Very hot weather in California last fall disrupted the usual breeding cycle of dairy cows and the stressed cows are producing milk with less butterfat now. Nationwide the average wholesale price for butter jumped 50 cents a pound in March. Economists say wholesalers will import more butter when the price reaches a certain level, so prices shouldn't go as high as they did in 1998 when the last price spike occurred. The produce industry is changing the way fresh vegetables are shipped. For years ice has been used in cartons to keep products fresh.
Test marketing is underway eliminating the ice, keeping produce cold via refrigeration only.
There are efficiencies in safety, labor and product loss with the new program. Industry sources believe it's only a matter of time before ice is eliminated entirely. Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.