FTC continues plea for relaxed standards
FTC continues plea for relaxed standards
Reggie Brown, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee in Maitland, FL, said that the response from the retail and foodservice industries to Florida tomato grower's plea to relax standards on tomatoes has already received some positive response.
The committee, backed by those who farm, pack, distribute and market tomatoes from Florida, made the plea just prior to the recent PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta as a result of the damage done to tomato crops by Hurricane Wilma in late October.
"The challenge we now face is to meet the grade demands for U.S. No. 1 tomatoes for the retail and foodservice sectors," Mr. Brown stated. "We are bringing product to market now that includes the No. 1 and No. 2 grades, and we're asking our customers to work with us by continuing to accept the slightly lower grade until it is time to begin harvesting the next crop. We have been shipping the current crop for the past couple of weeks, and will continue into December."
Florida growers are now picking their way through crops in the Palmetto and Ruskin areas of the state. The storm did far less damage in these regions than it did in the direct strike zone farther south. Crops in the southernmost acreage suffered the majority of the destruction, and many plants there were damaged beyond their ability to rejuvenate.
With tomatoes, Mr. Brown explained, there is no such thing as replanting. There is only moving forward and getting back on a normal planting schedule.
"Normal plantings that are in alignment with our regular scheduling are ongoing," he said. "As long as we don't get freezes or other radical weather conditions, we will be back on track with high-grade product with the next harvest. As winter approaches, we typically get shorter days and cooler nights, making it tougher going for tomato crops. But we're holding out hope for the best of conditions."
The committee will continue its plea for receivers to work with Florida growers on accepting the lower grade for as long as tomatoes that were affected by the storm are available.
Mr. Brown said that some foodservice customers and major retailers, such as Wal-Mart, have shown their support by saying they would take the lower-grade product.
"Work with us on grade, and we will deliver tomatoes," said Mr. Brown. "It has been a hard pick, and we are still at it, doing our best to prevent the storm damage from turning into a greater crisis than it has to be for the industry. We have product, and although there was a lot of damage, it was not a complete loss. By working together, we can all get through this quickly and be back to normal within a short period of time."
The committee, backed by those who farm, pack, distribute and market tomatoes from Florida, made the plea just prior to the recent PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta as a result of the damage done to tomato crops by Hurricane Wilma in late October.
"The challenge we now face is to meet the grade demands for U.S. No. 1 tomatoes for the retail and foodservice sectors," Mr. Brown stated. "We are bringing product to market now that includes the No. 1 and No. 2 grades, and we're asking our customers to work with us by continuing to accept the slightly lower grade until it is time to begin harvesting the next crop. We have been shipping the current crop for the past couple of weeks, and will continue into December."
Florida growers are now picking their way through crops in the Palmetto and Ruskin areas of the state. The storm did far less damage in these regions than it did in the direct strike zone farther south. Crops in the southernmost acreage suffered the majority of the destruction, and many plants there were damaged beyond their ability to rejuvenate.
With tomatoes, Mr. Brown explained, there is no such thing as replanting. There is only moving forward and getting back on a normal planting schedule.
"Normal plantings that are in alignment with our regular scheduling are ongoing," he said. "As long as we don't get freezes or other radical weather conditions, we will be back on track with high-grade product with the next harvest. As winter approaches, we typically get shorter days and cooler nights, making it tougher going for tomato crops. But we're holding out hope for the best of conditions."
The committee will continue its plea for receivers to work with Florida growers on accepting the lower grade for as long as tomatoes that were affected by the storm are available.
Mr. Brown said that some foodservice customers and major retailers, such as Wal-Mart, have shown their support by saying they would take the lower-grade product.
"Work with us on grade, and we will deliver tomatoes," said Mr. Brown. "It has been a hard pick, and we are still at it, doing our best to prevent the storm damage from turning into a greater crisis than it has to be for the industry. We have product, and although there was a lot of damage, it was not a complete loss. By working together, we can all get through this quickly and be back to normal within a short period of time."
