Florida Tomato Conference Coverage

By Frank Giles|September 7, 2012

The 2012 Joint Tomato Conference presented a full plate of issues as it convened in Naples, FL, in early September. Trade, food safety, labor, and the Farm Bill were among the hot topics addressed during the event.

A growing trade dispute over imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico was the most discussed issue among growers after several years of market disruptions. Florida’s tomato industry has petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce to remove a suspension agreement and dumping case against Mexico from 1996, which set a low floor price for tomatoes coming in from the country. U.S. growers argue this price is based on old data that does not reflect current realities. Currently, industry awaits the next move from the Department of Commerce.

“We have been working with the Global Food Safety Initiative process, as well as our state and federal regulatory authorities, and meeting our customers’ requirements for food safety audits,” said Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, during the Exchange’s annual meeting held during the conference. “In cooperation with the state, we are looking forward to heading into the next season with the potential of having a single audit that addresses all the needs of our partners. Multiple audits have been one of the big challenges nationally for food safety efforts.”

Brown also pointed out continued efforts and cooperation with other agricultural groups to ensure that immigration policy is such that it ensures an adequate and reliable labor force to harvest time-sensitive crops like tomatoes.

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