Update from the Guide to Chodosh

[Y. Herman]

*CHODOSH BULLETIN-JULY 22 08*

*Y. Herman/Guide to Chodosh*

*STARTING DATES FOR CHODOSH*

We have just received the latest weekly crop report from the US Dep’t of 
Agriculture. That report indicates that the harvest of the Chodosh oats 
crops is further behind than we anticipated. As a result, we are putting 
off the starting Chodosh date for _oats_ from Jul 15 to *_Jul 26_*. So 
far our estimates for the start of Chodosh _spring wheat and barley_ 
remain at _Aug 1_ and for _noodles and pasta_ the date still tentatively 
remains at _Aug 15_. (Note that Gefen expects to produce Yoshon barley 
till pesach.) These dates are PACKING dates. This means that packaged 
food items packed on these dates or later may contain Chodosh. Any 
packaged foods that you will find on the grocery shelves after these 
dates for _at least 2 more _weeks are almost certain to still be Yoshon. 
Beyond those 2 weeks, using package codes from earlier Guides should 
allow you to find Yoshon items on your grocery shelves that were packed 
before the cutoff packing dates. (If you don’t have old Guides, you may 
download the last Guide of the previous season by sending a blank email 
to chodosh at sefer.org <mailto:chodosh at sefer.org>. However, remember that 
this is still last year’s Guide and it should only be used as a 
reference for dating codes. The actual dates and information in that 
Guide are not to be used for the new season. The first issue of the new 
season is due out in early Sept.)

For _freshly baked_ bakery, pizza shop, etc foods, the preliminary 
estimate is that, for facilities that did not make arrangements for 
Yoshon flour, the flour they use may become Chodosh as early as _Aug 1_. 
This is a _purchase date. _ That means that it is possible that those 
facilities may sell Chodosh starting Aug 1.

Please note that these dates are still tentative, subject to change 
until the US Dep’t of Agriculture confirms that the harvests of Chodosh 
crops have actually started. Please look for future update bulletins as 
more data becomes available.

*UPDATE ON WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT SEASON*

Regarding our earlier fears for the availability of Yoshon in bakeries, 
etc, the situation has dramatically and unexpectedly improved. As of 
June 1, we were still being told by the flour mills and flour 
distributors that most likely there will be no Yoshon spring wheat flour 
available for the new season. This was because it was expected that 
there would not be any Yoshon spring wheat left over at the start of the 
Chodosh harvest.” What was not predicted is that the increased price of 
spring wheat resulted in a decreased usage of this crop, giving rise to 
an unexpected surplus. It was at the time that we called for the June 14 
emergency meeting of flour producers, sellers, and Yoshon mashgichim. 
Then the prospects still looked bleak indeed. In fact, there is indeed 
some left over Yoshon wheat - less than usual, but enough for our needs. 
This is yet another example of the /seyata d’shmaya/ that the Chodosh 
project has seen throughout the years.

By today, BE”H almost all of the bakeries and other facilities that have 
produced Yoshon in the past have already contracted to have adequate 
supplies of Yoshon for the next season. Therefore, we are cancelling our 
previously published alert. We now expect the Yoshon scene (and even the 
first issue of the Guide to Chodosh) to follow patterns established in 
previous years. If anyone is aware of any food producer who has problems 
procuring Yoshon flour, please ask them to contact Yoseph Herman at the 
Guide to Chodosh by email at yherman at earthlink.net 
<mailto:yherman at earthlink.net> or by the Hot Line at 718-305-5133.

Y. Herman

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