Latest news with #localfarming
Free Malaysia Today
19-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
SST expansion will boost local avocado industry, say farmers
Beginning July 1, the SST will extend to imported goods, including avocados, which are predominantly consumed by high-income earners. (Freepik pic) PETALING JAYA : Farmers are anticipating a sharp rise in domestic demand for locally-grown avocados as the expanded sales and service tax (SST), set to take effect on July 1, extends to cover imported varieties. Jamawi Jaafar, an adviser to a Sabah avocado farmers' association, said the move could help stabilise local avocado prices, which remain significantly lower than the imported fruit despite their comparable quality. 'If prices improve in the local market, more local farmers are likely to venture into avocado farming,' the former Kemabong assemblyman told FMT. Jamawi Jaafar. Jamawi said imported avocados currently make up 85% of the produce in the local market. 'We can still compete thanks to our lower prices,' he said, adding that there were about 5,000 acres of avocado farmland in Sabah. Currently, he said, locally-grown avocados can be purchased for between RM8 and RM10 per kg if bought directly from farms, but is likely to reach RM20 per kg in the local market. Jamawi said stable prices, coupled with ongoing government support, would boost farmers' confidence and motivate them to expand their farms, ultimately enhancing domestic production. He proposed that Putrajaya establish a board to regulate high-potential produce like avocados and durian, while providing clear direction for other crops, such as pineapples, black pepper, and oil palm. Last Sunday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the SST expansion on imported goods was targeted mainly at higher-income earners. Anwar, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the government's intention was to levy the tax on goods typically consumed by wealthier individuals—such as avocados and cod—so as not to add to the financial strain felt by members of the lower-income groups. On June 9, the Treasury said a 5% sales tax would be imposed on certain food items, including king crabs, salmon, cod, truffles and imported fruits beginning next month. It reiterated that local produce would continue to be exempted from sales tax. In an interview with FMT, Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican said this was strategically aimed at bolstering local agricultural demand and strengthening food security. Separately, Joni Muhamat Yahya, an avocado farmer in Pagoh, Johor, said the 5% sales tax on imported avocados could be a boon for local farmers. Joni Muhamat Yahya. Joni, who has an eight-acre farm, suggested that the government provide specific incentives for local avocado farmers to spur the industry's growth. 'This is a good opportunity for me and other avocado farmers to expand our farms on a large scale. 'What I foresee in the future is that there will be greater demand for locally-grown avocados for use in food and beverage. The government should help us increase our production (to meet the expected increase in demand).'
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Much Ado About MAHA: Fallout From New Report On Childhood Disease
From left: White House Director of Domestic Policy Vince Haley, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin hold an event for a new Make America Healthy Again Commission report in the East Room of the White House on May 22, 2025 in Washington, D.C. I source my own food from a patchwork of places: I pick up a local community supported agriculture share for produce, as well as a small market that's just outside my door. Another source is the Brooklyn-based delivery service Farm To People, which I was introduced to through reporting on Forbes' 30 Under 30 food list back in 2020. It's been inspiring to see what cofounders Michael Robinov and Anina von Haeften have accomplished since making the list. Their business has expanded to selling more than 800 (mostly seasonal!) items from a network of 150 farms within 300 miles of New York City. They have even taken on ways to reduce their packaging footprint, and have been rolling out deliveries with a refrigerated bag that is returned the next order. Farm To People also makes the most of its space in the Bushwick neighborhood with a restaurant and bar in front of their distribution center. It hosts a vibrant community of regulars, chef-driven pop-ups and a popular speaker series that started earlier this year featuring food industry experts and Farm To People producers. It's been turned into a podcast called Know Your Food that just launched. The first episode features yours truly opining about all things chicken. And now onto the highly anticipated MAHA Commission report on childhood disease, which was released last Thursday. Nestle describes it in her blog as 'one impressive report, forcefully written and tightly documented.' But there has, of course, been strife on all ends, which has been well-documented in Politico's Morning Ag as well as Helena Bottemiller Evich's Food Fix. There was reportedly a lot of behind-the-scenes lobbying for edits on the report in the days leading up to its publication, and in the days since, critics like the Farm Bureau, the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association have called on the president to 'correct inaccuracies' in the report. And while these representatives of some of the most powerful parts of the agriculture industry think the report went too hard on pesticides and chemical use, many environmentalists and other food systems advocates say some language was not strong enough. Meanwhile, the shareholders of JBS voted to approve its dual-listing on the New York Stock Exchange. That means the world's largest meatpacker will begin trading publicly in the U.S., in addition to the B3 stock exchange in its home country of Brazil, as early as June 12. There's a lot I'll be reporting on in the meantime. Enjoy the rest of your week! — Chloe Sorvino This is Forbes' Fresh Take newsletter, which every Wednesday brings you the latest on the big ideas changing the future of food. Want to get it in your inbox every week? Sign up here. Farm To People Here's a link to watch my conversation with Michael Robinov from Farm To People for their brand-new podcast. And be sure to check out the rest of their lineup so far, it's a super compelling mix of heavy hitters from across the food world: The next two episodes out are with Burlap & Barrel cofounder Ethan Firsch, and the one and only queen of food politics, Marion Nestle. President Donald Trump arrives to speak on his policy to end tax on tips in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 25, 2025. No Taxes On Tips: President Donald Trump's campaign promise to end taxes on workers' tips is nearing the final greenlight. The change is included in the big House budget bill, which would be valid for 2026 to 2028. The New York Times has the latest on what it means for waiters and diners. The bill also includes provisions that will cut millions from food aid, as well as ones that stop clean energy tax credits and climate resilience funding. Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images B-A-N-A-N-A-S: Did you know that bananas are the world's most consumed fruit, or that bananas are the fourth-largest food crop grown globally after wheat, rice and corn? Two other interesting facts that I learned while reading a story in the Guardian: About 80% are grown for local consumption, and more than 400 million people rely on the fruit for as much as a third of their daily calories. But as new research highlighted in the story has found, nearly two-thirds of banana-growing lands in Latin America and the Caribbean 'may no longer be suitable' to grow bananas by 2080. Via Rosa IRL: I was happy to see Eater take on the trend of social media food influencers hosting expensive trips around the world and the tour companies like Via Rosa, Roads & Kingdoms and Modern Adventure that are behind the journeys. As Bettina Makalintal writes, 'Do you like a creator enough to follow them to another country? Would you pay thousands of dollars to hang out with them for a week? For some fans, that answer is an easy yes. It's a convergence of the parasocial relationships that the creator ecosystem fosters and the growing desire to find new ways to make friends—and it says a lot about how and why people travel today.' The Price Of Milk The documentary series The Price of Milk, is premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on Sunday, June 8, with an additional screening on Thursday, June 12. I'd love to see you there! (And I hear Sunday is down to standby-only tickets.) It's my Tribeca Film Festival debut and I'm excited to see this important topic brought to life! CHLOE SORVINO Here's a standout from a Memorial Day Weekend barbecue: a whole grilled red snapper, wild-caught in Florida and purchased at Aqua Best, the seafood distributor to some of the hottest restaurants in New York City. They also have a retail shop in Chinatown that I frequent. (And they ship nationwide!) Thanks for reading the 144th edition of Forbes Fresh Take! Let me know what you think. Subscribe to Forbes Fresh Take here.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local Business Leader Lin Honeycutt Calls for Stronger Community Investment in Seasonal Events and Small Farms in Raleigh
Owner of Fieldstream Farm and The Holiday Light Store urges residents and leaders to support locally-run experiences and agricultural spaces that bring people together and strengthen local identity RALEIGH, NC / / May 19, 2025 / Raleigh native and longtime entrepreneur Lin Honeycutt is calling for greater community awareness and support for seasonal family events and small-scale farms, which he believes are essential to preserving local culture, stimulating the economy, and giving families meaningful ways to connect. "As someone who's lived and worked in Raleigh my whole life, I've seen how much our community values shared experiences," said Honeycutt, owner of Fieldstream Farm and The Holiday Light Store. "But we're losing a lot of those spaces because we're not thinking long-term about what they give us-not just economically, but socially." According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina has lost more than 1 million acres of farmland since 1997. At the same time, cities like Raleigh are growing rapidly-with Wake County gaining roughly 62 people per day according to 2023 census estimates. "Everyone loves the new restaurants and tech hubs, but we also need places where families can park, walk, look at lights, and just be together," said Honeycutt, referencing the popularity of his annual Fieldstream Farm Christmas Light Show, which draws thousands of cars each year to its 2 million+ light display. Beyond entertainment, Lin emphasizes the importance of preserving local agriculture. His farm grows hay, tobacco, and raises chickens-and hosts over 50 community events annually, from weddings to celebrations of life. "These types of businesses are more than just income-they're anchors," Honeycutt said. "They keep land open, they create jobs, and they offer people space to breathe. But they need consistent support to stay afloat." He's encouraging residents to: Support locally-owned seasonal events and venues, not just large commercial options. Buy from local farms and vendors, especially those that produce in Wake County. Speak up at city planning meetings when rezoning proposals threaten green space or agricultural land. Start their own backyard gardens, seasonal traditions, or community events. "You don't have to own a farm to protect what makes Raleigh special," Honeycutt added. "You just have to show up. Go to a farm. Bring your kids to a light show. Buy eggs down the road instead of the big box store. That's how we build something lasting." For Honeycutt, the ask isn't about himself-it's about ensuring the next generation has the same kinds of community-rooted experiences he's spent decades trying to protect. "If we lose our local spaces, we lose part of who we are," he said. "This is about holding on to the good things we already have, and making sure they're still around tomorrow." Media Contact Lin Honeycuttinfo@ SOURCE: Lin Honeycutt View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
