I am researching the history of Seattle's Fisher family. The Fisher's owned a huge flour mill. I am trying to understand the political context of Fisher's role in the grain trade.
I have a book, "Merchants of Grain" by Dan Morgan, which outlines the global and political implications of the grain trade. It was written in 1979. I am looking for some material that would bring my understanding of this issue up to the current day. I am sure the type of article i am looking for would at least reference this book.
Ideally, I am looking for articles that would talk about or atleast reference Fisher Flour Mills, but this is not a necessity. I would prefer to get my source material from a more politically radical journal, if possible. ideas on what journals to look for would be a helpful starting point.
Here are some resources on Fisher Flour Mills, and their sister/brother companies owned by the Fisher family...
1) Senate Ag Hearings 1998
This is a speech from a Senate hearing given in 1998 by a
representative of the Miller's Association. In it, the speaker talks not only about Fisher, but also the flour/wheat trade, and other issues such as biotechnology.
2) Flores, Michelle Matassa. "'Center of Attention — Lake Union Development puts Spotlight on Family that usually Keeps Low Profile". Seattle Times. April 11, 1993.
This article highlights a certain property that Fisher Properties (subsidiary of Fisher Co.s) was developing back in 1993. At the end, you'll also find information about the Fisher family — some of their origins, their involvement in Fisher Mills today, and their net worth.
3) Bender, Marilyn. "Food for Thought". New York Times. May 27, 1979. A book review of Merchants of Grain just for good measure.
4) Hoover's Online.
In the Ag Committee hearing, the speaker says that Fisher Mills is a subsidiary of Fisher Companies, along with Fisher Broadcasting and Fisher Properties. Here is a facsheet about Fisher Communications (aka Broadcasting according to Hoover's). The interesting things about this is that it says that Bill Gates owns 5% of the company, and apparently Fisher let go of its property company in 2003. Though this isn't flour related, you can see the connections between the
family and other business sectors and powerful business people.
5) Wall Street Journal. "Coast Committee Named" May 5, 1932.
An article that says that O.D. Fisher played a part in a
committee to help develop the Federal Reserve Program.
6) Wall Street Journal "Six More Flour Mills Subpoenaed for Pricing Data in Antitrust Study". November 30, 1962.
Fisher Flour Mills was named in this subpoenae.
And some more useful citations! (Much thanks to Donna M. Terpack-Palter and Jim Miller jmiller2@umd.edu)
7) Title: Competitiveness of major wheat exporting countries in the
Korean market
Author(s): Choi JiHyeon; Baik ByungKee; Wahl, T. I.
Source: Journal of Rural Development (Seoul) 26 (2), 2003 p.1-23
8) Grain: World Markets and Trade, April 2003
...2003 New Suppliers Displace EU in Shrinking World Flour Trade Bar
chart of world flour trade by new suppliers, other old suppliers, and
EU from 1996/97 to 2002/03 World flour trade has dropped 30 percent in
just the past 7...
9) Grain and Feed Division home page
...Conditions (June 2003) 2003/04 Global Wheat & Coarse Grain Outlook
(May 03) New Suppliers Displace EU in Shrinking World Flour Trade
(Apr 03)
10) From: Digital Dissertations
TITLE Modelling international trade in wheat
AUTHOR de Brey, Cristobal J.
DEGREE PhD SCHOOL TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
DATE 1995 PAGES 135 ADVISER Rosson, C. Parr III
SOURCE DAI-A 57/01, p. 362, Jul 1996
11) Naylor, Rosamond, Walter Falcon, Erika Zavaleta. Variability and
Growth in Grain Yields, 1950-94: Does the Record Point to Greater Instability? Population & Development Review; Mar97, Vol. 23 Issue 1, p41, 18p, diagram/charts/graphs
Economic and nutritional consequences of fluctuations in grain
production
12) Harris, Robert, Concentrate on quality to reap milling wheat benefits.
Farmers Weekly; 5/23/2003, Vol. 138 Issue 20, p21, 1/3p
13) Sekhar, C.S.C. Price formation in world wheat markets — implications
For policy.
Journal of Policy Modeling; Jan2003, Vol. 25 Issue 1, p85, 22p
Wheat pricing, exporting, population, availability of wheat
14) Ray, Daryll E. Trade liberalization threatens wheat, sugar. Western Farm Press; 1/17/2004, Vol. 26 Issue 2, p9, 2p Agricultural trade rules proposed by World Bank
15) Belton, Catherine. MEET THE NEW GLOBAL GRAIN GIANT Business Week; 11/4/2002 Issue 3806, p66, 1p, 1 graph, 1c Implications of Russia's grain prices
16) Thurow, Roger. Scott Kilman, Gregory White. New Farm Powers Sow the Seeds Of America's Agricultural Woes
Wall Street Journal - Eastern Edition; 6/18/2004, Vol. 243 Issue 119,
pA1, 0p, 2 graphs, 2bw Developments in global agricultural industry… Wheat harvests in Russia and India