VANTAGE POINT: The worst of times for a great American city
VANTAGE POINT: The worst of times for a great American city
It is the job of The Produce News to report news that relates to the fresh fruit and vegetable industry.
As such, the overwhelming majority of our content, both editorial and advertising, focuses directly on the industry.
Rarely do we delve into the broader issues of the world around us, issues which are better left to daily newspapers, magazines, television and radio.
But not always.
Like all industries, the produce industry does not exist in a vacuum. Sometimes the great issues of the day do indeed affect the produce industry -- and all of us. The four hurricanes that hit Florida last year come to mind. The war in Iraq. Of course, the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
This week another catastrophe made the list: Hurricane Katrina. When it crossed southern Florida as a minimal hurricane, the damage was bearable enough to breathe a sigh of relief. But when it gathered strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and headed directly toward the vulnerable Gulf Coast, many began to fear the worst.
Unfortunately, those fears have come to pass. While New Orleans avoided a direct impact when the category 4 hurricane turned slightly to the east as it made landfall (but devastating parts of two other states), two levees soon gave way and the city found itself under water. Authorities there have called for the total evacuation of the city, and when residents will be allowed to return is anyone's guess at this point.
Some are saying that damage from Hurricane Katrina will top $25 billion, making it the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead and southern Florida in 1992.
Perhaps because New Orleans is such a unique city, such a fun town where so many of us have gathered over the years for a United or PMA convention, or perhaps because the city has hosted so many all-American Super Bowls, it was especially heartbreaking to me to watch the destruction from this storm on television this week: the roof of the Superdome peeling away where inside thousands had gathered to seek shelter; thousands of homes and businesses swept away in unbelievable flooding; the looting that has surfaced in parts of the city.
Even more touching has been the sight of scores of residents rescued from roofs by incredibly brave members of the National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The death toll as of this writing has hit 100 and is sure to go much higher. But we have fortunately heard of no deaths of anyone in the extended produce family, and we can only hope that this remains true as reports continue to come in.
An editorial in the Aug. 31 issue of The New York Times put into words what I had been trying to articulate: "Those of us in New York watch the dire pictures from Louisiana with keen memories of the time after Sept. 11, when the rest of the nation made it clear that our city was their city, and that everyone was part of the battle to restore it. New Orleans, too, is one of the places that belongs to every American's heart -- even for people who have never been there."
I have been to New Orleans many times, for vacations as well as for those United and PMA conventions of years past. And PMA has scheduled its annual Fresh Summit for New Orleans in October 2007.
Come hell or high water, I intend to be there.
(Contact Gordon Hochberg at [email protected].)
As such, the overwhelming majority of our content, both editorial and advertising, focuses directly on the industry.
Rarely do we delve into the broader issues of the world around us, issues which are better left to daily newspapers, magazines, television and radio.
But not always.
Like all industries, the produce industry does not exist in a vacuum. Sometimes the great issues of the day do indeed affect the produce industry -- and all of us. The four hurricanes that hit Florida last year come to mind. The war in Iraq. Of course, the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
This week another catastrophe made the list: Hurricane Katrina. When it crossed southern Florida as a minimal hurricane, the damage was bearable enough to breathe a sigh of relief. But when it gathered strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and headed directly toward the vulnerable Gulf Coast, many began to fear the worst.
Unfortunately, those fears have come to pass. While New Orleans avoided a direct impact when the category 4 hurricane turned slightly to the east as it made landfall (but devastating parts of two other states), two levees soon gave way and the city found itself under water. Authorities there have called for the total evacuation of the city, and when residents will be allowed to return is anyone's guess at this point.
Some are saying that damage from Hurricane Katrina will top $25 billion, making it the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead and southern Florida in 1992.
Perhaps because New Orleans is such a unique city, such a fun town where so many of us have gathered over the years for a United or PMA convention, or perhaps because the city has hosted so many all-American Super Bowls, it was especially heartbreaking to me to watch the destruction from this storm on television this week: the roof of the Superdome peeling away where inside thousands had gathered to seek shelter; thousands of homes and businesses swept away in unbelievable flooding; the looting that has surfaced in parts of the city.
Even more touching has been the sight of scores of residents rescued from roofs by incredibly brave members of the National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The death toll as of this writing has hit 100 and is sure to go much higher. But we have fortunately heard of no deaths of anyone in the extended produce family, and we can only hope that this remains true as reports continue to come in.
An editorial in the Aug. 31 issue of The New York Times put into words what I had been trying to articulate: "Those of us in New York watch the dire pictures from Louisiana with keen memories of the time after Sept. 11, when the rest of the nation made it clear that our city was their city, and that everyone was part of the battle to restore it. New Orleans, too, is one of the places that belongs to every American's heart -- even for people who have never been there."
I have been to New Orleans many times, for vacations as well as for those United and PMA conventions of years past. And PMA has scheduled its annual Fresh Summit for New Orleans in October 2007.
Come hell or high water, I intend to be there.
(Contact Gordon Hochberg at [email protected].)
