Is the mustard market drop because of EU GM issues?

[skip]

I was reading the producer and saw the mustard market is being hammer by the same issue? What is going on there?

[charliep]

Just curious on what you are seeing for mustard prices. Yellow mustard statpub still 28 to 30 cents/lb. Brown 20 to 22. oriental not published (other sources half way brown and yellow range).

I thought the article had a good explanation of the current situation - no GMO mustard/EU customers asked for clarification of this.

[grainboy]

statpub has yellow at 14.75-29.25: it doesnt take much in an industry as small as mustard to knock prices back, a rumour, an above average crop, a lot of new crop contracts that are being picked up....

[LWeber]

"Spar and Rewe have the product immediately withdrawn from the market"

REWE is the second-largest food retailer in Germany. Spar is the 7th largest grocery chain in Germany.

They're only pulling Dijon mustard off the shelves in Germany ... not to worry. According to a broker: Its just a false alarm created by a party looking for news coverage.

He should try auditioning for Oblivious: the game show you don't even know you are on.

[cottonpicken]

LOL..sounds exactly like what my mustard man said to me

[charliep]

Do we know why the dijon is being pulled off the shelves at Rewe
stores?

One report sent to me indicated concern about GMO canola
seed/dockage in mustard. There are tolerances for this in Europe -
0.9% I believe - but there are some groups that want to test this water.
Also questions about outcrossing mustard with GMO canola. Realizing
canola (mainly black soil regions) and mustard (brown soil areas) are
somewhat grown in somewhat different areas (I know canola
production is expanding into drier areas), I have never heard of much
genetic cross over in either direction on mustard/canola.

If is a dijon mustard issue (European), this will impact brown mustard.
Oriental is mainly S.E. Asia. Yellow N. America (hot dog condiment).

[checking]

He has used up hips, and you guys are still fighting.

We're friends, arn't we Pars!! (lol)

[LWeber]

I sent you the frikkin email yesterday Charlie and it was 8 days old.

Do you think the issue has gone away in 8 days?

It doesnt matter why mustard is being pulled - do you think the consumer cares?

Keep farmers in the dark - it worked real well for flax.

[charliep]

Until yesterday, I was not aware of the background. If you do a google search, there is not a lot of information anywhere except a Greenpeace press release in German.

So if this is the case, what should be done? Obviously, Canada/the CGC will be working to address some of the issues raised including the potential for outcrossing between mustard and canola.

Perhaps the frustration is the focus on transgenics/genetic engineering because it has sinister portrayal in the public eye but there are lots of other biotech solutions that are considered safe. An example would be to use some form of mutagenics (reorganizing/enabling different parts of a plants gene structure using something like radiation but there are other ways) combined with creating hybrids with a wild species/something related in a distant way) is considered to be safe in terms of human health, environment, etc. Both technologies are put through a rigorous scientific evaluation before they are licenced both in Canada and Europe - read Canada's plant with novel trait information as well as the European legislation that Parsley posted.

But I stray. The question is the impact of EU regulatory system where you are assumed guilty until proven innocent. Interesting the powers that be in the EU have not taken on soybeans (opening scraps over cargo rejections with corn residue). That will be the fight where the world finds out were the EU stands on this issue.

[parsley]

checking,

I want all farmers to do well. I live amongst farmers. I want rich farmers living beside me, not poor ones, as I get nicer Christmas gifts. (tic).

The point is this, and Weber makes it too, if you read between the lines, flax tanked and mustard could be next.

Few will step out and say it like it is...that the farmer can be left without mustard sales.

Whether WE LIKE EU's REGS OR NOT bitching does not get the cheque signed, let alone get your bloody mustard off the boats.

We have bureaucrats mulling like cows in the muddy corner of the quarter section fence, boys.

This is about CFIA in charge of our regs, CGC in charge of our regs, about a minister of Ag hiding in the toilet,

AND THE FLAX MARKET HAS BEEN FLUSHED AND THE MUSTARD MARKET IS BACKING UP.

The people in charge do not give a rats ass if your sales tank, BECAUSE THEY SUFFER ZERO REPERCUSSIONS from export market inactivity/losses.

I gave you comments/hints several days ago. Everyone yawns.

Your shot messenger, lol, Pars

[LWeber]

Another European country yanked Dijon mustard from grocery shelves yesterday. When do you let farmers know - when it reaches 5 - 10?

The CWB mentality is alive and well.

Farmers are on a need-to-know basis and they don't need to know.

[parsley]

<p></p><p class="EC_style8ptBK"><strong>[URL="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com "](Have you been kept mustard-informed?)[/URL]</strong></p>

[charliep]

Parsley

I will note mustard goes to more markets than Europe. Brown - mainly Europe. Oriental - Asia. Yellow - North America.

I also think we need a better understanding of what is causing the problem, a way of dealing with it and a communication strategy. I think this is what Larry is getting at.

[charliep]

Just wondering if anyone is aware of any biotech research on mustard (or more specifically transgenic research)? All the way plant breeder, approval process or commercialization? I know there is work on developing mustards with canola characturistics for brown soil zones.

Has anyone seen any research on cross polinization mustard and canola? In your experience, are you seeing mustard plants that are tolerant round up?

[parsley]

I referenced a bit on my blog charliep