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August 28, 2003

Dear Grower:
 

Leadership Changes at CTGA
Ron Schuler has agreed to take on the role as Interim CEO at CTGA, since John Welty tendered his resignation on August 7. Schuler was past President and CEO of the California Canning Peach Association and has spent his career dedicated to California agriculture. He is also past Chairman of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
 
“The CTGA has been working hard to position itself for the future to get closer to our members, as well as processors, throughout the state. There is no one better to represent the CTGA through this transition, then a industry veteran like Ron Schuler,” said Don Cameron, Chairman of the CTGA Board.
 
The CTGA has actively begun a search for a permanent CEO, which we hope to fill when the right candidate emerges.

 

PTAB Discovers Software Glitch

Table 1: Confounded Pairs of SS Readings through July 27, 2003.

 Actual Reading

Displayed & Recorded As

 

 Actual Reading

Displayed  & Recorded As

3.0

3.0

 

5.7

5.7

3.1

3.0

 

5.8

5.7

3.6

3.5

 

5.9

5.9

3.7

3.7

 

6.0

6.0

3.8

3.7

 

6.1

6.0

3.9

3.9

 

6.2

6.2

4.0

4.0

 

6.3

6.2

4.1

4.0

 

6.4

6.4

4.2

4.2

 

6.5

6.5

4.3

4.2

 

6.6

6.5

4.4

4.4

 

6.7

6.7

4.5

4.5

 

6.8

6.7

4.6

4.5

 

6.9

6.9

4.7

4.7

 

7.0

7.0

4.8

4.7

 

7.1

7.0

4.9

4.9

 

7.2

7.2

5.0

5.0

 

7.3

7.2

5.1

5.0

 

7.4

7.4

5.2

5.2

 

7.5

7.5

5.3

5.2

 

7.6

7.5

5.4

5.4

 

7.7

7.7

5.5

5.5

 

7.8

7.7

5.6

5.5

 

7.9

7.9
 
 


On July 27, 2003 PTAB discovered that some soluble solids (SS) readings were incorrectly displayed one-tenth off. It was later determined that a compiler bug in PTAB’s LED software was the reason for the display error. The bug caused less than half of all readings to be displayed one-tenth lower than the true readings. Readings ending with X.1, X.3, X.6 and X.8 displayed one-tenth lower as X.0, X.2, X.5 and X.7 respectively. Table 1 below displays the affected readings.
 
 
This problem occurred statewide (only in 2003) at stations where digital refractometers were in use (virtually all grade stations). The software glitch was corrected, resolving the problem for all SS readings taken after July 27th. The PTAB Board wishes to fully discuss this matter and possible solutions before deciding whether or not corrections are appropriate. The Board will schedule a meeting as soon as possible and include this subject on the meeting agenda. Until then, if you have any questions, please contact Tom Ramme at 530-759-7501.
 
CTGA Filed for Conciliation with SK Foods
On August 8, 2003 the California Tomato Growers Association, Inc. filed a request for conciliation with SK Foods to the California State Department of Food and Agriculture. SK Foods made a response to the request on August 15 and the Department ordered conciliation between the two parties on August 19, 2003. A date for the conciliation has not yet been set.
 
Crop Update
The tomato harvest has been moving along at an accelerated pace to date, as five successive weeks in a row have exceeded the 900,000 ton mark. Changes may be in store as a result of the recent rains and unusual weather conditions this year. We may find that it will be impossible to make this year’s contracted tonnage of 10.5. Central California received only light rainfall from last week’s storm, but Northern California was not as fortunate. The amount of rainfall varied from location to location in the north, some areas receiving one-third of an inch and others as much as two inches. Prior to last week’s rain, the northern most counties were already showing increases in mold percentages.

In addition, growers in the Central and Northern part of the state have been dealing with split sets resulting from the record tying 17 days in July of high temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Over the last couple of weeks the Southern growers have been experiencing cooler-than-normal evening temperatures leading to a higher percentage of green fruit in the fields.  Growers have made the necessary adjustments by slowing down the harvest rates, and they are now back on their harvest curves.
 

DELIVERED, CERTIFIED PAID-FOR PROCESSING TOMATO TONNAGE, 2003

 

2003

2003

2002

2002

2001

 

 

 

 

 

WEEKLY

CUMULATIVE

CUMULATIVE

WEEK

WEEKLY

CUMULATIVE

NET

NET

NET

ENDING

ESTIMATE

ACTUAL

ESTIMATE

ACTUAL

TONS

TONS

TONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UP TO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6/28/2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,495

7/5/2003

 

 

 

 

23,890

23,890

40,440

7/12/2003

             73,946

   73,982

         73,946

      73,982

351,145

375,035

323,290

7/19/2003

           395,677

 385,483

       469,677

    459,465

777,360

1,152,395

813,484

7/26/2003

           822,422

 817,357

     1,291,404

 1,276,822

921,966

2,074,361

1,337,973

8/2/2003

           919,282

 921,462

     2,197,697

 2,198,284

943,599

3,017,960

1,975,161

8/9/2003

           943,923

 929,175

     3,143,800

 3,127,459

943,040

3,961,000

2,676,092

8/16/2003

           910,085

 901,327

     4,039,137

 4,028,786

919,691

4,880,691

3,445,913

8/23/2003

           857,688

 

     4,888,057

 

884,661

5,765,352

4,235,033

8/30/2003

            914,252

 

   5,829,328

 

873,821

6,639,173

5,031,331

9/6/2003

 

 

 

 

868,863

7,508,036

5,805,690

9/13/2003

 

 

 

 

870,643

8,378,679

6,560,996

9/20/2003

 

 

 

 

872,407

9,251,086

7,281,739

9/27/2003

 

 

 

 

792,486

10,043,572

7,930,268

10/4/2003

 

 

 

 

539,432

10,583,004

8,391,845

10/11/2003

 

 

 

 

310,899

10,893,903

8,597,073

10/18/2003

 

 

 

 

139,170

11,033,073

 

10/25/2003