"Between the cost of labor and the inputs that go in, it's more cost-effective for growers to plow over ripe tomatoes," said one expert.
In South Florida, unharvested tomatoes are being plowed over, reflecting the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs and immigration policies. According to WVSN, growers are leaving crops unharvested due to increased costs in picking and packing. "You can't even afford to pick them right now," stated Heather Moehling, president of Miami-Dade County Farm Bureau. Tomatoes are priced between $3 and $5, while farmers require around $11 to break even.
American growers are struggling against cheaper Mexican tomatoes. Tony DiMare, president of DiMare Homestead, noted that despite tariffs not taking effect under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the mere threat disrupted the U.S. market. "The Mexican industry exported, in some cases, double and triple the daily volumes to avoid being subject to the 25 per cent tariff in February and March and the 10 per cent tariffs in April. That just devastated our markets in the U.S.," DiMare said.
To mitigate the impact on U.S. growers, Trump plans to introduce a 20.91 per cent import duty on most Mexican tomatoes starting in July. This move, ending a 2019 trade agreement on Mexican tomato pricing, is expected to increase costs for U.S. consumers, according to Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute.
Other crops in South Florida are also affected. DiMare mentioned that some watermelon growers face challenges as Canadian clients turn to Mexican sources to avoid Canada's 25 per cent tariff on U.S. melons.
Labor shortages exacerbate the issue. Immigration changes have reduced the number of available pickers. An anonymous grower shared with WVSN: "A lot of people are really afraid, and sometimes they come, sometimes they don't come, and the harvest is lost because it cannot be harvested, so that's why so much produce is lost."
The Trump administration is aware of the challenges faced by growers. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins indicated preparations for a contingency bailout plan if trade tensions escalate. "We are working on that. We are preparing for it. We don't believe it will be necessary," Rollins said.
While Trump highlights trade deals with the United Kingdom and China, the Florida tomato sector illustrates the broader implications of unpredictable policies on livelihoods.
Source: reason