Florida tomato growers not satisfied despite Mexico-US agreement on prices
The prices of Mexican tomatoes were increased. More enforcement was promised, by the US government and Mexico.
It's not enough, DiMare said.
"We're not satisfied," said DiMare, president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, a lobbying group. DiMare is also the vice president of DiMare Co., an 85-year-old produce business started by his grandfather and two great-uncles in Boston. DiMare Co., said to be one of the nation's largest tomato producers, has farms and packing plants in California and Florida, with farms in Hillsborough and a plant and offices in Ruskin.
DiMare, who attended three meetings with the Commerce Department about the negotiations, said he has repeatedly contacted the agency after the results were announced, "expressing our displeasure and concern over what has been created with this agreement."
DiMare said the new agreement creates a loophole where Mexican farmers can grow tomatoes in greenhouses (which have a more expensive selling price) but label them as open field (which are sold about 10 cents per pound cheaper). He also said there shouldn't be a difference in prices between Summer and Winter harvests, which there is. He is upset because he said the US government never demanded to find out costs of production from Mexican growers, so it isn't known if the raised prices in the agreement are sufficient.
"You must have the Mexican producers' cost of production," he said. "How can you establish what the reference price should be without that?"
Mexico's investment in greenhouse growing has them producing year-round, which DiMare said has led to the crumbling of the American tomato industry. He said before the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, there were 250 tomato growers in Florida.
Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, said there are now less than 75 tomato growers.
"This is what's left," Brown said. "We are struggling to ensure that Americans have the opportunity to buy tomatoes grown in America by Americans."
But Mexican growers and advocates say the fault is not with price but taste. At least 60 percent of Florida's tomatoes are grown for the fast food industry.
"Mexico is not the problem. The problem is Florida has not evolved. They have become irrelevant in the marketplace," said Martin Ley, a spokesman for the Mexican growers and an executive with Mexican tomato importer Del Campo, in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times in November.
"They've continued to supply tomatoes the consumer doesn't want," he said.
DiMare said Florida growers will continue to fight.
"This is going to continue going forward unless Commerce can enforce an agreement that will eliminate dumping of produce from Mexico," he said.
"From our view, they have yet to do that."
Source: tampabay.com
