Rep. Mahoney introduces bill to compensate tomato growers
Rep. Mahoney introduces bill to compensate tomato growers
WASHINGTON -- Tomato growers and first handlers nationwide could get money for losses stemming from the federal government's Salmonella warning if a bill introduced June 24 by U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL) becomes law.
The Florida lawmaker, who represents tomato growers, is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to dole out $100 million in federal disaster assistance to help businesses unable to market tomato crops as a result of the Food & Drug Administration's June 7 health advisory. Under the bill, USDA would write regulations on eligibility and on the amount of money companies could be compensated based on the value of "unmarketed" tomato crops or their actual losses.
In June, FDA warned against consuming certain tomato varieties when early epidemiological evidence pointed to tomatoes as a likely source of the outbreak, which has sickened nearly 1,300 people since April. This month, FDA lifted the tomato warning and refocused its probe on fresh Jalapeno peppers, leaving tomato growers questioning whether their crops were ever the source of the four-month outbreak.
"The FDA's warnings about tomatoes devastated the $1.3 billion tomato industry," said Rep. Mahoney. "We need to ensure that all impacted tomato growers and packers are compensated for their losses to protect domestic food production."
"The tomato industry in our state has unfairly suffered enough," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who co-sponsored the bill with Reps. Mahoney and Allen Boyd (D-FL). "The FDA must reform their traceback programs so that growers and consumers do not have to go through the same nightmare during future outbreaks."
The produce industry acknowledged that the bill is not going to be an easy sell, especially since Congress leaves Capitol Hill in August and prepares to campaign this fall.
And the definition of "first handlers" has Tom Stenzel, president of United Fresh Produce Association, concerned about the scope of the bill. He said that the entire tomato supply chain should be eligible for compensation, not just growers and first handlers.
"I don't want this to be divisive," he said. "That won't help anyone."
But the bill should compensate the entire tomato industry, including repackers, fresh-cut processors and others affected by the government's warning.
Florida growers invested thousands of dollars per acre for tomatoes that were never marketed, according to Mike Stuart, president of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. "I have no doubt the supply chain was also impacted," he said. But growers have been hit especially hard.
Congress is holding three hearings the week of July 28 on the issue, and the House Agriculture Committee plans a hearing in Florida on the outbreak in September.
Rep. Mahoney is hosting a roundtable in his district July 28 to hear from tomato growers and other produce businesses on the impact of the Salmonella outbreak and the need for food safety reforms.
The Florida lawmaker, who represents tomato growers, is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to dole out $100 million in federal disaster assistance to help businesses unable to market tomato crops as a result of the Food & Drug Administration's June 7 health advisory. Under the bill, USDA would write regulations on eligibility and on the amount of money companies could be compensated based on the value of "unmarketed" tomato crops or their actual losses.
In June, FDA warned against consuming certain tomato varieties when early epidemiological evidence pointed to tomatoes as a likely source of the outbreak, which has sickened nearly 1,300 people since April. This month, FDA lifted the tomato warning and refocused its probe on fresh Jalapeno peppers, leaving tomato growers questioning whether their crops were ever the source of the four-month outbreak.
"The FDA's warnings about tomatoes devastated the $1.3 billion tomato industry," said Rep. Mahoney. "We need to ensure that all impacted tomato growers and packers are compensated for their losses to protect domestic food production."
"The tomato industry in our state has unfairly suffered enough," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who co-sponsored the bill with Reps. Mahoney and Allen Boyd (D-FL). "The FDA must reform their traceback programs so that growers and consumers do not have to go through the same nightmare during future outbreaks."
The produce industry acknowledged that the bill is not going to be an easy sell, especially since Congress leaves Capitol Hill in August and prepares to campaign this fall.
And the definition of "first handlers" has Tom Stenzel, president of United Fresh Produce Association, concerned about the scope of the bill. He said that the entire tomato supply chain should be eligible for compensation, not just growers and first handlers.
"I don't want this to be divisive," he said. "That won't help anyone."
But the bill should compensate the entire tomato industry, including repackers, fresh-cut processors and others affected by the government's warning.
Florida growers invested thousands of dollars per acre for tomatoes that were never marketed, according to Mike Stuart, president of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. "I have no doubt the supply chain was also impacted," he said. But growers have been hit especially hard.
Congress is holding three hearings the week of July 28 on the issue, and the House Agriculture Committee plans a hearing in Florida on the outbreak in September.
Rep. Mahoney is hosting a roundtable in his district July 28 to hear from tomato growers and other produce businesses on the impact of the Salmonella outbreak and the need for food safety reforms.
