Florida tomato group website seeks suspension agreement violations
The Florida Tomato Exchange is keeping tabs on Mexican tomato imports through a new website, TomatoMonitor.com.
The Florida group, which petitioned the Department of Commerce in November 2018 to reopen an investigation into the dumping of Mexican tomatoes on the U.S. market, wants “individuals and companies in the tomato trade” to report suspected violations of the Tomato Suspension Agreement that was signed in September, according to a news release from the tomato exchange.
The website is an “important tool to self-monitor” the agreement between Mexico’s tomato exporters and the U.S. government, according to the release.
“The new Suspension Agreement is more enforceable than the previous agreements, but we know there are still ways to cheat,” Michael Schadler, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, said in the release. “Any circumvention of the Suspension Agreement hurts the market for everyone so we hope this website will be an additional deterrent against cheating.”
The tomato website allows anonymous posting, and asks a series of questions to compile details of allegations of tomato dumping. Although Florida Tomato Exchange staff will see the information, it will not be shared with the organization’s members, according to the release.
Credible information will be sent to the Department of Commerce with a “request to be treated under an Administrative Protective Order so that it will not be made public,” according to the release.
“Circumvention of the Suspension Agreement isn’t just about selling below the established reference prices,” according to the release. “For example, selling agents and buyers need to be aware of the rules governing price adjustments on Mexican tomatoes following a USDA destination inspection.”
The site asks specifics about alleged violations, including the type of suspected violation, specific tomato products involved and companies involved. People who are reporting a violation can attach documents, and there’s an area to submit a description of the situation being reported.
Schadler said in an e-mail that the website was not in response to any allegations, but the group "had it in the works for a while."
Violating the Tomato Suspension Agreement “may constitute an unfair trade practice,” which is in effect a violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, according to the release.
“When tomato markets are oversupplied and prices are low, the Suspension Agreement rules actually help the market return to a healthy equilibrium,” Schadler said in the release. “Circumvention of the agreement prolongs low market prices and allows unscrupulous buyers and sellers to take advantage of the vast majority of companies who play by the rules.”
Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said the group did not have a response to the establishment of the website.
Related stories:
Start of inspections on Mexican tomatoes brings worries about delays
Florida Tomato Exchange wants antidumping investigation to resume
