Latest News From Tomatoes

Red Sun Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, has a new way for consumers to find where the company’s greenhouse vegetables are available.

The Commerce Department’s decision in May to withdraw an agreement suspending an anti-dumping investigation on Mexican tomatoes entering the U.S. set off a contentious debate on imported tomatoes in 2019.

The Texas International Produce Association, Mission, and other groups are sponsoring a meeting on inspections of Mexican tomatoes under the Tomato Suspension Agreement.

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has recognized standout fruit and vegetable varieties introduced this year.

Pure Flavor’s Fort Valley, Ga., greenhouse is again shipping tomatoes from the facility as the company turns the page to its second season there.

Calavo Growers Inc. will have a 10% acreage increase in greenhouse round and roma tomatoes in Culiacan, West Mexico, this season.

Tomatoes and bell peppers are two of the most popular winter produce items shipping from West Mexico.

Growers in West Mexico offer a wide range of winter produce and distributors were reporting good quality on all commodities.

Wholesum, Amado, Ariz., will be shipping a new line of organic heirloom tomatoes soon.

With a new tomato suspension agreement now affirmed by the U.S. International Trade Commission, the industry hopes it can achieve some pricing stability for its product.

Florida tomato suppliers looking to push product through retail and foodservice channels have some help from the state department of agriculture’s Fresh From Florida program.

Palmetto, Fla.-based West Coast Tomato LLC is focusing on worker safety, said Bob Spencer, vice president of sales.

Immokalee Produce Shippers Inc. is selling more grape and cherry medley tomatoes.

Going into mid-November and beyond, the outlook is very good for Texas produce, industry sources say.

A drought in northern Mexico could limit some produce output and crossings into Texas this winter.

Keeping in place a tomato suspension agreement between Mexican growers and the Commerce Department, the International Trade Commission ruled that Mexican tomatoes sold at less than “fair value” threaten the U.S. 

(UPDATED, 2 p.m.) New restrictions have been placed on tomato and pepper trade to protect U.S. crops from the prevent the introduction of tomato brown rugose fruit virus.

Foodservice distributors US Foods, Rosemont, Ill., has named Lipman Family Farms, Immokalee, Fla., as its 2019 Supplier of the Year for produce.

Florida tomato volume remains steady, while quality is holding strong.

A federal appeals court has ruled that the patent for Houweling’s UltraClima Semi-Closed Greenhouse is valid.

Mexico and U.S. tomato leaders sparred Oct. 25 in testimony before the International Trade Commission that is likely to determine the fate of the new tomato suspension agreement.

Rodolfo Spielmann is the new president and CEO of NatureSweet Tomatoes, San Antonio.

The Department of Commerce, acting on a request by U.S. tomato growers, is continuing its investigation into the dumping of Mexican tomatoes into the U.S.

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mucci Farms received Most Sustainable Packaging honors for its Simple Snack lineup at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 17-19.

Border officials have discovered $1.8 million in methamphetamine in connection with a commercial truckload of tomatoes at a Pharr, Texas, port of entry.

California Sun Dry is unveiling new branding for the first time since the company’s founding in 1991.

With the ink on the new tomato suspension agreement still wet, the Florida Tomato Exchange has filed a request for continuation of the antidumping investigation of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. 

Mastronardi Produce, Kingsville, Ontario, is adding to its arsenal at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Gene Akins of Norfolk, Va.-based Catalytic Generators received the Florida Tomato Man of the Year recognition at the annual Florida Tomato Committee Conference. 

UPDATED: Florida agriculture and industry officials have asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to initiate traceback investigations of Mexican tomatoes with the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV).

Be ready to meet royalty at Pure Hothouse Food’s Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit booth.

Village Farms is inviting Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit attendees to tee up at its booth.

Wholesum, Amado, Ariz., is launching its four-item snack tomato line in colorful top-seal packaging.

Greenhouse grower NatureFresh Farms is celebrating 20 years, harvesting the first crop from a new 32-acre facility in Leamington, Ontario.

Globalmex International Inc., has expanded its greenhouse acreage in Mexico by 20%

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes, and Linda Fritz is living proof.

Calavo Growers Inc. has expanded its greenhouse acreage in Mexico by 25% over last year.

The new normal for U.S. imports of Mexican tomatoes is signed, sealed and delivered.

Are Mexican tomato growers experiencing buyer’s remorse about their newly negotiated suspension agreement with the Department of Commerce?

Fresno County’s agriculture production in 2018 hit a record $7.89 billion, a 12% increase over 2017 numbers.

Mirabel, Quebec-based Les Serres Sagami Inc., a conventional and organic tomato marketer with the Savoura brand, has hired a new president, making the company’s leadership 100% female-led.

U.S. imports of Mexican tomatoes in July showed gains in volume compared with a year ago but experienced declines in price.

An abridged version of Florida’s 44th Tomato Conference, canceled due to Hurricane Dorian’s approach in the Atlantic, has been rescheduled for Oct. 2-3 in a new location.

With Hurricane Dorian scheduled to hit Florida immediately before the annual Florida Tomato Conference, organizers have postponed the event.

The Packer's editor Tom Karst and Produce Retailer editor Ashley Nickle discuss the details of the new agreement on Mexican tomatoes.

Numerous produce industry and other groups have issued statements in the wake of a new agreement setting floor prices for Mexican tomatoes sent to the U.S.

The relief of reaching a new  tomato suspension agreement between Mexican tomato growers and the Department of Commerce has come with misgivings about the effect of mandatory inspections at the border.

Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, has acquired a controlling interest in greenhouse grower Orangeline Farms, Leamington, Ontario, and plans more expansion in the U.S. and Canada.

(UPDATED, 1:28 p.m.) Mexican tomato growers and the U.S. Commerce Department struck a deal for a new tomato suspension agreement late Aug. 20.

Mastronardi Produce Ltd., Kingsville, Ontario, in a partnership with John Paul DeJoria, is planning a greenhouse project in the Middle East to distribute fruits and vegetables to the region.