The director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center, Dan Sumner, has become something of a regular in the news. When media call me for an ag expert, I frequently refer them to Sumner, since he is readily available and willing to supply informed comment.
Here are some examples of recent Sumner quotes:
In an AP story just this week, Sumner commented about California growers who are cashing in on China's increasing wealth and growing hunger for table grapes, almonds and other high-quality fruits and nuts that don't grow as well in the Asian nation. "There's a big enough group of people there that don't want just the cheapest; they want high-quality stuff, and they're willing to pay more for it," Sumner is quoted.
In a Reuters story, the reporter refers to a book Sumner and a colleague wrote about the Farm Bill. "There is little economic rationale for the billions of dollars the US government pays out each year in farm subsidies, experts assert in a new book pressing Congress for more ambitious reform to farm policy," the article says.
In a Sacramento Bee story, Sumner commented on specialty crop and organic farmers complaints that a current version of the farm bill shortchanges the fastest-growing sector of U.S. agriculture. "This is a last gasp, or last grasp, to try to maintain the commodity programs," Sumner is quoted.
In a Fresno Bee story, about aging farmers, Sumner said he thinks ado over aging is unmerited. "We have all been getting older," he was quoted, referring to increased life expectancy.
To my loyal reader(s), I will be on vacation for the next two weeks and unable to blog about UC ANR news. I'll play catch up when I return on Aug. 13.
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