sf chronicle

Our pal Amy lets us in on her new favorite item: Bliscotti Ice Cream Sandwiches. The SF Chronicle didn't like them, but she did. I can't wait to give them a try and see how they are! - Cooking With Amy

Warning milk drinkers, you might want to start tightening those purse strings, the cost of milk is going up. Since January, the price of a gallon of milk has gone up a dollar in California - bringing the minimum retail price for a low-fat gallon of milk to $3.10. Similar pricing issues are being felt across the country and are said to be caused by several factors:

• High price in the corn-based feed the farmers provide to their cattle.
• Drought in Australia has challenged their highly exported dairy industry.
• Fewer supplies coming from Europe due to a cap on dairy subsidies.
• High demand in Asia and other nations with developing economies.
• Increased gas prices mean increased delivery costs.

Not worried because you don't drink milk? Think again. This pricing structure might end up effect your lattes, chocolates, and cheeses too.

In May, the Hershey Co. in Pennsylvania revised its 2007 earnings expectations, saying higher dairy input costs are "adversely impacting'' its outlook.

In Seattle, a spokeswoman for Starbucks Coffee Co. said that dairy represents from 5 percent to 10 percent of the company's costs, "and as such will put pressure on our cost structure in fiscal 2007.''

In San Francisco, Todd Parent, chief executive of Extreme Pizza ... said he expects to raise prices $1 per pizza in the near future -- a 3 to 5 percent price increase -- to cover costs.

Something tells me this might be a bad time to develop an ice cream sandwich habit...

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

As you may know, winter is the season for citrus. Unfortunately, winter is also the season for big chills, winter storms and cold fronts. The severe weather that we in California are experiencing is expected to highly impact the fresh produce industry. In fact, over 70 percent of this season's citrus crop was ruined, which could lead to a total loss of over $1 billion. Other crops, such as lettuce, avocados, artichokes, strawberries and broccoli were also hit and will be in short supply.

So what's this mean for you? It means that you better get prepared for a shock at the supermarket. Wholesale prices for oranges have already tripled and artichokes have doubled.

Mike Kaprielian, produce buyer at Cal-Mart Supermarket in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood, said lettuce has started to edge up, and he expects more price rises.

"Last week I paid $17 for a box of leaf lettuce. Now that same box is up to $24," he said. "It probably will continue going up because the product they're picking now is what was out in the field" during the freezes.

"The additional cost I have to pay will be passed on to the customer," Kaprielian said. "That's just part of doing business."

However, on the bright side, stone fruits (like plums and cherries) actually enjoy a good cold snap. So maybe you could start with a glass of cherry juice in the morning instead?!

Source: San Francisco Chronicle - January 16 and January 18