Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns, emergencies, outbreaks and recalls for the month of January, 2019:
Farm fatalities on the rise: Ag industry ranked most hazardous in the U.S.
“Ag-gag laws” hide the cruelty of factory farms from the public.
U.S. Army food inspection specialists check expiration dates of food in Poland, 29JAN2019, as part of anti-Russia NATO ops.
Near the island of Fiji, U.S. Coast Guard personnel join with Canadian counterparts, as well as the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, to enforce international fishing laws. In the pic a Coast Guard ‘small boat’ approaches a suspected illegal fishing boat, 25JAN2019.
Blue C Sushi suddenly shutdown restaurants in California and Washington, without warning all employees now jobless
How 300 Years of Urbanization and Farming Transformed the Planet
Farms, More Productive Than Ever, Are Poisoning Drinking Water
Polar vortex strikes U.S. farm belt
Judge temporarily block’s Trump imposed wage increase for foreign farm workers, as lawsuit reveals 400% increase in H-2A foreign workers!
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
ALABAMA: HEMP PROGRAM: Farmers with interest urged to apply
Mad cow testing halted by government shutdown
Alabama company recalls hot sausages due to metal bits
ALASKA: Taxpayer funded program aims to cultivate specialty crops
Experimental Farm survives government ups and downs
ARKANSAS: Hemp firm partners with university researchers to develop cannabis
5 migrant workers claim mistreatment on Arkansas farm
Honey farmer blames popular herbicide for killing honey production, saying the herbicide caused “…the destruction of the pollinating plants that bees need.”
ARIZONA: Shot in the Dark Café shutdown due to “gentrification of …the surrounding area” indicated by a “400% rent hike”!
Canadian farm robot tested in Arizona
Drought plan fight between farms and cities escalates
Experimental hops farm attempts year-round grow
CALIFORNIA: France based food service contractor Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN for ops in Los Angeles, 59 jobs gone by the end of March. Tokyo Table issued a shutdown WARN for its Alhambra restaurant, 33 jobs gone by mid-March.
Lucca Ravioli shutdown after 94 years, no reason given
San Francisco based online meal-delivery Munchery suddenly ceased to exist
British empire Canada based McCain Foods shutting down its factory in Colton, 1-hundred jobs gone!
Almanac Beer shutdown San Francisco taproom
After 40 years Harry’s Hofbrau shutdown
Yankee Pier seafood restaurant shutting down after almost 11 years: “It wasn’t about quality and service, it was about sales and rent.”-Steve Sarrell, manager
Could California produce soon cost you more?
CONNECTICUT: Brew Makers Want More Flexibility
‘Frost Quakes’ Cause Explosive Sounds
DELAWARE: Abbot’s Grill shutdown after nine years, due to not being able to renew the lease due to increasing competition
Code Purple Declared As Bitterly Cold Temperatures, Sub-Zero Wind Chills Arrive
Man arrested for poaching deer
FLORIDA: France based food service contractor Sodexo issued a WARN for ops in Miami, 149 jobs gone by the end of March! Food service contractor Aramark issued a WARN for its ops at Raymond James Stadium, 919 jobs affected in February!
Taxpayer funded Director of Cannabis position created
State ag commissioner sworn-in on Hebrew holy book
GEORGIA: After 42 years Rainbow Natural Foods shutting down in February after failed attempts to sell the grocery store, due to local building codes
After 12 years, Fiddler’s Seafood Southside suddenly shutdown its Hodgson Memorial Drive location.
Brazil muscles-in on local farming ops, due to locals being desperate for jobs
For more proof that farmers are actually taxpayer funded welfare recipients; peanut industry halted after government shutdown
GUAM: Five arrested for allegedly keeping endangered green sea turtles
Coconut drink taxed, outlawed, now threatened by rhino beetle
New study blames U.S. occupation of the island for massive food insecurity. After World War Two the U.S. Navy evicted natives from their farms and villages, now as much as 95% of the island’s food comes from other countries. It’s estimated that the current U.S. occupation has resulted in the natives having only five to 10 days food supply in an emergency!
HAWAII: The U.S. Coast Guard was called to rescue a sick employee of a Vanuatu registered tuna boat. It was reported that the tuna boat crewman had been sick for days and was getting worse, Coast Guard personnel determined hospitalization was needed and airlifted him to Kauai.
Kauai dairy farm scrapped
Bee parasites also affect bee eaters
Taxpayer funded specialty crop funding
IDAHO: East Idaho potato growers barely breaking even
farmers see production increase, revenue decrease (welcome to the reality of the commodity market)
Vineyards recover from snow-mageddon
State of the art gravitational irrigation system
ILLINOIS: Tavern at the Park issued a shutdown WARN, 80 jobs gone in March due to being sold. O’Charlie’s issued a shutdown WARN, 60 jobs gone by April.
Restaurant Michael being shutdown to make room for two smaller restaurants
Tuscany restaurant closing Oak Brook location after 25 years
Cerar’s Barnstormer Steakhouse and Catering suddenly shutdown, the owner saying “Due to circumstances beyond my control, I have to close….The future is uncertain…”
New farming method in yet another attempt to reduce nitrogen pollution (I guess all the other attempts failed? How about just stop using oil industry chemicals?)
INDIANA: After less than 2 years Crispy Bird suddenly shutdown
Dairy Producers Facing Another Year of Change
Rising Interest Rates and Strong Dollar Will Make 2019 Another Tough Year for Farmers
IOWA: Iowa ‘ag gag’ law ruled unconstitutional
KANSAS: Chick-fil-A shutdown its West Ridge Mall location with only a two weeks notice
Farm incomes down 60%!
Focus on GMO soybeans to increase yield
KENTUCKY: State Ag commissioner orders facebook to stop deleting hemp companies
LOUISIANA: Breaux Mart suddenly shutdown a grocery store in Gretna
Invasive plant is threatening, again
Tariffs force farmers to leave soybeans in fields to rot
MAINE: After nine years, The Roost suddenly shutdown its Orono restaurant.
No let up in fight against salmon farm
Maine hemp ops benefit British empire Canadian company
MARYLAND: Starbucks shutting down its Tollgate Marketplace cafe, no reason given
For more proof farmers are taxpayer funded welfare recipients; farmers waiting for promised soybean subsidies
MASSACHUSETTS: West Bridgewater based Shaw’s shutting down four grocery stores
After 192 years, iconic Durgin Park shutdown “due to declining revenues and expenses that keep growing”
After 60 years Santoro’s Sub-Villa shutting down
MICHIGAN: Mr. B’s Food & Spirits shutdown after 40 years
Taxpayer funded help for local wineries
MINNESOTA: Bakers Square and Perkins restaurants finally notified state unemployment officials of that they both eliminated jobs in Rochester.
Pet food recalled after state health department finds salmonella in a human
Almost half-a-million more pigs
MISSOURI: TreeHouse Foods closing Saint Louis office, 170 jobs gone!
Saint Louis based grocer Save-A-Lot suddenly laid off 1-hundred corporate level employees!
Popular chain McArthur’s Bakery shutdown two brick-n-mortar locations and will focus on new internet sales
Tyson Foods, Inc. Recalls Chicken Nugget Products
Missouri’s new labeling law criminalizing ‘meat’
NEBRASKA: After 22 years Millard Roadhouse suddenly shutdown, no reason given
Dodge County says no to large Costco poultry farm
Taxpayer funded UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources‘ relatively new Undergraduate Scholarship Program targets foreign students
NEVADA: For the past eight years Nevada Air National Guard’s High Rollers have helped with the Evelyn Mount Food Distribution both at Thanksgiving and Xmas, but not anymore: “They came in and showed leadership in coordinating everything from organizing food distribution lines, helping to direct parking and made sure all the lines of customers stayed calm with no incidences. I couldn’t have done it without them…..”-Evelyn Mount, who has had to halt her food donation ops at the urging of her family and doctors
controversial water market approved
snowpacks in the Great Basin appear to be transitioning from seasonal, with a predictable amount and melt rate, to ‘ephemeral’, or short-lived, which are less predictable and only last up to 60 days: “Small temperature changes can lead to large ecological changes. More intermittent snowpacks means water flow is more difficult to predict. We might not get as much water into the ground, throwing off the timing of water for plant root systems, reducing our supply and use, and even affecting businesses such as tourism.”-Rose Petersky, Hydrology Graduate Student
Taxpayer sponsored horse rustling? Illegal round up of publicly owned horses for slaughter might also have taken privately owned horses, according to lawsuit against Nevada Agriculture, Native Americans, and a Utah company that’s been in trouble before. The lawsuit says most of the horses were not part of tribal reservation herds but were on federal public land and included privately owned horses which were herded into Utah from Nevada:“We respect the sovereignty of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe for activities that occur on their nation’s lands. However, the roundup of the Palomino Valley horses occurred on private lands outside the reservation, involving trespass, taking of private horses and violations of state law. We are bringing this suit on behalf of the residents whose property rights have been violated and the wild horses who have lived peacefully in Palomino Valley for years.”–Suzanne Roy, whose own horse was rounded up
Federal Judge Bars Slaughter of Horse taken during taxpayer funded Tribal Roundup
NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wine’ing Butcher shutting down its Bedford location, owner blames market saturation and skyrocketing rent: “We had the best holiday season we ever had, but I can’t make a decision based on one month, especially since I don’t know what Trader Joe’s will bring. I really can’t afford to sign another five-year lease with an increase…”-Rob Smith
900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria shutting down yet another location, blamed on lack of employees willing to work in the crappy restaurant industry
Rescued horses being rescued again after non-profit animal rescue farm begs for food donations
NEW JERSEY: Allied Beverage issued WARNs for two locations, 108 jobs gone by March! Switzerland based Nestlé issued a WARN for its ops in Florham Park, 62 jobs gone by April. Winberie’s Restaurant and Bar suddenly eliminates 43 jobs.
Carlo’s Bake Shop shuts down two brick-n-mortar locations due to not being able to renew the leases
the dawn of a new hard cider era
NEW MEXICO: Bakery La Fiesta shutting down after 13 years: “We’re doing paperwork and on Monday my husband is showing me the numbers and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God there’s no way.’ There is no way, we are beating a dead horse!”-Gina Ortega, referring to crashing sales caused by a taxpayer funded road ‘improvement’ project that’s been ongoing for the past year
Micro-farming network plans expansion
NEW YORK: Centerplate issued shutdown WARNs for several New York Racing Association locations, about 6-hundred jobs affected by loss of contract! Restaurant Dos Caminos issued shutdown WARN, 1-hundred jobs gone due to not being able to renew the lease! After 18 years, Nirchi’s On The Avenue shutting down in favor of yet another pizza joint.
After 37 years Pelham Bay Diner suddenly shutdown, the owner blames market saturation (too many new restaurants)
Papa Jakes Saloon/Pop’s Sports Bar and Grill shutdown
Save-A-Lot suddenly shutdown its grocery store in Norwich
Justin’s Grill in East Syracuse shutdown after almost 18 years
After less than two years in Mount Kisco, Siegel Bros. Marketplace suddenly shutdown
The Italian Grill in downtown Paducah merging with a competing pizza joint to save money
Despite boasting it has more than 245 job openings, non-dairy products maker Rich’s (Rich Products) suddenly laid off 19 people
NORTH CAROLINA: After 56 years Bill Ellis Barbecue shutdown suddenly, 55 jobs gone: “Against all obstacles, we fought the good fight, but realized it’s time.”-Tanya Neville
Now bankrupt busted Gigi’s Cupcakes shutting down its Cameron Village location
The Race to Relearn Hemp Farming
NORTH DAKOTA: Ag groups, hunting groups face off over trespassing bill
State and County agencies sue city over anti-pig law
OHIO: Pennsylvania based Eat’n Park closing all its Ohio restaurants, 2-hundred jobs lost!
After 63 years the owners of Hathaway’s Diner are threatening to shutdown because of high rent
Giant Eagle shutting down its grocery store in Willoughby Hills
Quarter Barrel Brewery & Pub shutdown two locations in Oxford and Hamilton
OKLAHOMA: After 20 years Goldie’s Patio Grill shutdown without warning
State Ag Secretary suddenly resigns
Poultry rules still in place
OREGON: Lost Valley Farm issued a shutdown WARN, 75 dairy jobs gone by April.
State files objection to Lost Valley Farm sale
Widmer Brothers closes North Portland pub
Elmer’s shutdown its 17 years old Klamath Falls restaurant, 30 jobs gone due to ‘multiple economic factors’.
New rules for Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program
PENNSYLVANIA: France based food service contractor Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN for ops in Philadelphia, 59 jobs gone by the end of March. The owner of the ShopRite grocery store in Haverford issued a shutdown WARN, 109 jobs affected by March!
Belko Foods closing Waynesburg store: “We just haven’t been able to make it profitable enough to keep it open.”-Larry Krupko, owner
Oakshire Mushroom Farm now bankrupt due to losing its biggest customer Costco, and the difference in value between the Canadian and U.S. dollars
Switzerland based Nestlé shutting down its Breinigsville call center, 72 jobs lost
ACME shutting down its grocery store in Gladwyne because they now have too many stores in the area
PUERTO RICO: How a cockfighting ban could affect Puerto Rico’s struggling economy
British empire Canada based hemp company taking advantage of U.S. government inaction in Puerto Rico
RHODE ISLAND: Brown University criticized for using live pigs in medical training
dairy farms vanishing after 4-year crash in milk prices
SOUTH CAROLINA: Louisiana and Mississippi ban sweet potatoes from South Carolina
SOUTH DAKOTA: Shrimp farming coming to land-locked South Dakota
The South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Weapons Element has joined the ever growing war on hunger in the U.S.A.: “For our first year we feel like we had a good start…..Even though the donation may seem small…”-Technical Sergeant Karl Hoskins
TENNESSEE: World Market shutting down its Hendersonville location due to not being able to renew the lease
TEXAS: North By Northwest Brewing shutting down its Austin location due to challenges brought by ongoing area construction
One of the largest employers in the Corpus Christi area, Kane Beef Processing, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Sovrano’s Gatti’s pizza chain now bankrupt busted
Tennessee founded, but now Texas owned, Gigi’s Cupcakes now bankrupt busted
Eastside Cafe shutdown, to be replaced by another restaurant
Chick-fil-A shutdown its Sunland Park Mall location with only a two weeks notice
Taylor Farms recalls chicken products due to mislabeling
UTAH: After 25 years Village Inn Restaurant shutdown due to being sold
USDA confirms virulent Newcastle disease
VERMONT: 10 percent of Vermont dairy farms closed in 2018
VIRGINIA: Perdue Foods’ fun-shaped chicken nuggets recalled due to mislabeling
WASHINGTON: The employees of the only Pizza Hut in West Seattle leaked news of a shutdown, no reason given
Washington DC: USDA clears early February food stamp disbursement due to shutdown
Cannabis stocks look set to flourish thanks to Trump
WEST VIRGINIA: State expecting $6-million in assistance from taxpayer funded USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program
WISCONSIN: Mail order/online gift gourmet food seller Figi’s suddenly halted some operations and will layoff 276 people by March! For proof brick-n-motars are not the only companies suffering declining sales, Figi’s reps said that despite investing millions of dollars into their ops, profits keep falling.
The Whiskey Bar shutdown, the owner saying “We have been the only tenant in this building for 10 years and knew someday this building would be razed and there will be an incredible development opportunity….”
Applebee’s shutting down its 12 years old Wauwatosa location due to not being able to renew the lease
Sprecher’s Restaurant and Pub suddenly shutdown
After 80 years Jacobson Brothers Quality Deli and Meats shutdown all three locations
WYOMING: Western Sugar announced yet another round of layoffs, as part of its plan to shutdown ops in Torrington: “It’s like a punch to the gut for the City of Torrington. There’s no way our community can absorb 200 jobs.”-Mayor Randy Adams
U.S. FOOD CRISIS, December 2018: ‘BRINK OF EXTINCTION’
Even Idaho Air National Guard’s 266th Range Squadron played bad guy, deploying fake 1/1 scale models of ‘enemy’ anti-air vehicles.
Nevada Army National Guard ends lease of Camp Stead after 50 years. The land is owned by the city of Reno and was leased at one dollar per year, but don’t think it saved state taxpayers any money. Official reports say the state Military Department spent millions of tax-dollars, including $4-million in just the past ten years, upgrading the property. The lease was allowed to expire because the property is part of the Reno-Tahoe Airport, and the Federal Aviation Administration says the land must be used for airport operations.
For proof how paranoid NYC is, taxpayer dollars being spent on having New York Army National Guard conduct Operation Empire Shield “…patrolling through Penn during a Multi-Agency Super Surge, a mission where multiple law enforcement agencies have a very strong show of Force and work in a Unified, collaborative Effort to share intelligence, best practices, relevant information in a Unified effort to detect, deter and defeat terrorism.”
In Poland, the U.S. Army’s 64th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support, 30th Medical Brigade, conducted inspections of food storage areas for NATO operations.
USAID funded (and built by USN SeaBees) Ali Oune Medical Clinic, in Djibouti, opened on 31JAN2019.
U.S. tax dollars spent providing medical care in Honduras, one of the countries flooding the U.S. with illegal immigrants.
Because The Golden State is having problems with people going hungry, the U.S. Marines conducted a 9 mile Hike for the Hungry, transporting more than 8-thousand-6-hundred pounds of non-perishable food items in their rucks!
Bring a turkey to work day? That’s what Airmen stationed at Peterson Air Force Base did, donating turkeys for a food drive to help people in southern Colorado.
Salvation Army Disaster Responders hand out bottled water and prepared food to disaster survivors in Blountstown, Florida, at a FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center following Hurricane Michael.
Volunteers with Servant Heart Disaster Relief, prepare Low Country Boil for the Apalachicola Seafood Festival to help panhandle residents gain some normalcy after Hurricane Michael.
The 3rd Battalion, 81st Armored Regiment, held a food drive for the Battle Buddy Resource Center at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Guam National Guard joined with Regular military forces, and FEMA, to deliver food, and other forms of help, to Super Typhoon Yutu ravaged Saipan.
Idaho Air National Guardsman, Technical Sergeant Mario A. Pile, doesn’t just cook-up food for fellow Guard personnel during drill weekends, he’s also the program manager for the Idaho Youth Ranch Hays House, a homeless shelter for teenagers.
U.S. Sailors help sort food at the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana as part of Shreveport/Bossier City Navy Week.
Fort Hood Soldiers volunteer to collect and separate food during the Central Texas Food for Families food drive, the one-day drive collected more than 2 million pounds of food for 20 food banks in 9 counties!
Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Sparks presents concepts for becoming better leaders to the Wyoming National Guard. Sparks currently works full-time for Central Arkansas Water, and previously worked for Tyson Foods.
The Washington Air National Guard’s 262nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron was tasked with providing cyber security for the state’s electronic voting system during the November elections.
U.S. military took part in the Great Tohoku Earthquake remembrance, 11MAR2019.
Local emergency responders practice casualty evacuation during Pacific Partnership-19, 16MAR2019.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District conducted an earthquake continuity of operations training by simulating an emergency move of their Los Angeles HQ to Pheonix, Arizona. Think about that, the Army Corps of Engineers is prepping for a southern California quake so big that they’ll have to move their HQ out of California! According to the military report, preps for such a scenario began in 2018, as part of a Presidential Directive, Public Law and Corps regulations.
04MAR2019, fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) departs Naval Base Guam for Pacific Partnership 2019, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.
U.S. military/USAID Humanitarian Assistance Response Training conducted 06MAR2019, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
On 09MAR2019, more than 120 state militia personnel (National Guard) took part in FEMA Region 9 mass-casualty training: “Det. 1 Hawaii is poised in the middle of the pacific, where we train to respond quickly with a team made up of professional responders. Some of our Airmen are already in the local fire department, police and EMS departments. It makes it easy to just sync right in. So there’s a credibility that we worry less about catching up to the civilian standards, because we come trained, equipped and interoperable with our civilian response partners. We have a small, close knit community in Hawaii, but at the same time, it’s also like we’re one big, extended family always find ways to provide kokua.”-Lieutenant Colonel James Faumuina, 154th Medical Group’s Detachment 1
Idaho Air National Guard, along with local responders, trained for mountain disaster/rescue ops 08MAR2019.
From 07-13MAR2019, the Idaho Army National Guard conducted Idaho Response-19 at Orchard Combat Training Center (aka Orchard Training Area). More than 350 Guard personnel from Idaho, Washington, Montana and Utah took part. Apparently the chemical weapons suits were part of an earthquake simulation in which the earthquake caused an argon gas leak.
Washington National Guard’s 10th Homeland Response Force took part in Idaho Response-19, despite the ‘bad’ weather: “It’s actually good training…because the weather will almost certainly not be ideal if we were called to a real world disaster.”-Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Bugbee