U.S. Consumers Will Pay 40% To 85% More For Fresh Tomatoes By End Of 2019

[RonZeplin]

It Is Being Projected That U.S. Consumers Will “Pay 40% To 85% More For Vine-Ripe And Other Fresh Tomatoes” By The End Of 2019 (http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/it-is-being-projected-that-u-s-consumers-will-pay-40-to-85-more-for-vine-ripe-and-other-fresh-tomatoes-by-the-end-of-2019)

It has been quite a year. In March, catastrophic flooding in the Midwest absolutely crippled thousands of farms and “as many as a million calves” (http://themostimportantnews.com/archives/as-many-as-a-million-calves-lost-in-nebraska-beef-prices-in-the-u-s-to-escalate-dramatically-in-the-coming-months) were lost in Nebraska alone. Then in April we learned that African Swine Fever has wiped out “150-200 million pigs” (http://themostimportantnews.com/archives/an-estimated-150-200-million-pigs-have-been-hit-by-a-global-plague-of-biblical-proportions) in China. To put that in perspective, that is more pigs than the entire U.S. pork industry produces in an entire year. And now on top of everything else, the price of fresh tomatoes is about to go skyrocketing. But this time a natural disaster is not to blame. Instead, it is an action by the federal government that is going to cause us to pay much more for tomatoes at the supermarket. The following comes from USA Today (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2019/05/07/mexico-tomato-tariff-u-s-tomato-prices-expected-increase/1135358001/)…

Whether you consider it a fruit or a vegetable, prices for fresh tomatoes are likely to skyrocket.
On Tuesday, the Commerce Department announced the termination of the 2013 Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico.


The termination of that agreement will result in high tariffs being imposed on all tomatoes from Mexico, and researchers at Arizona State University say that we will soon be paying “40% to 85% more for vine-ripe and other fresh tomatoes” (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2019/05/07/mexico-tomato-tariff-u-s-tomato-prices-expected-increase/1135358001/)…

According to estimates from Arizona State University, consumers could pay 40% to 85% more for vine-ripe and other fresh tomatoes.

Prices could rise 40% from May to December, according to the university analysis by economists led by Timothy Richards, the Morrison chair of agribusiness. During the cooler months, when there are fewer domestic supplies of tomatoes, prices could escalate up to 85%, according to the estimate.



If you love tomatoes, this is obviously really bad news.

Meanwhile, the heartland of America is being hammered by even more huge storms, and this is causing even more catastrophic flooding.

..........
Obviously this latest round of severe weather is going to make things even worse for the thousands upon thousands of farmers that have been absolutely devastated by flooding here in 2019.

During the catastrophic flooding in March, “at least 1 million acres of U.S. farmland” (http://themostimportantnews.com/archives/midwest-apocalypse-according-to-satellite-data-at-least-1-million-acres-of-u-s-farmland-have-been-devastated-by-floods) were covered by water for at least seven days. And as of just a few days ago, the Mississippi River had been at major flood stage “for 41 days in a row” (http://themostimportantnews.com/archives/record-setting-flooding-in-the-heartland-the-mississippi-river-has-been-at-major-flood-stage-for-41-days-and-counting).

What this means is that many farms in America’s heartland won’t be able to produce crops at all this year, and many farmers have been so financially devastated by these disasters that they will never return to farming again.

In the short-term, food production in the U.S. will be significantly below expectations this year, and prices are going to be steadily rising at your local supermarket.

But it wasn’t necessary for tomato prices to rise. You can place the blame for that squarely on the Commerce Department.

Looking beyond the short-term, we are moving into a time when food prices are going to become so painful that they will become a major political issue.

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/it-is-being-projected-that-u-s-consumers-will-pay-40-to-85-more-for-vine-ripe-and-other-fresh-tomatoes-by-the-end-of-2019

[oyarde]

Oyardes tomato cost will remain the same as 2009 .

[CCTelander]

Who says you can't tax your way to peace and prosperity?

[angelatc]

Oyardes tomato cost will remain the same as 2009 .

Yep. Mine as well. Putting them in the ground next weekend, as the average last frost date will be past by then.

[ATruepatriot]

Oyardes tomato cost will remain the same as 2009 .

Lol... Unless your water bill goes up... :) But you can offset that cost by donating your own humanure. :) Know what our best producer is out here in the southwest because of the high alkali soil? Freeking incredible, Overnight Zucchini go from one inch to two feet long, they grow so fast you cannot eat or give them away fast enough to keep them from becoming pithy. Just crazy production and growth with these. Tomatoes also grow fast but never get "sweet" like they should.

[RonZeplin]

Who says you can't tax your way to peace and prosperity?

President Trump likes to grab 'em by the tomatoes too.

https://nypdecider.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/donald-trump-meg-family-guy.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646&h=431&crop=1

[specsaregood]

Oyardes tomato cost will remain the same as 2009 .

Mine will cost me slightly less as the spawn is old enough to do some of the work now.

[ATruepatriot]

Mine will cost me slightly less as the spawn is old enough to do some of the work now.

I tried that... By the time the spawn got done with their homework everything had gone to seed. lol

[nobody's_hero]

Oyardes tomato cost will remain the same as 2009 .

Booo! Hissss! Self-reliance. Kill it with fire!

[tfurrh]

Since itsback showed me how to save water cleaning tomatoes I plan on offsetting the price increase

[phill4paul]

Picked up the first of the greenhouse tomatoes from the Farmers Market today. Didn't see a noticeable increase in cost.

[juleswin]

A lot of city folks ain't going to like this but remaking this country into a sorta agrarian society might actually benefit us all. Industrial farming has hurt the character of this country's citizens. I look forward to tilling the soil and planting not just my own tomatoes but my own green beans, carrots and corn.

[phill4paul]

A lot of city folks aint going to like this but remaking this country into a sorta agrarian society might actually benefit us all. Industrial farming has hurt the character of this country's citizens. I look forward to tilling the soil and planting no just my own tomatoes but my own green beans, carrots and corn plants.

Used to have a garden every year. Last coupla years just haven't been up to it. It takes time to do it well. Which I don't have much of these days. But, I enjoy heading to the downtown farmers market and supporting local growers. Seems every time I go I catch up with someone I haven't seen in a long time. There's always some acoustic music. Except when the local Elvis impersonator is there. But, he's pretty entertaining in his own right. They are there twice a week so there is always something fresh on hand.

[juleswin]

Used to have a garden every year. Last coupla years just haven't been up to it. It takes time to do it well. Which I don't have much of these days. But, I enjoy heading to the downtown farmers market and supporting local growers. Seems every time I go I catch up with someone I haven't seen in a long time. There's always some acoustic music. Except when the local Elvis impersonator is there. But, he's pretty entertaining in his own right. They are there twice a week so there is always something fresh on hand.

I know this may not have been his plan but if this bring people in the communities together then something good came out of it. There is more to life than abundance, cheap goods and ever increasing GDP numbers. It would be icing on the cake if this whole crisis leads to the rejuvenation of local sustainable vegetable industry.

We grew vegetables and some cash crops back home and some of my fondest memories happened during harvest time when we all got our hands dirty to work on the field.

[ATruepatriot]

I know this may not have been his plan but if this bring people in the communities together then something good came out of it. There is more to life than abundance, cheap goods and ever increasing GDP numbers. It would be icing on the cake if this whole crisis leads to the rejuvenation of local sustainable vegetable industry.

We grew vegetables and some cash crops back home and some of my fondest memories happened during harvest time when we all got our hands dirty to work on the field.

What happens when the first 200 people show up to get their free vegetables even though they did not help grow them at all, not leaving any or very few for those who worked their asses off to grow them?

Jules... this is a very important question...

[RonZeplin]

What happens when the first 200 people show up to get their free vegetables even though they did not help grow them at all, not leaving any or very few for those who worked their asses off to grow them?

Jules... this is a very important question...

12 Gauge shotgun, rock salt. :directhit:

[juleswin]

What happens when the first 200 people show up to get their free vegetables even though they did not help grow them at all, not leaving any or very few for those who worked their asses off to grow them?

Jules... this is a very important question...

That never happens, just the opposite. The farming is not regulated and we are free to sell our excess to customers with non of the profits is taxed.

You know just a few days ago, you said the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me on this forum and since then, you have been a complete nuisance to me. What's up with that?

[ATruepatriot]

I know this may not have been his plan but if this bring people in the communities together then something good came out of it. There is more to life than abundance, cheap goods and ever increasing GDP numbers. It would be icing on the cake if this whole crisis leads to the rejuvenation of local sustainable vegetable industry.

We grew vegetables and some cash crops back home and some of my fondest memories happened during harvest time when we all got our hands dirty to work on the field.

Very good example of what I have been trying to share for quite awhile now. Thank you. Why would you labor to haul water to plants and trees that will never fruit?

[ATruepatriot]

That never happens, just the opposite. The farming is not regulated and we are free to sell our excess to customers with non of the profits is taxed.

I was talking about the folks that hear about free tomaters and expect them hell or high water., leaving you nothing left to sell and recoup your costs, let alone leave you enough to feed yourself from all your labor.


You know just a few days ago, you said the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me on this forum and since then, you have been a complete nuisance to me. What's up with that?

Because my friend I do not follow a script. I am not a hard line anything, Pub, Lib, Libertarian, Independent none of them. I am an individual who finds only right or wrong no matter the source. I am a leader of self rather than a follower of anyone. And I try my best to be honest with myself and others and give credit where credit is due because I feel that particular stance on a topic was right and just. And if you happen to share fact and I think it is a good common sense direction I will back you up with my life if I have to. But if you are headed in a direction that endangers the future of my Grandchildren I will oppose you with the same polar strength of will.

I don't dislike you Jules, I just dislike some of the concepts you champion here because they directly threaten my Clan. I don't hate very many people except maybe Obama, Both Clintons, and McCain. Oh, and my Mom. :)

But I always try to be objective and give credit where credit is due without bias. Right or wrong, your choice my friend.

[Danke]

T

You know just a few days ago, you said the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me on this forum and since then, you have been a complete nuisance to me. What's up with that?


I thought I was the guy who said the nicest things about you? Maybe you didn't take it seriously, as I always say nice things about people, so maybe in your mind you watered it down a bit because of that fact.

[ATruepatriot]

I thought I was the guy who said the nicest things about you? Maybe you didn't take it seriously, as I always say nice things about people, so maybe in your mind you watered it down a bit because of that fact.

Damn... I didn't mean to screw up a relationship man...

[Danke]

Damn... I didn't mean to screw up a relationship man...

Some of my best friends are Nigerians. But I'll let you join that group.

[ATruepatriot]

Some of my best friends are Nigerians. But I'll let you join that group.

I would be then a Ninjun?

[juleswin]

I thought I was the guy who said the nicest things about you? Maybe you didn't take it seriously, as I always say nice things about people, so maybe in your mind you watered it down a bit because of that fact.

I have no idea when you are being serious or just doing sarcasm. Yea, you said nice things about me but also said I shouldn't breed or that the reason why I came to this country was because of white women, those insults hurt. So yea, were u serious with the niceties or doing sarcasm with the insults? I really don't know.

But lets stop derailing this thread. We going to wake up tomorrow with all our posts in a new thread sounding all gay.
ATruepatriot nobody expects free stuff from their fellow citizen, they generally wait for govt to steal it first. That way they don't get their hands dirty. Btw my day went to govt school all his life, the Nigerian govt scholarship paid for virtually all his school so maybe he owes our neighbours some of those vegetables. Just saying

[goldenequity]

I would be then a Ninjun?

i have the perfect meme 4 that.... **sweats profusely** mu-must re-sissst..... muh...
s'ok. i'm good.
cheers.

hi jules... :heart: you bro. :)

[ATruepatriot]

I have no idea when you are being serious or just doing sarcasm. Yea, you said nice things about me but also said I shouldn't breed or that the reason why I came to this country was because of white women, those insults hurt. So yea, were u serious with the niceties or doing sarcasm with the insults? I really don't know.

Jules, in my generation if you are not being sarcastic and hard assing someone then they wouldn't know you actually liked them. Especially if you have ever been in the service, it is a mandatory show of love and brotherhood in the military.


But lets stop derailing this thread. We going to wake up tomorrow with all our posts in a new thread sounding all gay.
ATruepatriot nobody expects free stuff from their fellow citizen, they generally wait for govt to steal it first. That way they don't get their hands dirty. Btw my day went to govt school all his life, the Nigerian govt scholarship paid for virtually all his school so maybe he owes our neighbors some of those vegetables. Just saying

No he doesn't owe anyone anything. But if he wants to be a saint and share then he is a good person. But that is his choice alone and should not be expected by society or forced on him by government. This is when it becomes a socialistic culture.

[ATruepatriot]

i have the perfect meme 4 that.... **sweats profusely** mu-must re-sissst..... muh...
s'ok. i'm good.
cheers.

hi jules... :heart: you bro. :)

I'll put up with a good kick in the rear if you want to. lol

[shakey1]

#goyourown

[enhanced_deficit]

President Trump likes to grab 'em by the tomatoes too.



That sort of crossed the line though.

Caution: Tweet contains graphic image
https://twitter.com/vajato/status/214136151068508160

[nobody's_hero]

Used to have a garden every year. Last coupla years just haven't been up to it. It takes time to do it well. Which I don't have much of these days. But, I enjoy heading to the downtown farmers market and supporting local growers. Seems every time I go I catch up with someone I haven't seen in a long time. There's always some acoustic music. Except when the local Elvis impersonator is there. But, he's pretty entertaining in his own right. They are there twice a week so there is always something fresh on hand.

Not to mention wildlife causing problems. Had a nice watermelon patch one time, but then, Deer. :(

[luctor-et-emergo]

Dutch tomatoes then ?

Mexico: US$2.3 billion (24.5% of total tomatoes exports)
Netherlands: $1.9 billion (20.8%)
Spain: $1.1 billion (11.9%)
Morocco: $686.8 million (7.4%)
Canada: $411.7 million (4.5%)
France: $369.8 million (4%)
United States: $325 million (3.5%)
Turkey: $289.9 million (3.1%)
Belgium: $284.1 million (3.1%)
China: $207.3 million (2.2%)
Azerbaijan: $177.1 million (1.9%)
Jordan: $168.3 million (1.8%)
Italy: $160.3 million (1.7%)
Poland: $79.2 million (0.9%)
Portugal: $63.8 million (0.7%)

[Swordsmyth]

Jules, in my generation if you are not being sarcastic and hard assing someone then they wouldn't know you actually liked them. Especially if you have ever been in the service, it is a mandatory show of love and brotherhood in the military.
Gomer Pyle would not agree. :)

[Swordsmyth]

Not to mention wildlife causing problems. Had a nice watermelon patch one time, but then, Deer. :(
With me it was puppies, they dug up all the onions too but they stopped when they hit the garlic.

[Zippyjuan]

Trump will solve the problem with the tomato supply. This should help lower prices.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/05/07/721172201/food-fight-trump-administration-levels-tariffs-on-mexican-tomatoes


Food Fight: Trump Administration Levels Tariffs On Mexican Tomatoes

While the trade war with China is rattling financial markets around the world, another trade skirmish is about to play out in the supermarket — in particular, the produce aisle. The Trump administration is preparing to level a new tariff — or tax — on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico.

The move comes in response to a growing outcry from Florida tomato growers, who have a lot of political leverage.

Florida used to dominate the American market for tomatoes sold in the winter and spring, but over the past two decades the state's growers have been losing ground to Mexico. If you pick up a ripe, red tomato in the grocery store this time of year, the chances are good it was grown south of the border.

"Depending on where you are in the country, especially at the retail level, you're going to see mostly Mexican tomatoes at this time of year," said Michael Schadler, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, a growers trade group. Mexico now grows more than half the fresh tomatoes sold in the United States. Imports from Mexico have more than doubled since 2002.




But Mexican growers and the companies that import their fruit insist price is not the biggest factor behind Mexico's growing market share. Unlike Florida tomatoes that are mostly picked green, Mexican tomatoes are typically allowed to ripen on the vine. Advocates of the Mexican fruit say consumers are simply voting with their taste buds.

"Tomatoes that we see today have very good flavor. They have nice acidity. They pop when you bite into them," said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, an importers group. "Back in the day, before the innovations, we had a lot of pink and mealy tomatoes that frankly didn't keep consumers coming back."

Jungmeyer argues that rather than update their farming procedures, Florida growers have sought refuge from a protectionist federal government. He warns the new import duties will raise prices and limit consumer choice.

"Duties are harmful to the American consumers," Jungmeyer said. "It's a tax on consumers. And that's the wrong way to go with fruits and vegetables."

More at link.

[devil21]

Sounds like dollar deval, seeing how most store tomatoes come from other countries, are picked still green and artificially ripened with acetylene gas. That's why store tomatoes always taste bland. They're actually green tomatoes with red skin.

[Zippyjuan]

Sounds like dollar deval, seeing how most store tomatoes come from other countries, are picked still green and artificially ripened with acetylene gas. That's why store tomatoes always taste bland. They're actually green tomatoes with red skin.

Actually the importers let their tomatoes ripen more before shipping than domestic producers so US tomatoes taste worse. And I think you mean "ethylene gas" which tomatoes naturally produce. Other fruits like apples produce the gas too (if you want your bananas to ripen quicker, put them in a bag with an apple).

https://www.npr.org/2011/08/26/139972669/the-unsavory-story-of-industrially-grown-tomatoes


Their wild ancestors live on the - along the coastal regions of South America, and that's - you know, that's some of the driest desert in the world. And it's why tomatoes do well in places like California and Italy. They love these dry summer days. Florida's humid. That's step one, you're right.

And the second thing is, most Florida commercial tomatoes are grown in sand. It's not sandy loam. It's not sandy soil. It's sand, just like you get on Daytona Beach, and it's got the same level of nutrients. Everything that plant needs to survive, to grow, has to be injected into that sand, or you get nothing.


ESTABROOK: Well, these tomatoes are picked by hand. Slicing tomatoes, fresh tomatoes that you buy whole, as opposed to canned tomatoes, are picked by hand. They have to be. They are loaded into one of these vast, huge trucks like the one that nearly did me in, and they're trucked to warehouse-like processing plants where they're washed, waxed, put in cartons, and then the cartons are placed on pallets.

And these bright green tomatoes go into warehouse-like buildings where the doors are closed and the processors turn on ethylene gas, and the tomatoes are gassed. Now, ethylene will cause a tomato to turn red. It's actually emitted naturally by the plants in the fields when they want to ripen their fruits. In this case, it's artificial, and even if a tomato is not ripe, it obligingly turns red.

[devil21]

Actually the importers let their tomatoes ripen more before shipping than domestic producers so US tomatoes taste worse. And I think you mean "ethylene gas" which tomatoes naturally produce. Other fruits like apples produce the gas too (if you want your bananas to ripen quicker, put them in a bag with an apple).

https://www.npr.org/2011/08/26/139972669/the-unsavory-story-of-industrially-grown-tomatoes

Great thanks for setting me straight on the exact gas used to artificially ripen the tomatoes.

[TheCount]

Dutch tomatoes then ?

Mexico: US$2.3 billion (24.5% of total tomatoes exports)
Netherlands: $1.9 billion (20.8%)
Spain: $1.1 billion (11.9%)
Morocco: $686.8 million (7.4%)
Canada: $411.7 million (4.5%)
France: $369.8 million (4%)
United States: $325 million (3.5%)
Turkey: $289.9 million (3.1%)
Belgium: $284.1 million (3.1%)
China: $207.3 million (2.2%)
Azerbaijan: $177.1 million (1.9%)
Jordan: $168.3 million (1.8%)
Italy: $160.3 million (1.7%)
Poland: $79.2 million (0.9%)
Portugal: $63.8 million (0.7%)

Morocco has a free trade agreement with the US, they'd be more likely than the Netherlands.