Updated urgent Bulletin from the Guide to Chodosh

[Y. Herman]

*CHODOSH BULLETIN-5 Mar 08*

*From the Guide to Chodosh-Y. Herman*

*Chodosh telephone Hot Line 718-305-5133, email **yherman at earthlink.net* 
<mailto:yherman at earthlink.net>**

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*_YOSHON FLOUR TO LOCAL BAKERIES, PIZZA SHOPS, ETC, MAY BE CUT OFF_***

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*THE PROBLEM:* Due to a sudden and unexpected rise if the cost of spring 
wheat, some distributors of flour may stop or may already have stopped 
delivering Yoshon spring wheat flour to local bakeries, pizza shops and 
similar establishments. This may force some of these local 
establishments which have been baking Yoshon breads, chalehs, pizza, 
etc. to unexpectedly have to switch to producing them as Chodosh. It is 
advised that Rabbonim, Mashgichim and local consumers verify that their 
food suppliers are still able to procure Yoshon flour for their products.

*WHO IS INVOLVED?* We know that at least one small distributor of Yoshon 
flour in the New York area has stopped delivering Yoshon flour. This 
distributor of O-U Yoshon flour is Joe Pastillo, also known as F&S 
Bakery Supplies. To our knowledge, at least some of his customers were 
able to replace his deliveries with Yoshon flour from elsewhere. We do 
not yet know which stores, if any, have stopped producing Yoshon.

We have checked with some _wholesale_ bakers of Yoshon bread, the ones 
who sell in local bakeries in the New York area. _We will not be able 
check all of the large number of local bakeries and shops. The local 
consumers should ask their Yoshon establishments if they are having any 
problems at this time with supplies of Yoshon flour._ Please advise us 
via the Hot Line or email of any places that you discovered that are no 
longer Yoshon. When inquiring, be sure to ask the mashgiach, owner or 
manager, not the clerks behind the counter. We hope to issue updates via 
email and the Hot Line news recordings.

*WHOLESALE BAKERIES CONFIRMED TO STILL BE YOSHON*: The following 
wholesale bakeries selling products through grocery stores in the New 
York area have confirmed that they expect to be able to continue to 
supply Yoshon without interruption. Those which are not on this list may 
also be Yoshon, many were not yet checked.

· *? Fifteenth Ave Food Corp, *selling baked goods in groceries under 
the names of *Korn**, Sterns**, Kohen**, and New York Ko**sher* all 
baked items are still Yoshon, with the exception of the 6-grain bread, 
bran muffins and items containing oats. The whole wheat bread and the 
12-grain bread are also Yoshon. Under the hashgocho of the OK Kashrus.

· ?* **Franczoz *Bakery All Franczoz brand items which were Yoshon are 
still Yoshon, including rye breads, whole wheat breads, rolls and 
chaleh. Under the hashgocho of Rav M. Eidelstein of the Khal Adas 
Jeshurun. (This should not be confused with Abraham Franczoz.

· ?* **Kosher Bagel Hole*, 1431 Coney Island Ave.(718)377-9700 and 1423 
Ave J, 258-4150. All freshly baked goods are still Yoshon. Packaged 
goods may not be Yoshon. Under the hashgocho of Kehila Kashrus of Brooklyn.

· *Zomicks, Steinbergs *and* Gotta Getta Bagel* (wholesale only) on Long 
Island are still Yoshon.

*FOLLOWING NO LONGER YOSHON:*

· *Baltimore:* Most bakeries and similar establishments had their new 
Yoshon flour deliveries canceled! Depending on the supplies on hand, 
they will have to switch to Chodosh at different times. At each store, 
when it becomes Chodosh, a sign will be posted.

· *Kupel’s Bake and Bagel*, 421 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.

· *This list is not complete. Check with your local stores!*

*WHY THIS SUDDEN PROBLEM?* Wheat prices are governed by the highly 
volatile commodity markets. Historicaly the price has been stable, due 
to a balance between supply and demand over many years. The last few 
weeks, there was a sudden determination by wheat traders that the demand 
has greatly outstripped the available supply. This perception caused 
wheat prices to suddenly rise and even quadruple!

The Western “developed” world has been switching their technology and 
factory production to the underdeveloped third-world countries, 
primarily China. As the standard of living of these countries began to 
rise, their demand for the Western life style, including more 
wheat-based foods has been causing a shortage of wheat, especially the 
more desirable spring wheat that is used for breads, etc. The devaluing 
of the dollar made it easier for these countries to compete more 
effectively in purchasing this wheat. The increased affordability of 
cars in these countries caused a greater demand for auto fuel. This is 
one of the contributors for the rise in oil prices. That, in turn, made 
it more profitable to plant corn and other crops suitable for production 
of bio-fuels, causing a drop in production of wheat and barley. (That 
was the reason why in Canada malt became Chodosh much earlier than 
usual.) All these factors converged amost simultaneously on the 
consciousness of the commodity markets, causing the price of spring 
wheat to skyrocket.

During August ’07, the Yoshon bakeries contracted with flour 
distributors to deliver Yoshon spring wheat flour to them during the 
entire season till pesach at the price that was effective then of about 
$25 per 100 pound bag, using wheat or flour that was stored at that 
time. That same bag of flour is now worth more than $50 on the open 
market. This may have lead some distributors to sell off their stored 
Yoshon flour on the open market to cash in on a great profit, rather 
than deliver at the old, low price.

This rise of wheat prices causes great worries for the _next Chodosh 
season_, starting in the fall of ’08. In past years the Yoshon did not 
cost appreciably more than Chodosh. This lead to the great number of 
available Yoshon bakeries since even customers who were not necessarily 
/makpid/ on Chodosh liked the extra “bonus” of Yoshon. However, we fear 
that in the fall of ’08, what will be Yoshon at that time is the very 
same spring wheat that has become so scarce and expensive now. On the 
other hand, it is expected that with the rise of prices the new, Chodosh 
crop planted in ’08 will be increasing. That will make Chodosh more 
plentiful and much cheaper than Yoshon. Many flour distibutors and 
bakeries may be unable or unwilling to invest the significant extra cash 
to reserve the more expensive Yoshon flour, if it not certain how much 
of the public will be willing to pay much more for Yoshon baked 
products. We will continue to monitor this situation with concern.

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*MALT REMINDER*

As of the purchase date of March 15, all cereals, candies and other 
foods that contain “barley malt” or “malt” may be Chodosh, unless it can 
be confirmed by mashgichim or the use of dating codes that the item was 
packed before Dec 15.

*OTHER ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE GUIDE*

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*Osem* pasta made in Italy under the hashgocho of the Badatz of 
Yerushalaim. It is the ongoing policy of this Badatz to give hashgocho 
only on Yoshon products, regardless of where they are produced. However, 
there is a possibility that this pasta made in Italy may be Chodosh 
starting with a package date of Aug 09 (2 years after packing.) This 
problem is not expected to be repeated in the future.

*Kemach* cereal malt date. The Guide gives two cutoff dates for malt in 
Kemach cereals. Only the second date, Feb 29 09 is the correct one.

*Shindler* fish sticks. The blue packages may be Chodosh. Packages with 
other colors are Yoshon with a Yoshon label. Under the hashgocho of the 
Star K of Baltimore.

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I encourage you to download the complete PDF version of the new Guide by 
sending a blank email message to ONE of the following:

chodosh at sefer.org <mailto:chodosh at sefer.org>

chodosh at moruda.com <mailto:chodosh at moruda.com>

The introductory part of the Guide, the part that did not change from 
the first issue to the second, can be requested by sending a blank email to

chodosh-intro at sefer.org

These are also available, as usual, from our BBS.

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