East Coast Brokers quits tomatoes

11/16/2012 09:00:00 AM
Doug Ohlemeier

“It’s not just one bad year,” Brown said. “The year before last was not that great either. There has been a series of years here to where the deal has been less than ideal.”

Nobles-Collier grew, packed and shipped about 2 million boxes of mature greens and roma tomatoes a year, according to the website of parent company Naples-based Barron Collier Cos.

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So know what is going to happen with the tomato suspension agreement U.S "Florida growers" wanted to put into effect against Mexico, and know the U.S. is going to have to go back and try to work some issues out with Mexican growers and then guess who has the upper hand.

It's a shame to watch companies that have been a pillar in the tomato business go under.
(woodys,nobles,RVC,tomato man, severt,thomas etc..). 90 percent for the success of a
business is administering costs and having employees protect the employer. Nafta was
not the downfall of the companies, nor was competition from Mexico. Competition is good
because it helps business stay on their toes and rethink the business mission.
No debt, keep costs down and maintain customer relation are top priority in keeping a
business afloat.
In the produce business, it's not the company that makes most money that wins, it's the
company who lasts the longest!

I do not see in the picture abandon production infrastructure, where are the greenhouses
or shadehouses from Florida going out of business? Ohh!! no one built any over there,
correct?
I don't care what industry you are in, if you do not invest in research, production
innovation, efficiency and become more competitive, you probably will go out of
business.
The consumer dose not have to pay more, because someone is inefficient , Right?

If you can not deliver a high quality tomato, at a competitive price, you will go out of
business. And that will happened in Florida, Mexico, Netherlands, or anywhere...

PANDO, you said it right. "No debt, keep costs down, maintain customer relations" & I say maximize your operation--don't go hog wild and do more than last years yield if
it was profitable or down. Pay your bills & keep your suppliers happy. You're right,
NAFTA was not totally the downfall of the companies---just plain good marketing & perseverance, competition builds strength in any endeavor of life.

Would there be a possiblity for our volunteers to come in and glean what is not being harvested?