TREND WATCH
A roundup of business developments spotted by other publications. Items were compiled and edited by Grassroots Research, a unit of the San Francisco money management firm of RCM Capital Management. Chemical Controversy: Environmentalists and chemical manufacturers are at odds over congressional legislation that would prevent U.S. pesticide makers from exporting farm chemicals that have not received the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval for domestic use. Supporters say the bill is intended to protect Americans from eating produce imported from countries that use the pesticides. Monsanto and other producers claim that foreign chemical makers will simply pick up the market the U.S. companies are forced to abandon. In separate versions of the omnibus farm package, the House and Senate have approved some form of a ban, but opponents still hope to knock out the proviso in October during final compromise sessions. Des Moines Register
Peace Projects: Union workers at Unisys have handed the company a detailed list of non-military projects that the company should pursue to earn its share of the “peace dividend” from the end of the Cold War. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Minnesota, where Unisys has 8,700 employees, brought forth the suggestions from a consultant’s study commissioned by the union. Some of the ideas are to produce computers for monitoring freeway traffic, components for energy-efficient office lighting, speech synthesizers and book scanners. Minneapolis Star Tribune
Ban the Box Movement: Some recording artists and independent record labels are campaigning for the National Assn. of Recording Merchandisers to get rid of the standard, 6-by-12-inch cardboard package for compact discs. These opponents consider the box expensive and wasteful, pointing out that a CD can fit in a box about half the size. One company further claims that CD prices could fall $1 a disc by eliminating the box, but others say list prices may actually rise as the major recording labels are asked to absorb some of the cost to refixture stores. Two big recording names--U2 and Midnight Oil--say their future recording contracts will ban the so-called long box. Rocky Mountain News
Senior Strategy: Many Florida businesses are finding it doesn’t pay to give discounts to seniors. Movie theaters will probably always keep discounts to attract the older crowd, but some businesses are turning to other deals. For instance, Citizens & Southern National Bank used to offer free checking based on age, but it changed its strategy to offer packages that include will reviews and free coupons to attract depositors. Restaurants in the state also are turning away from discounts in favor of early bird specials and other deals that appeal to everyone. Tampa Tribune
