/ Modified jul 24, 2019 10:59 a.m.

Florida 'appreciates' new tomato proposal; Nogales growers concerned

A produce distributor based in Nogales says proposed changes are "logistically impossible."

checking tomatoes Workers sort through tomatoes at a packing plant in southern Sonora, Mexico.
Murphy Woodhouse/Fronteras Desk

The new U.S. Commerce Department proposal for imported Mexican tomatoes was welcomed by Florida growers, but hairs were raised among importers and growers south of the border.

The July 17 draft deal from Commerce would require inspection of 100% of inbound loads of Mexican tomatoes, and substantially increase the floor price for organic varieties. Both of those changes were very troubling to Nogales-based produce distributor Jaime Chamberlain.

“It’s logistically impossible to do,” Chamberlain said.

Under the previous agreement, which ended in early May, most Mexican tomato loads were not subject to inspection, according to Chamberlain.

But the Florida Tomato Exchange, which asked Commerce to end the tomato import deal last fall, called the proposal a “good starting point to resume negotiations with the Mexican industry.”

Chamberlain said he expects a decision from Commerce on the restarted antidumping investigation in the fall, possibly as late as November. Unless, that is, a new deal is reached.

For the time being, a nearly 18% duty remains in place on Mexican tomato imports.

Fronteras Desk
This story is from the Fronteras Desk, a collaboration of Southwestern public radio stations, including NPR 89.1. Read more from the Fronteras Desk.
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