26th october ,2015 daily global regional local rice e newsletter by rice plus magazine

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Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter |

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Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter October 26,2015 Vol 5 ,Issue XV

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Rice Headlines News Pact for $40m food processing plant at Sohar Freezone

Rice mills falling on hard times

PH national scientist Benito Vergara dies

Bill Gates deputy visits PH for rice research updates

Nearly P10B in rice wasted yearly–study

Unreasonable mechanism clips the wings of rice exporters

Salt water showing up in rice growing areas

APEDA Rice Commodity News from India

News Detail...

Pact for $40m food processing plant at Sohar Freezone

Sunday 25th, October 2015 / 19:33 Written by Oman Observer

in Business

JOINT VENTURE: Usher Agro announces partnership with Sohar Food Cluster firm –

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Business Reporter –

MUSCAT –

Oct 25: Indian agribusiness firm Usher Agro Ltd, through its 100 per cent subsidiary Usher

Worldwide FZE and Prime Trading LLC, has signed a Joint Venture Agreement with Al Mada

Project Management Company (AMPMC) and Sohar Food Cluster Company LLC for setting up

a rice and pulses storage, processing and packaging facility at Sohar Port & Freezone. Alpen

Capital India Private Ltd acted as the sole financial advisor to Usher Agro on this project.The

initial facility will be set up at a total estimated project cost of $40 million and will feature a

polishing, grading, blending and packaging unit for 100,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) of

premium long grain rice including basmati rice and a state-of-the-art milling unit for 100,000

TPA of pulses.The facility will also incorporate a 25,000 TPA capacity rice fortification plant

based on patented technology provided by PATH — a non-profit organisation supported by the

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The rice will be fortified with vitamins and minerals to address nutrition requirements and is

envisaged to be sold as a premium product and also supplied to the government for welfare

activities in the wider MENA region.The basmati rice products of the facility will be distributed

within MENA countries whereas pulses products from the facility will be distributed in India and

MENA Countries. The parties expect to commence the operations of the facility by end of FY

2016.―The proposed food logistics and processing hub at the Port of Sohar (SIPC) will provide a

unique opportunity for the new Joint Venture in a strategic location, capitalising on direct access

to agro/food berths and proximity to many export markets in the GCC and the MENA region,‖

said Essa al Ghurair, Promoter & Managing Director, Sohar Food Cluster Company LLC.�―We

are delighted to partner with Manal al Abdwani of AMPMC and Essa al Ghurair of SFCC to set

up a rice and pulses distribution hub at Port of Sohar. India is the largest exporter of rice and net

importer of pulses. The Joint Venture company aims to participate in this two-way trade with

Port of Sohar as a hub.

We are confident that this project once launched will help in food security efforts of the region

and contribute to the creation of significant shareholder value,‖ added Dr Vinod Kumar

Chaturvedi, Promoter and Managing Director, Usher Agro.

―We are extremely delighted that all parties have come to a mutually beneficial agreement to

commence the execution of this project. We are proud to be associated with AMPMC, SFCC and

Usher Agro and hope that our expertise in the GCC-India corridor will add value to this

landmark project at Port of Sohar,‖ stated Rohit Walia, Executive Chairman, Alpen Capital India

Private Ltd and Alpen Capital (ME) Ltd.

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Rice mills falling on hard times

October 25,2015, 04.37 AM IST | | THE HANS INDIA

Karimnagar: Like other agro-based industries, the rice milling industry is also in a deep crisis in the

district. While some of the mills are already closed, more number of industries are on the verge of

closure. The situation is pathetic in Sultanabad where the highest number of rice mills are located in both

the Telugu speaking States. As many as 30 mills belonging to Sultanabad, Manakondur and Peddapall

were closed and machinery of 15 mills sold. The number of labourers like drivers, hamalis, supervisors,

gunny bag repairers and other workers were left jobless following the closure of the rice mills.

Though there are a number of reasons for the present pathetic situation, the increase in the prices of

electricity, transportation and labour charges were some of the main reasons for the industry being pushed

into a catastrophe.Compared to the previous years, there is huge jump in the price of current bills, labour

and transportation charges, which were vital to run rice mills. But there was no change in the

remuneration being paid to rice millers by the State government towards custom milling charges. At

present, Rs 15 and Rs 22 were being paid per a quintal of raw and boiled rice respectively. Apart from

these issues, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is also playing a vital role in staying rice exporters away

from state. Not interested to spend huge amounts on procuring rice from the State, they are approaching

millers of other states such as Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharastra where there was no MSP for

paddy.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Monday, P Muralidhar, owner of Maruthi Industries, Sultanabad,

said that the remuneration for custom milling was fixed 20 years ago. There was no change in the

payments for custom milling though the prices of all commodities like diesel, electricity and other were

hiked hundred times, he opined.Another rice miller from Sultanabad, Poleti Maruthi said that they had

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brought the issue to the notice of the State government a number of times in the past, but the successive

rulers did not heed to their request. However, he expressed the hope that the present Telangana State

government would protect the interests of rice millers.

According to the official figures of the District Rice Millers Welfare Association, there were 536 rice

mills including 242 boiled mills in the district out of which, 111 were located in the surroundings of

Sultanabad mandal headquarters itself. More than 15 mills were already closed while 80 percent of mills

belonging to Sultanabad were in crisis.Rice millers from the district have pinned their hopes on the

Finance and Civil Supplies Minister, Eetala Rajender, who assured the protestors, a few months ago, that

he would help them in resolving their crisis. Moreover, Rajender’s candidate Bachu Bhaskar has been

elected as the president of district rice millers association in the elections. All the candidates withdrew

from the contest based on the instruction from the Finance Minister, it was leant.

By:Raghu Paithari

http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-10-25/Rice-mills-falling-on-hard-times-182329

UNVDA helps farmers cope with climate change, boost

production

YAOUNDE, (Xinhua) -- A program by a government agro-industry body is helping rice farmers in the

Cameroon’s north and west regions to adopt better crop varieties, use water more efficiently and adapt to

climate change so as to increase output.The program, run by the Upper Noun Valley Development

Authority (UNVDA), is also in partnership with Cameroon’s Institute of Agricultural Research and

Development (IRAD).―In the last 15 years, scientists have released 18 varieties under a line called New

Rice for Africa (NERICA), developed by the Africa Rice Center which crossed an African species

tolerant to local stresses, including drought and pests, and a high-yielding Asian species. These varieties

can resist submersion, droughts and high temperatures including pests and diseases,‖ said UNVDA

General Manager Richard Chin Wirnkar.

He said that local development authority is involved in a project led by the Africa Rice Center which has

established a ―rapid impact‖ seed programme to distribute new high-yield seed varieties to farmers and

also promotes post-harvest technologies like rice milling and packaging, processing activities, and

stronger links with input dealers and micro-finance institutions.The project thus gives households

opportunities to raise their income by developing new rice-based products like rice flour and husks for

fuel, and exploring the use of rice in fortified foods, including vitamin-rich cereals.The government

acknowledges that achieving its plan to make Cameroon an emerging economy with double-digit growth

by 2035, and implementing the new U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty and

hunger depend largely on the economic empowerment of rice farmers, particularly women.―With renewed

government interest in the rice sector in recent years, Cameroon has the potential to become a rice granary

for the Central African sub-region, according to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI),‖ said

Wirnkar.

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―But making this a reality requires strengthening rural infrastructure such as roads, irrigation, and rice

milling and rice processing facilities as well as farmers’ ability to market their produce.‖In the last few

years, Cameroon grew less than 20 percent of the rice it needed. In 2012, the country produced only

102,000 tonnes of paddy rice and had to import up to 375,000 tonnes to meet national demand, according

to figures cited by the IRRI.

It should be noted that in previous decades, the government’s reluctance to boast local production saw the

massive importation of rice into the country which almost killed the local rice sector. The customs

department of the Ministry of Finance put the rice importation figures in 2014 at 552,000 tonnes, up from

540,000 tonnes in 2013, mainly from Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China and South Korea.

But over the last few years, the government has been mapping out strategists to revamp the rice sector and

some institutions have been put in place to ensure this transformation, including UNVDA in the North-

West and the Company for the Expansion and Modernization of Rice in Yagoua (SEMRY) project in the

Far-North Region to boost local rice production.

In Cameroon, areas where rice production is currently going on include the Ndop and Mujang plains in

the North-West Region, Tonga, Bandounga and Santchou in the West Region, Yagoua and Kousseri in

the Far-North Region, and Nanga Eboko in the Centre Region with support from Chinese company Sino-

Cam Iko.Despite all these efforts, some constraints are still hindering the country from expanding and

intensifying its rice production, including a lack of good-quality seeds and adequate equipment for

labour-intensive tasks, and a lack of post-harvest technologies to make local rice competitive in the

market. Thus, the country’s rice production has not yet been able to keep pace with the increasing

national demand.

http://www.coastweek.com/3843-agriculture-03.htm

PH national scientist Benito Vergara dies Vergara, who was named National Scientist in 2001 for his contribution on rice

research, dies at the age of 81

Reynaldo Santos Jr @reysantosjr

Published 11:34 PM, October 25, 2015

Updated 11:44 PM, October 25, 2015

RICE RESEARCH. In a photo taken in 1991, Benito Vergara is seen conducting a study on a

rice field.

MANILA, Philippines – National scientist and plant physiologist Benito Vergara died on

Saturday, October 24.Vergara's death is confirmed in a Facebook post by the Philippine

Horticulture Society Inc. (PHCI), where he served as an honorary member.The cause of death of

the 81-year-old Vergara is not immediately clear.Vergara was given the title National Scientist in

2001 due to his significant contribution on rice research.In an Instagram post by the National

Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Vergara is said to have brought "rice science and

technology closer to the popular consciousness.""He worked on the physiology of deep-water

rice and flood-tolerant rice plant. His work has been adopted by national breeding programs

leading to the identification of parent materials with excellent flood tolerance," said in the

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post.NAST added that he is also behind the "conceptualization of a model for the super rice, an

even higher-yielding rice, based on a new ideotype with the correct panicle morphology, grain

development, and low tillering habit as key components."

Vergara worked at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) from 1961 until 1995.His

other contributions include the book Farmer's Primer on Growing Rice which has been

translated into more than 40 languages, and the development of the Riceworld Museum and the

Philippine Science Heritage Center.Vergara obtained a bachelors degree in botany from the

University of the Philippines in 1955, a masters degree in botany from the University of Hawaii

in 1959, and a doctorate degree in plant physiology from the University of Chicago in 1960.He

was born on June 23, 1934.According to PHCI, Vergara's body lies at the Arlington Memorial

Chapel in Quezon City from October 25 to 26. It will then be brought to Los Baños in Laguna

for a wake until October 28. – Rappler.com

Filed under:irrinational scientistplant physiologistup los banosuplbbenito vergara

Bill Gates deputy visits PH for rice research updates

(2nd UPDATE) Pamela Anderson, a director of the Bill and Melinda Gates

Foundation, has been meeting with IRRI officials, but reports say the world's richest

man himself also visited

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Rappler.com Published 4:32 PM, April 08, 2015

Updated 1:13 PM, April 09, 2015

BILLIONAIRE'S LIST. Microsoft co-founder and philantropist Bill Gates is still the world's richest man in

2015. File photo by Cole Burston / EPA

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – The world’s richest man, Bill Gates, was

reportedly spotted in Los Baños, Laguna – the hub of the International Rice Research

Institute (IRRI) on Wednesday, April 8.A few social media posts and online reports

said the billionaire philanthropist was seen in IRRI Wednesday morning.Tony

Lambino, IRRI head of communications, neither confirmed nor denied the

visit.Lambino told Rappler, however, that Dr. Pamela Anderson, the agricultural

development director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) had been in

IRRI since the weekend.

He said Anderson and other senior officers of the BMGF were in the country to get

updates on the food and nutrition security programs the foundation is supporting, with

an annual commitment of $18 million. The briefings of IRRI officials with Anderson

concluded Wednesday morning."The foundation is IRRI's largest philanthropic

donor," Lambino said in a text message.Apparently, a private jet with registration

number N887WM and tied to Gates, was in the country as early as April

4, Interaksyon.com reported.An IRRI employee shared with Rappler that social media

sites, like Facebook and Twitter, were blocked in the premises of the institute at

around 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, before and after the chopper reportedly carrying Gates

landed at IRRI. The chopper was at IRRI from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, the employee

shared.

Research in progress Scientists at IRRI updated the BMGF team on advances in research on climate-change-ready rice

and varieties that promise to help solve micronutrient deficiencies.―We are thankful that the

BMGF has come for updates on the food and nutrition security initiatives that they support,‖ said

Robert Zeigler, Director General of IRRI.―The foundation is a staunch partner in applying the

best of science so that people in the rice-eating world will not go hungry.‖The foundation has

invested in IRRI’s research for Golden Rice, a genetically modified crop that is seen to help

solve hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

"It is hoped that Golden Rice will help improve the health of millions of children and adults

across the Philippines and Bangladesh," the foundation said in a statement.Environmental groups

oppose the GMO-developed rice, warning of its potential hazardous impact to the

environment.The BMGF team was also shown experimental rice plots for the development of

flood- and drought-tolerant rice. These varieties promise to improve the livelihoods of the

world's poorest farmers by ensuring a good harvest despite weather and climate upsets.For

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instance, flood-tolerant rice are supposed to thrive even after more than 14 days underwater.

Non-tolerant rice normally die after just 4 days of submergence.

Philanthropist

BIllionaire philanthropist Gates, with an estimated fortune of $79.2 billion according

toForbes, stepped down as chairman of Microsoft in 2014, and has been since focusing on the

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.Co-chaired with wife Melinda, the foudation teams up with

partners around the world to take on some tough challenges: extreme poverty and poor health in

developing countries, and the failures of America’s education system."We focus on only a few

issues because we think that’s the best way to have great impact, and we focus on these issues in

particular because we think they are the biggest barriers that prevent people from making the

most of their lives," the Gates earlier wrote, explaining the foundation's work. – with a report

from Lynda C. Corpuz, Pia Ranada / Rappler.com

http://www.rappler.com/nation/110625-national-scientist-benito-vergara-dies

Nearly P10B in rice wasted yearly–study Sunday, October 25, 2015

By JEANDIE O. GALOLO

ABOUT P27 million worth of rice is wasted in the Philippines every day, a loss that, unless

abated, will go up to nearly P10 billion in a year’s time.Citing a study by the Philippine Rice

Research Institute (PRRI), Mary Agnes Militante, regional information officer of the National

Food Authority (NFA) in Central Visayas, said that one person, on average, wastes two

tablespoons of rice daily or some 3.3 kilograms in a year.―We are calling on our consumers not

to waste rice because, for one, the Philippines is not rice-sufficient. We are even importing some

of our rice from Thailand and Vietnam,‖ Militante said.The NFA is running a nationwide

information campaign that urges Filipinos to pledge to become food guardians. As food

guardians, they should: (1) not waste rice (BeRiceponsible campaign); (2) help in making sure

that rice is available, accessible, affordable, and visible to the public (Bantay Bigas Campaign);

and (3) follow the correct food handling procedures to ensure that rice is safe for consumers

(Food Safety Campaign).The agency is aiming to gather one million signatures nationwide

through its social media accounts and offices for the commitment to become food guardians.

In Central Visayas 1,850 have volunteered to become food guardians. Nationwide, the number

stands close to 60,000.

To better equip food guardians with the right knowledge about grains and the rice industry, food

guardians are also advised to attend free seminars about post-harvest technology, food handling,

food quality, food safety, and production-consumption-importation analysis.According to

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan in recent reports, the country may have

to accelerate rice imports in order to keep prices stable and cushion the impact of recent crop

losses from typhoon Lando and the prolonged dry spell due to El Niño.

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http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/10/25/nearly-p10b-rice-wasted-yearly-study-

437826

Unreasonable mechanism clips the wings of rice exporters VietNamNet Bridge - Five big rice exporters, including Thailand, India, Vietnam, Pakistan and the US, are all under the

influence of new economic circumstances. However, Vietnam is the only country which has seen exports fall.

Huynh The Nang, chair of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), said the current conditions do

not support rice exports. First, there is an abundant world supply. Second, the prices are getting

more competitive. Third, some new rice exporters have turned up such as Cambodia and

Myanmar. Fourth, rice importers are now following self-sufficient food policies. However, an

analyst pointed that the factors have had an impact on all the countries involved in the global rice

trade, not only Vietnam.

Vietnam even has advantages over other exporters. Vietnam’s rice is believed to have the most

competitive price. Vietnam’s 5 percent broken rice is priced at $330-340 per ton, which is only

more expensive than Pakistan, which sells at $310-320 per ton.Experts believe that unreasonable

policies are behind the unsatisfactory rice export performance. Nguyen Van Sanh, head of the

Mekong River Delta Research and Development Institute, noted that rice cultivation and export

are covered by 200 legal documents with overlapping content and unreasonable regulations

which hinder the normal operation of links in the supply chain.Pham Thai Binh, director of

Trung An Company in Can Tho City, discussing the unreasonable policies for the rice industry,

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mentioned the Prime Minister’s Decision No 68 on the policies to help ease losses in agricultural

production.

Binh said the decision only benefits farmers, while export companies cannot enjoy any

benefits.In order to implement the large paddy field model, i.e., the agricultural production mode

under which businesses are responsible for farmers’ rice consumption, businesses have to make

heavy investment to develop dryer systems to ensure product quality. Meanwhile, they don’t

receive support from the State.―It is enterprises which have to spend money on processing

machines, not farmers,‖ he said.The State Bank of Vietnam has committed that the banking

system would give financial support to implement the large-field model. However, it is still

difficult to access banks loans.

Investors who develop the large field model in Can Tho City, for example, only get money

disbursed for the projects in Can Tho, not in other localities. Regarding rice exports, Dr. Nguyen

Duc Thanh from VEPR, an economic policy research institute, pointed out that the government

Decree No 109, since the day it took effect, has weakened the competitiveness of Vietnamese

rice exporters.The decree, which has many strict requirements on rice exporters, only allows a

small number of enterprises to export rice.

TBKTSG

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/143856/unreasonable-mechanism-clips-the-wings-of-rice-

exporters.html

Salt water showing up in rice growing areas

Dear Editor,

It is reported that high salt content has already shown up in the irrigation canals across the rice

growing regions of Guyana due to the long dry spell. The present crop of rice in Mahaica,

Mahaicony and Abary (MMA) has been seriously affected by salt, according to agriculture

officers, which came from the irrigation water taken directly from rivers.Any farmer who

anticipates pumping water into their fields should have the water tested by an extension officer.

Testing can be done on the spot using a small battery operated meter. If the meter reads 1000 and

above the water should not be used.

The rice plant is particularly susceptible to salt at the early growth stage (about 1 month old) and

at the flowering and grain filling stage.If the level of salt is high at the flowering and grain filling

stage, yields will be lower, unfilled grains will be higher, and chalkiness will increase. All the

lands that were known to be affected by salt in the MMA area should be flushed out with fresh

water in the coming crop before sowing occurs. In the fields that are affected by salt, farmers

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should not use produce from their crops as seeds because they will experience low germination

and poor seedling vigour.

They should buy seeds from the Burma Rice Research Station or other farmers whose fields have

not been affected by salt.The areas mainly affected by salt are Leguan and Wakenaam at the

moment and some parts of the Essequibo Coast. This will have serious implications for both cash

crops and this coming rice crop. Every effort should be made by the ministry of agriculture and

the drainage and irrigation board to monitor this situation closely. The government should ask

donor countries and agencies such as the World Health Organisation, the World Food

Programme, the World Bank, IDB and UNICEF in order to receive assistance to combat the

effect of the El Nino weather-like phenomenon.In my tenure as a rice extension officer, a visiting

El Nino expert presented a report to former minister of agriculture Mr Reepu Daman Persaud in

which he suggested ways to combat the crisis.

The document contained recommendations and findings relating to water for agricultural and

domestic purposes. He identified areas where help could be sought, such as funds to purchase

items like pumps to provide relief to farmers who have no access to water to irrigate their rice

fields.The Guyana Government should move swiftly to provide farmers with assistance for the

next crop. In 1998, the El Nino weather phenomenon took its toll on Guyana’s rice industry with

some 45,000 acres which were prepared for the first crop of 1998 not being cultivable. Of the

144,000 acres which had been sown, between 10,000 – 15,000 acres were lost because of the

lack of irrigation water, salt and the prolonged dry weather.Weather forecasting has never been

so crucial for Guyanese rice and cash crop farmers. Climate change means they can no longer

rely on the signs that they used to in the past to help them decide when to sow or harvest.

Yours faithfully,

Mohamed Khan

http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/10/24/salt-water-showing-up-in-rice-growing-areas/

APEDA Rice Commodity News from India

International Benchmark Price

Price on: 22-10-2015

Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price

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Rice

1 CZCE Early Rice Futures (USD/t) 324

2 Pakistani 100%, FOB Karachi (USD/t) 318

3 Pakistani 25% Broken (USD/t) 383

Wheat

1 CZCE Wheat Futures (USD/t) 352

2 NYSE Liffe Feed Wheat Futures (USD/t) 177

3 NYSE Liffe Milling Wheat Futures (USD/t) 202

Sultanas

1 Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t) 2970

2 South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t) 2598

3 Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t) 2200

Source:agra-net For more info

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 24-10-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Rice

1 Dhekiajuli (Assam) Fine 2240 2240

2 Junagarh (Orissa) Other 2100 2200

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3 Sainthia (West Bengal) Other 1845 1865

Wheat

1 Thara (Gujarat) Other 1545 2035

2 Niwadi (Madhya Pradesh) Lokwan 1400 1485

3 Nagpur (Maharashtra) Other 1400 1662

Orange

1 Kattappana (Kerala) Other 2800 3300

2 Barnala (Punjab) Other 2000 3000

3 Hisar (Haryana) Other 1000 2500

Carrot

1 Palayam (Kerala) Other 3200 3400

2 Ahmedabad (Gujarat) Other 2500 4000

3 Nagpur (Maharashtra) Other 1500 2000

Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info

Egg Rs per 100 No

Price on 24-10-2015

Product Market Center Price

1 Hyderabad 301

2 Chittoor 335

3 Nagapur 310

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Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per

package

Price on 23-10-2015

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Onions Dry Package: 40 lb cartons

1 Atlanta Peru Yellow 26.50 27.50

2 Chicago Nevada Yellow 23 24

3 Detroit California Yellow 262 26.50

Cucumbers Package: cartons film wrapped

1 Atlanta Canada Long

Seedless 16 16

2 Detroit Spain Long

Seedless 9 9.50

3 Miami California Long

Seedless 10 12

Grapefruit Package: cartons tray pack

1 Atlanta Virginia Red Delicious 24 24

2 Chicago Washington Red Delicious 26 26.50

3 New York Washington Red Delicious 20 24

Source:USDA

26th october ,2015 daily global regional local rice e newsletter by rice plus magazine

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