Mosaic cake and steer purchases garner scrutiny

Plymouth, Minn.-The Mosaic Co. recently made news in Florida for paying too much for a cake and too little for a steer. A company representative paid $10,000 for a cake entered in the Polk County, Fla., youth fair by the nine-year-old daughter of the new Florida commissioner of agriculture. Fair officials explained that no one has ever paid that much and probably never will for a cake, saying that prices usually range from $200 to $500, and one year $1,000, but never $10,000. At first, according to press reports, Abigail Putnam was going to donate back most of the money to the fair, but changed her mind a few days later and returned the full amount to Mosaic. Her father, Adam Putnam, who took office on Jan. 3, told the local press, “Even my nine-year-old knows a cake isn’t worth $10,000. I am proud of my daughter and proud of her cake.” He added that the purchase put him in an awkward position, but then explained that “the one that it’s most awkward for is Abbie.” He said if she had kept the money it could have helped a lot of kids. A Mosaic spokesman who asked that he not be identified by name confirmed that the check had been returned. “You are correct,” he told Green Markets on the phone. “The money has been returned. Mosaic has apologized for the situation and all is resolved.” But not entirely. In another development, the father of another youngster who entered a grand champion steer at the same fair complained that Mosaic was off kilter paying so much for the hazelnut chocolate cake and then later only a meager $3 pound for another girl’s prize steer. There was no connection between the two, and the Mosaic bidder reportedly was prepared to pay a good deal more for the steer. The company spokesman explained it this way: “Mosaic made a competitive bid in an open auction on the steer and no counteroffer was made beyond our $3 a pound.” Asked if there would be any disciplinary action as the result of the two miscues, he responded, “We’re in the process of reviewing the situation to determine what the appropriate actions are.”