rather than pesticide penetration to the internal area of foods. Herein, we demonstrated gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-immersed paper imprinting mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) for monitoring pesticide migration behaviors in various fruits and vegetables (i.e., apple, cucumber, pepper, plum, carrot, and strawberry). By manually stamping food tissues onto AuNP-immersed paper, this method affords the spatiotemporal visualization of insecticides and fungicides within fruits and vegetables, avoiding tedious and time-consuming sample preparation. Using the established MSI platform, we can track the migration of insecticides and fungicides into the inner region of foods. The results revealed that both the octanol-water partition coefficient of pesticides and water content of garden stuffs could influence the discrepancy in the migration speed of pesticides into food kernels. Taken together, this nanopaper imprinting MSI is poised to be a powerful tool because of its simplicity, rapidity, and easy operation, offering the potential to facilitate further applications in food analysis. Moreover, new perspectives are given to provide guidelines for the rational design of novel pesticide candidates, reducing the risk of food safety issues caused by pesticide residue.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Chemical Contaminants in Peruvian Produce: A Food-Safety Perspective

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1461
Author(s):  
Oscar A. Galagarza ◽  
Alejandra Ramirez-Hernandez ◽  
Haley F. Oliver ◽  
Mariel V. Álvarez Rodríguez ◽  
María del Carmen Valdez Ortiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Safety Issue ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Chemical Contaminants ◽  
Crop Varieties ◽  
Andean Country

The presence of chemical contaminants in agricultural products is a continued food-safety challenge in Peru. This country has robust agriculture potential, but its output of fruits and vegetables is severely impacted by massive mining activities, as well as poor farming practices, including the use of polluted irrigation water, misuse of pesticides, and inadequate postharvest conditions. This review examines the current scientific knowledge on the levels of pesticide residues, heavy metals, and mycotoxins on crops produced in Peru. The available data shows that several crop varieties are contaminated with these classes of chemical contaminants, and at levels that exceed the national and international permissible limits. The abundance of chemical contaminants in produce indicates a relevant food-safety issue, which increases the risks of chronic human diseases, like cancer—a leading cause of death in Peru. Finally, this review presents recommendations to address these contamination problems in produce grown in the Andean country.

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