Tomato bailout plan left out of final government spending bill
Tomato bailout plan left out of final government spending bill
WASHINGTON -- There were no takers for a bill that would have compensated the tomato industry for the damage caused during this summer's devastating Salmonella outbreak.
In June, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a nationwide warning that tomatoes were the possible source of a Salmonella outbreak that had sickened more than 1,000 people. The FDA later switched its focus to hot peppers and told consumers to resume eating all tomatoes in the U.S. market.
But the earlier announcement had devastated the tomato industry, running up losses totaling at least $100 million for Florida and other tomato-growing regions during the peak of the harvest season.
At the request of the fresh produce industry, U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL) introduced a bill in July that would direct the secretary of agriculture to make payments to tomato growers and first handlers that were unable to market crops as a result of the FDA advisory.
But the final continuing resolution that passed before Congress left town to campaign did not include the tomato bailout money. Lawmakers dismissed a similar attempt to bail out the spinach industry after the 2006 E. coli outbreak.
"We're still hoping to find a way to get it done," said a spokesperson for Mr. Mahoney. "We ran out of time essentially."
There's a slim chance the bailout plan could be incorporated in an economic stimulus plan that congressional Democrats are advocating after the election, said Amy Philpott, vice president of communications for the United Fresh Produce Association.
But she said that all eyes are on a long-term effort to shape food-safety legislation in 2009.
"While compensating people affected is important, it's not a long-term solution," said Ms. Philpott, who called for changes on how the FDA handles foodborne outbreaks and the need for more transparency.
The bailout plan may resurface next year, but it is unclear whether Mr. Mahoney will be representing Floridians in Congress to fight the battle, since he is busy fighting for his political survival just weeks before a tight re- election bid after news started to report that the Florida Democrat has been tied to a sex scandal.
Rep. Mahoney is accused of having an affair with a former staffer and paying her $121,000 in hush money.
In June, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a nationwide warning that tomatoes were the possible source of a Salmonella outbreak that had sickened more than 1,000 people. The FDA later switched its focus to hot peppers and told consumers to resume eating all tomatoes in the U.S. market.
But the earlier announcement had devastated the tomato industry, running up losses totaling at least $100 million for Florida and other tomato-growing regions during the peak of the harvest season.
At the request of the fresh produce industry, U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL) introduced a bill in July that would direct the secretary of agriculture to make payments to tomato growers and first handlers that were unable to market crops as a result of the FDA advisory.
But the final continuing resolution that passed before Congress left town to campaign did not include the tomato bailout money. Lawmakers dismissed a similar attempt to bail out the spinach industry after the 2006 E. coli outbreak.
"We're still hoping to find a way to get it done," said a spokesperson for Mr. Mahoney. "We ran out of time essentially."
There's a slim chance the bailout plan could be incorporated in an economic stimulus plan that congressional Democrats are advocating after the election, said Amy Philpott, vice president of communications for the United Fresh Produce Association.
But she said that all eyes are on a long-term effort to shape food-safety legislation in 2009.
"While compensating people affected is important, it's not a long-term solution," said Ms. Philpott, who called for changes on how the FDA handles foodborne outbreaks and the need for more transparency.
The bailout plan may resurface next year, but it is unclear whether Mr. Mahoney will be representing Floridians in Congress to fight the battle, since he is busy fighting for his political survival just weeks before a tight re- election bid after news started to report that the Florida Democrat has been tied to a sex scandal.
Rep. Mahoney is accused of having an affair with a former staffer and paying her $121,000 in hush money.
