We asked Michael Schadler, Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange, for a recap of the 2020-2021 tomato season in Florida.
Here’s what he had to say.
How has this season gone so far?
Schadler: As you know, the Central and South Florida tomato season is a long one, starting at the end of October and stretching until early June. The fall season saw very high prices, but that was partly a function of low supplies out of both Mexico and Florida. Yields in Florida were impacted by inclement weather, particularly Tropical Storm Eta in late November, but there was no widespread or serious damage. For those who did not suffer significant yield reductions, the high prices were a boon to their business.
Prices remained relatively strong through early January but collapsed in mid-January as the Sinaloa winter crop from Mexico flooded the market. The market remained oversupplied for three straight months due to heavy Mexican imports and still sluggish demand from food service due to COVID-19 restrictions. Prices from mid-January to mid-April were mostly below the cost of production in Florida, making it a difficult winter season for the state’s growers. By mid-April, imports from Mexico began to lighten up, and the market found a healthier equilibrium.
Any pests or diseases giving growers troubles?
Schadler: Overall, the season did not present anything out of the ordinary, and the crop was pretty healthy. As already mentioned, yields for some growers were reduced in the fall due to the wet weather in October and Tropical Storm Eta in November. The unseasonal rains that we experienced in April also created disease pressure for some growers in Central Florida this spring.
How do things look on the trade/foreign competition front?
Schadler: Foreign competition remains an existential threat for the U.S. tomato industry, particularly for Florida growers. The three-month flood of Mexican imports this winter made for a very challenging season. The new suspension agreement that was implemented in September 2019 was tested much more significantly this season than it was during its inaugural year. And frankly, the results were not good.
We’ve been working with the Commerce Department and the USDA to increase enforcement, but the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations created some challenges to this effort. Now that the Biden team is mostly in place, and more fully up to speed, it is crucial that some of the problem areas get ironed out to ensure this agreement can be effective.