Today's Pricing

TOMATOES — F.O.B.S AS OF MAY 14

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA DISTRICTS — Shipments (433-454-398) — Movement expected to increase. Trading moderate. Prices 5x6s higher, others lower. Extra services included. 25-pound cartons loose mature-greens 85% U.S. 1 or better 5x6s $8.95-9.95, 6x6s $7.95-8.95, 6x7s $7.95-8.95. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES, ARIZ. — Crossings (152-146-159, greenhouse 124-123-137, vine-ripes 28-23-22) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Supplies 4x4 to 4x5s light. Trading 4x4 to 4x5s fairly active, others slow. Prices 4x4 to 4x5s higher, others generally unchanged. Field-grown and greenhouse cartons/flats two-layer 4x4s mostly $9-10, 4x5s mostly $7.95-9, 5x5s mostly $4.99-5, 5x6s $4.64-5. Quality variable.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA, CALIF. — Crossings (8-8-11, greenhouse 7-7-9, vine-ripes 1-1-2) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first f.o.b. report was expected to be issued the week of May 21.

WEST FLORIDA DISTRICT — Shipments (0-0-0) — Light harvest expected to start the week of May 28. Expect first f.o.b. by the first week of June.

U.S. SHIPPING POINTS — Greenhouse (54-56-**) — No prices reported. **unavailable

CANADA SHIPPING POINTS — Greenhouse (149*-150-**) — No prices reported. **unavailable, *revised 



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Home > Opinion > Opinion > A measure of tomato safety

Opinion

A measure of tomato safety

02/03/2012 9:28:27 AM
The Packer Editorial Board

Like all suppliers of fresh produce, tomato shippers have had their job complicated by the heightened scrutiny on food safety.
Painful memories of millions of dollars in losses after having their product implicated (wrongly, as it turned out) in a salmonella outbreak in 2008 still linger, making tomato suppliers all too aware of the importance of food safety protocols.
Tomato suppliers are concerned about the reality of adopting and implementing food safety audits, so they discussed “audit fatigue” at a recent fresh tomato industry meeting in Florida. 
With retailers demanding their own specific auditing programs coupled with potential changes required by the Food Safety Modernization Act, even the most conscientious operators could find themselves investing heavily in food safety training, equipment and staffing only to find new requirements costing additional time and money — or even some business.
The tomato industry’s demonstrated openess in sharing ideas, voicing frustrations with existing audits and crafting science-based guidelines that meet the needs of all stakeholders in the value chain — grower-shippers, repackers, wholesalers, retailers — is commendable, as is their stated willingness to work with the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Meeting attendees expressed a consensus to reconcile agreed-upon tomato metrics with federal food safety rules as well as GlobalGAP standards.
A level regulatory playing field with clear guidelines benefits suppliers and their buyer partners alike. 
The tomato industry is a business, but it’s good to see competitors acknowledge their mutual interest in preserving their market and the well-being of consumers.
Did The Packer get it right? Leave a comment and tell us your opinion.

Like all suppliers of fresh produce, tomato shippers have had their job complicated by the heightened scrutiny on food safety.

Painful memories of millions of dollars in losses after having their product implicated (wrongly, as it turned out) in a salmonella outbreak in 2008 still linger, making tomato suppliers all too aware of the importance of food safety protocols.

Tomato suppliers are concerned about the reality of adopting and implementing food safety audits, so they discussed “audit fatigue” at a recent fresh tomato industry meeting in Florida. 

With retailers demanding their own specific auditing programs coupled with potential changes required by the Food Safety Modernization Act, even the most conscientious operators could find themselves investing heavily in food safety training, equipment and staffing only to find new requirements costing additional time and money — or even some business.

The tomato industry’s demonstrated openess in sharing ideas, voicing frustrations with existing audits and crafting science-based guidelines that meet the needs of all stakeholders in the value chain — grower-shippers, repackers, wholesalers, retailers — is commendable, as is their stated willingness to work with the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Meeting attendees expressed a consensus to reconcile agreed-upon tomato metrics with federal food safety rules as well as GlobalGAP standards.

A level regulatory playing field with clear guidelines benefits suppliers and their buyer partners alike. 

The tomato industry is a business, but it’s good to see competitors acknowledge their mutual interest in preserving their market and the well-being of consumers.

Did The Packer get it right? Leave a comment and tell us your opinion.

 

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Michael McCartney

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San Francisco, CA  |  February, 09, 2012 at 11:05 AM

Yes. If other commodity group can follow what the tomato group is doing we will have less
government interference in our business that is disruptive.

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