Market News
Soybeans swung between gains and drops amid speculation the U.S. harvest will slow after wet weather in the Midwest, leaving crops vulnerable to yield losses or damage from cold in the next few weeks. Soybeans for delivery in November slipped 0.1% to $12.94 a bushel, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Malaysian palm oil stocks jumped to their highest in six months in September as strong seasonal output outweighed robust export demand. Inventory in the country likely climbed to 1.91 million tons, the highest since April and up 14.8% from 1.67 million tons in August, reported Reuters. Full Story
USDA's initial citrus forecast has been delayed, originally scheduled for release Oct. 11 until congressional leaders resolve their federal budget impasse. The USDA estimate generally influences the negotiations between Florida growers and juice processors on farm prices for their fruit. But many on both sides are holding back until November to gauge pre-harvest drop, stated Mark Wheeler, a Lake Placid-based grower and president of Lakeland-based Florida Citrus Mutual, reported The Ledger. Full Story
The absence of key price data from the USDA is creating confusion in livestock markets and contributing to a rapid contraction in trading volumes. Without those prices, the nation's biggest meatpackers, including Tyson Foods and Cargill, have been scrambling to find alternative sources of information to help determine the prices they pay for hogs, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)
Brazil's exports of unroasted coffee beans in September rose 17% from a year ago, the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council stated Oct. 7. From January to September, exports rose 16% to 19.9 million bags from the year-earlier period. While the volume of coffee increased, the value of its total coffee exports since the start of the year fell 15% to $3.9 billion, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)
Cocoa prices reached a 23-month high as supplies are set to trail demand this season and West African rains threaten to delay bean deliveries to ports. Cocoa production will fall 173,000 metric tons short of consumption in the 2013-14 season begun this month, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
As of Oct. 7, U.S. average diesel fuel prices were $3.367 per gallon, down 0.058 cents per gallon from a week ago, and up $0.483 from one year ago. Full Story
Arizona Farm Bureau Federation released a survey of food prices that shows the cost of a typical market basket of items is up 6% from the prior quarter. Federation shoppers found the average price last quarter for a pound of boneless chicken breasts was $4.65, an 82% increase from three months earlier, reported Azstarnet.com. Full Story
California farmers and ranchers appeared to take a "wait and see" approach to the federal government shutdown. Farmers will see delays in conservation and marketing programs, among other services, reported California Farm Bureau Federation. Full Story
Farmers in Manatee County, FL are having a tough time finding workers to pick crops. The shortage and competition for workers means labor expenses have climbed, harvests are delayed and fewer fruits and vegetables are picked, reported Bradenton.com. Full Story
Michigan apple growers need more workers or else they'll risk leaving a portion of their abundant crop in the orchards. Michigan agricultural organizations teamed up to send "help wanted" postcards to more than 300 farm labor contractors, mostly in Florida and Georgia, informing them of the state's large apple crop and need for hundreds of qualified workers for the next few weeks, reported MLive.com. Full Story (Free Registration Required)
Nebraska winter wheat production is estimated at 39.6 million bushels, down 26% from last year and the lowest since 1944, reported Omaha.com. Full Story
Kingston Fresh's mango crop from Ecuador will get an early start this year. The president of the company, Ken Nabal, noted the volume will be light to start, but it will help with the anticipation, due to reduced mango volumes from Brazil this year, reported The Produce News. Full Story
Evaluations are under way to determine how much damage has been done to Chile's winter fruit crop as a result of recent frosts. Mike Rodgers, director of East Coast operations for Giumarra Vineyards,stated "it is too early to tell" what damage the cold weather has done in Chile, reported The Produce News. Full Story
Freska Produce International will launch a new line of fresh mangos featuring Disney characters on packaging. Characters will rotate throughout the program for special promotions and marketing tie-ins, reported Grocery Hedquarters. Full Story
Corn declined to a three-year low as drier weather was set to boost a record harvest in the U.S., the largest producer, and as demand for the crop for ethanol may shrink if the government scales back the biofuel mandate. Corn for delivery in December dropped as much as 1.2% to $4.33 a bushel, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Russia will allow exports of Georgian fruit and vegetables to its market. Shalva Pipia, Minister of Agriculture, noted that a document was signed by the parties which lifts all restrictions on Georgian export of nuts, grapes, apples, peas, quinces, citrus and other vegetable products, reported Fresh Plaza. Full Story
Taylor Farms Retail plans an 80,000-sq. ft. expansion of its Gonzales, CA, fresh-cut vegetable facility, more than doubling its size. Completion is expected in April, reported The Packer. Full Story
Ocean Spray is pushing an international expansion and aggressive marketing overseas because the U.S. cranberry market has matured, and the industry has an oversupply, reported The Inquirer. Full Story	 	

Frozen fruit and vegetables may contain higher levels of essential vitamins and potentially healthy antioxidants than their fresh counterparts, according to new research by the British Frozen Food Federation, reported FoodNavigator.com. Full Story