November 2007 NHC NEWS A Monthly Bulletin of the Northwest Horticultural Council AALA The American Agricultural Law Association brings together people from government, universities, associations and the private bar interested in the development of laws and regulations related to the nation’s food system and rural landscape.  The Northwest Horticultural Council’s Christian Schlect , a member of AALA, attended its 28th Annual Agricultural Law Symposium held in San Diego on October 19 and 20. An important benefit of participating in such a meeting is the opportunity provided to break out of one’s own immediate circle of work and be exposed to people from all parts of our nation and ideas that relate to other important agricultural commodities, from soybeans to livestock.  Often the issues overlap, or at least have some indirect relevance to those of our own tree fruit industry. Discussion subjects in San Diego ranged from federal taxation, water law, bankruptcy, the proposed Farm Bill, to ethanol.  In terms of the latter, the two university professors who spoke were quite negative about the economic viability of ethanol and biofuels absent huge government subsidies.  The market distortions caused by corn being diverted to such new fuel uses was said to already be having a significant impact on other farm sectors, mainly livestock, as well as on consumer food prices at retail.  Blame was laid at the feet of politicians looking for quick fixes while treading through Iowa on their way to the White House. Of more immediate interest to our industry were two sets of discussions related to biotechnology.  The regulatory experiences of the corn and rice industries were recounted and the issues related to coexistence with conventional agricultural crops discussed.  Professor Endres of the University of Illinois presented a very informative paper on this general subject, with a focus on the economic liability risks of biotechnology.  All helpful background as our industry starts to face the political, social and marketing issues that are on the mid-horizon as genetic engineering comes ever closer to commercial application within our own tree fruit industry. ¨ USDA/FAS Strategic Conference On October 17-19 USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service held an Asia Strategic Market Workshop & Conference in Hammamet , Tunisia .  This was the first of a string of three FAS strategic workshops in Tunisia .  The second workshop, focusing on Europe and Africa, and third for the Western Hemisphere , are scheduled for December. Mark Powers traveled to Tunisia , a country of about 10 million in North Africa, for the October workshop along with a few other commodity representatives and almost one hundred FAS staff from Washington , D.C. and Asia .  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) also had a handful of representatives at the conference.  An interactive structure and environment provided all participants an opportunity to openly discuss FAS strategic planning, organizational priorities and different perspectives. The event was productive and positive.  Conversations, both public and private, provided valuable transparency into the recently reorganized organization.  It was an excellent way to meet directly with individuals that help our industry increase exports on a daily basis.  As with any complex organization, the temptation is to focus internally.  This is especially true when undergoing a significant organizational change.  These workshops provide an opportunity to reinforce with the officials of FAS that while the internal workings of the agency are important, the well being and satisfaction of both U.S. agricultural exporters and the domestic growers of the commodities shipped should continue to be the lens through which ultimate success is measured.  ¨ Travel November 13 – NHC Science Advisory Committee meeting, Yakima , Washington . Mike Willett November 14-17 – Meeting of the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance Technical Committee, Washington , DC . Mark Powers   November 13 – Meetings with U.S. Embassy and Canadian Produce Marketing Association officials, Ottawa , Canada November 14-16 – U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council’s annual workshop, Baltimore , Maryland A joke was heard along the lines of people waiting to buy food:  ‘What nationality were Adam and Eve?’  The answer was ‘Russian.’  To the question ‘Why?’ came the answer ‘Because they were both naked, had only an apple to eat, and thought they were in paradise.’ Aleksandr Fursenko and Timothy Naftali Khruschchev’s Cold War: The Inside Story of an American Adversary Northwest Horticultural Council 105 South 18th Street, Suite 105 Yakima, Washington 98901, USA Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615 E-mail general@nwhort.org