The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday it would buy up to $16 million worth of wild Maine blueberries, a move designed to help stabilize blueberry prices in the wake of a bumper crop.
The Maine Wild Blueberry Commission requested in October that the USDA step in to purchase some of the excess supply, which will be used for federal food programs. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud supported the commission’s request.
Pingree said Maine blueberry growers are facing a 25 percent drop in prices this year because of high crop yields.
“The USDA’s purchase will go a long way to stabilizing those prices and helping Maine growers recoup losses,” she said. “Plus, it’s great that these wild blueberries will be headed to food pantries and school lunches across the country.”
Michaud agreed. “Our wild blueberry growers and producers not only provide a nutritious and quality product, but they are critical to the health of our state’s economy,” he said. “This USDA purchase is a win-win that will help address the needs of the industry as well as our nation’s food programs.”
The USDA purchases a variety of food products each year to support federal food nutrition assistance programs, to distribute to victims of natural disasters and to help stabilize prices in agricultural commodity markets, according to Pingree and Michaud’s offices.
Really? how nice of them to manipulate the market so that comsumers can pay higher prices.
I may never agree with you again, but here I am. ;-)
That didn’t hurt did it?
I’d much rather support our farmers than Wal Mart, Chevron, Haliburton, Citibank and Bank of America!
I never ever go to wal-mart, ever
Buying up a commodity with tax dollars to be given out to
people , that couldnt be bothered to pick this abundant fruit,
that are living off the taxpayers.
….I know,sounds crazy.. but absurd and abnormal is the new normal.
After over 200 years as a thriving nation this is where we ended up??
….
Nope !
This isn’t where we ended up.
There are still more depths to descend to.
Four years worth to be exact.
Yeah, never pay ahead of your mortgage, because if you get ahead and lose your job, or source of income and have trouble paying your mortgage, after a government bailout package using your tax dollars, they are quick to foreclose on your home and offer so called deals that cost the homeowner, A.K.A you, more money. I’m not sure where the rate reduction or deal is? Slightly lowly monthly payment for a massive increase in overall cost, and I’m supposed to take this or lose a home, and while still ahead on the ammortization schedule on the original mortgage?!?!?!
If payments were restarted ad the original mortage kept, they would make more money than to have the payments caught up.
This looks to me like a prelude to another bailout request within the next 40 years, as people are too old to work and social security is too low to keep the mortgage going.
If these producers can’t make money,They should get out of the business.
I would rather import less and buy them right here in Maine!
I would love to track where these 16 million dollars worth of blueberries actually end up.
It should be the responsibility of the industry to secure sufficient demand for their product. Not another Bail Out.. They did nothing for the lobster industries.!
Oh my God! It was the government that originally helped start the boat building industry, so that the people who came to Maine to farm, could fish instead during the 1800s. Farming here for people was a bust, so to also help build a Navy and staff a Navy…they gave money to support sailing and fishing. This was in the 1800s. WE HAVE ALWAYS HELPED PEOPLE WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS! Get over it!
Was there an income tax before 1913?
Duh! Yes, google “history of the income tax, United States”
Aid has been given the lobster industry in the past and recently Chellie Pingree got cruise ship lines to buy tons of lobsters. I’d say she works for us.
http://articles.courant.com/2000-07-06/news/0007062201_1_connecticut-commercial-lobsterman-s-association-lobstermen-lobster-die-off
Ammazing it was just before election and she did not force them to purchase…..any connection…. the taxpayers did not bail them out or should they!
Just what Mike and Chellie does best. Spend taxpayers money we don’t have!
You might want to look into the deal worked out by our Republican senators a few years ago with the Dept. of Defense for the purchase of Maine blueberries.
The food you eat, the milk you drink, the fuel oil you burn, the gas in your car are all underwritten by a subsidy of some sort or another and those subsidies are not the exclusive property of the either Democrats or the Republicans.
Welcome to the real world of the 21st century. Don’t like it? Vote for Ron Paul and a return to the 19th century and see how much good that does you.
There is a big difference between Fuel milk, Wheat, and and other staples, and the blueberry. Like most people today, you have your “needs” and “wants” confused.
Well Tux, actually I don’t have my needs & wants confused.
Let me get this straight — you are OK with all subsidies for things you consider “needs” but not “wants”?
You are comfortable dictating to the rest of us what our “wants” & “needs” should be?
How about the “needs” of the people who make their living growing, harvesting, and processing blueberries? Small “needs” like a decent income to purchase wheat and milk?
Nope.. people need heat and basic foods. It is a fact that energy is necessary to a 310 million people society. I’m OK with subsidizing that. I am not OK with the free spending folks who believe that tax dollars are to be spent on their friends (in the blueberry indrustry) but not on lobster fishermen.
Sorry if that doesn’t fit your P.C mold.
Your “income” should NOT be dependent on my tax dollars. That is welfare, and I oppose it.
People lived without oil, why did we have to subsidize the oil industry in the early 1900s?
http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/subsidies/
I need blueberries.
No problem:
http://www.willisorchards.com/
http://www.gmallenwildblueberries.com
http://www.wymans.com
http://www.mainesweetandwild.com
http://www.tidemillorganicfarm.com
Whip out your checkbook, and I’m absolutely sure any of these organizations will be happy to accommodate you.
True dat
We had major subsidies in the 1800s. Government is the glue that holds a country together. It tries to give people a level playing field when it can. Everyone will need something at some point in their lives. As early as 1916 there were subsidies to build the oil industry.
http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/subsidies/
No – this is Susan Collin’s fault.
The gov can do that but our Newport school system can’t afford to have sports
For sports all you need is a ball! Kids can play each other. In fact intramural sports would be cheaper, better and healthier all around.
Pingree and Michaud not only supporting corporate welfare, but pushing it. Isn’t corporate welfare one of the platforms that the left beat up on the right? I’m sure it is different now that the left is pushing it. China must like Maine blue berries.
New approaches to marketing and trade are needed. Russians might love these Freedom berries now that the trade market is more open, maybe Cuba soon too. Let’s go people…think.
I would LOVE to buy Maine blueberries, but where are they? Hannafords is bringing in berries from God knows where. Tell me were to get them and I’ll drive there!
New Jersey, Chile, and Spain.
Florida has some nice blueberrys also.
Most Maine blueberries are sold to be processed into other food stuffs. They are usually sold frozen in the bag or sold to be processed.
Look in the frozen foods, there you will find Maine blueberries.
I really hate the favoritism the government has displayed for at least the last 20 years. No bail out for the Shoe workers in Old Town, or the lobster men or for the urchin harvesters, but a bail-out for Wyman, Whitney, and Worcester. What has the government got a preference for double-U’s?
This is all Susan Collin’s fault. She is the bail out queen.
Another quandary. I’m confident that a fair number of blueberry producers were Ron Paul supporters or favored his outlook. Now they are benefiting from government intervention in the blueberry industry. I wonder if that causes them to scratch their heads a little. I think it’s another case of not needing the government until we do.
Ron Paul supporters do not support this type of government intervention… duh, nor do they think they need the government to buy their blueberries
More Obama FREE STUFF. It’s great to not have to work & get yer belly full of food. ahhhh. Give me more foodstamps too. I need to buy more Lobtser & Prime Rib. This country is doomed unless they wise up in Washington. NOTHING IS FREE!!!!!!
h pulleeeze the election is over. Make a contribution to the solution.
Oh my God! It was the government that originally helped start the boat building industry, so that the people who came to Maine to farm, could fish instead during the 1800s. Farming here for people was a bust, so to also help build a Navy and staff a Navy…they gave money to support sailing and fishing. This was in the 1800s. WE HAVE ALWAYS HELPED PEOPLE WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS! Get over it!
Amazing how the feds will “subsidize” the bluebery industry but said they couldnt do that for the lobster industry….
Great…just what I needed to do…Bail out the blueberry growers with my money!
This is Susan Collin’s fault.
If it was a “bumper crop”, that means the quantity was up substantially. The growers should be making at least the same amount of money, if not more even though the unit price is down.
And if the reverse were true and quantity was down and the price up, would the growers be paying money back to the government?
US Govt. should keep out of independent growers business. Too Much Govt. Next year the Govt. is likely to tell the blueberry growers to only harvest half their crop. Govt. is getting bigger by the day. Bah humbug……….