Thanks, Matt and everyone, for the comments on the CNN Lou Dobbs story last week that ran Tuesday evening, Oct. 9. By now you've probably seen that 4-5 minute story, where Dobbs intended to raise consumer alarm about the safety of apple juice since some of the apple juice in the U.S. contains Chinese concentrate.
To answer the question about wage rates, the correct answer is $9-15 per HOUR, not per day. CNN contacted USApple and several U.S. state apple associations to gather wage rate information about China vs. the U.S., and CNN simply got it wrong on the air. They are now aware of this mistake. USApple, representing the national apple industry, was contacted by CNN for the story. Subsequently I did a 10-minute interview with the goal of communicating the facts behind concentrate imports and maintaining consumer confidence in the safety of apple juice, fresh apples, and other apple products, as well as the overall integrity of the U.S. apple industry. It was important that accurate, positive information, be presented to counterbalance the activist perspective we anticipated would be (and was) included. During the story, Dobbs argued with his own reporter over the facts, which probably left consumers wondering what the real story was and what to believe. We have not seen further media coverage resulting from the Dobbs story, and are continuing to closely monitor the situation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or at the phone number below. Nancy Nancy E. Foster President & CEO U.S. Apple Association ph- (703) 442-8850 fx - (703) 790-0845 www.usapple.org <http://www.usapple.org/> ________________________________________________________________________ ________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Matt McCallum Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 3:56 PM To: Apple-Crop Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: Apple Juice story OK OK guys I will attempt to straighten out Lou - maybe he would let me on the show to debate it!!! On Oct 17, 2007, at 1:49 PM, George M. Greene wrote: Hi Bill and All: When I worked in Pennsylvania most apple pickers made AT LEAST $10/HOUR. The old sob stories of apple growers exploiting orchard workers WERE JUST NOT TRUE. They worked real hard and made good money. Workers pruning were also making a minimum of $10/HOUR Please, a PR person in the apple industry needs to straighten them out. Tim Smith is right on!!!!!!! Best regards, George Unfortunately, the text implies that rather than the $2/day chinese apple pickers earn, apple pickers in America earn $9-$15 (a day). As a publisher, perhaps you (Matt) could remind them that integrity is all the news media has to convince readers/listeners of the veracity of their stories. You might also want to tell them how long this has been going on, and that news is best served fresh. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center www..nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html <http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html> ----- Original Message ----- From: Matt McCallum <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Apple-Crop <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 8:03 AM Subject: Apple-Crop: Apple Juice story Check out the October 9, Lou Dobbs Tonight story on Chinese apple juice concentrate. They made a big deal that most of the apple juice sold is from Chinese concentrate - wow talk about being late to the party... http://media.vmsnews.com/MR.pl?id=100907-800813-Q001194320 <http://media.vmsnews.com/MR.pl?id=100907-800813-Q001194320> . --- Matt McCallum Publisher/CEO Great American Publishing 75 Applewood Drive Suite A Sparta MI 49345 P - 616-887-9008 ext 101 F - 616-887-2666 http:www.freshcut.com <http:www.freshcut.com> http://www.fruitgrowersnews.com <http://www.fruitgrowersnews.com> http://www.vegetablegrowersnew..com <http://www.vegetablegrowersnew.com> http://www.spudman.com <http://www.spudman.com> -- George M. Greene II 68 Willow Lane Wiscasset, ME 04578 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 207-882-8074
