What's New
May 15, 2013
EAST: Although the transition has been made to the Palmetto growing region, the market remains tight this week as weather continues to pose complications for growers. Recent rains are causing quality challenges, most commonly composed of blisters and soft and discolored areas. Larger size rounds remain limited but their availability is expected to increase next week. With Memorial weekend approaching, we may see prices elevated even as more volume comes to market.
WEST: Limited supply from Mexico has kept the market elevated due to a delayed season in Nogales. A recent heat wave is causing complications for growers here as well. Strong demand for grape and cherry tomatoes are expected to show in the price over the next couple weeks until quality and volume increases. Romas are steady and of better quality right now, but also may firm up in price for the holiday weekend if color and quality becomes a factor if more stage 5-6 begin to come across the border.
Effective March 4, the Department of Commerce agreed to a new Suspension Agreement with Mexican tomato growers putting projected prices into effect and suspending the antidumping investigation of Mexico imports. The U.S Department of Agriculture Perishable Commodities Act’s fair trade commission has created a reporting mechanism that will be responsible for enforcing the agreement, preventing price undercutting on all fresh or chilled tomato imports of Mexico origin. The agreement also reflects the market place more accurately dividing tomatoes into 4 categories to establish more accurate reference prices continuing to account for winter and summer seasons.
The previous 2008 Suspension Agreement set winter and summer prices at $0.2169/lb and $0.1720/lb. The new agreement in effect separates the market into the following categories for both winter and summer seasons:
Open Field and Adapted Environment $0.31/lb in Winter $0.2458/lb in Summer
Controlled Environment $0.41/lb in Winter $0.3251/lb in Summer
Specialty,Loose $0.45/lb in Winter $0.3568/lb in Summer
Specialty,Packed $0.59/lb in Winter $0.4679/lb in Summer
This newly announced agreement is an update to the same agreement originally negotiated in 1998, and later renewed in 2002 and then again in 2008.
Did you know?
Tomato juice is the official state beverage of Ohio. Arkansas' official state vegetable is the vine ripe pink tomato (of South Arkansas).
There are at least 10,000 varieties of tomatoes (from the small marble-sized cherry one to the Ponderosa, which can weigh over three pounds).
The jelly-like substance around the seeds contains the highest concentration of vitamin C.
The smallest tomato species are less than three-quarters of an inch in diameter. There are yellow and red varieties.
Botanically, tomatoes are actually a fruit. This is because, generally, a fruit is the edible part of the seed containing the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible stems, leaves, and plant roots. But in 1863 the Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes were to be considered vegetables.
The tomato is the world's most popular "fruit" (See the abovementioned); more than 60 million tons are produced each year. This is 16 million more tons than the banana, the second most popular. The third most popular are apples (36 million), then oranges (34 million), and watermelons (22 million).
The early American colonists regarded the tomato as poison because it's related to the deadly nightshade plant (but so is the potato!). Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson stood on the steps of the Salem, New Jersey courthouse in 1820 and ate a tomato-and then a few more-without any adverse effects, to the town's amazement.
from associated contect website
