Wednesday, September 28, 2011

CANTALOUPE CRISIS



In the CNN article "Tainted cantaloupes linked to 13 deaths, public health officials say," the reporter describes the recent outbreak of deaths caused by consumption of cantaloupe contaminated with bacteria. Contaminated cantaloupe has resulted in thirteen deaths and seventy-two illnesses across eighteen states which all combines into the deadliest outbreak of a food-borne illness since 1998. These contaminated cantaloupes have been narrowed down to originating from a farm called Jensen Farms in Colorado. Even though these bad cantaloupes have been said to have come from just one farm, frequent consumers of cantaloupe are being warned to stop their avid consumption of the fruit. Because of this outbreak of illness and death, the demand for cantaloupe will decrease immensely. Demand will slow and consumers will stop buying cantaloupe from local grocery stores and fruit venders resulting in local venders with an overstock of cantaloupe that cannot be sold, which then causes venders to stop buying cantaloupe from farmers, which in some cases may put some cantaloupe farmers out of business or at least slow their revenue in short term as well as long term. This is a perfect example of cause and effect. One farm produces contaminated cantaloupes resulting in slowing the whole cantaloupe business. Also, this will cause substitutes for the people who consumed cantaloupe. People will begin to chose other fruits instead of cantaloupe. When the people who eat cantaloupe as their main fruit do not buy cantaloupe anymore, they will look to another fruit, maybe an apple or an orange, causing a rise in demand for apples and oranges.

3 comments:

Molly Aaron said...

It's bizarre that something like this would happen since it's a naturally grown product. It's unfortunate that just because one farm has bad cantelope, other cantelope farmers have to suffer as well. With an out break like this, though, you have to be extra cautious. I'm sure other fruit farmers are glad about this scare.

Andrew Boyd said...

Thank you for your comment Molly! It may not be as bizzare as you think. Most farmers use numerous amounts of fertalizer to grow fruits and vegetables now a days, it isnt very common to have ALL natural fruits and vegetables.

Anthony Escobar said...

I agree with molly! just because a farm in particular suffer from bad cantaloupe it has the ripple effect to farmers that still are harvesting fresh cantaloupe. And now consumers are just going to substitute and purchase different fruits, all because of a break out.