U.S. tomato farmers say want to dump Mexico deal (that they say has become "a charade".)

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 6/25/12 | Doug Palmer - Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. tomato growers on Monday said they have formally asked the U.S. Commerce Department to tear up a pricing agreement with Mexican producers that they say has become "a charade."

Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, told Reuters U.S. producers want the pact voided so they can file a new anti-dumping complaint against Mexico.

The rare request comes in a dispute that dates back to 1996, when U.S. industry filed a petition accusing Mexican producers of selling in the United States at unfairly low prices.

Brown said the Commerce Department found that Mexican producers were dumping their tomatoes in the United States at nearly 188.5 percent below fair market value.

The department later agreed to suspend action on the petition and negotiate a "suspension" agreement with Mexican producers and exporters that established a minimum reference price for Mexican tomatoes in the United States.

In following years, two more suspension agreements were negotiated to replace the original pact, but the reference price barely changed, Brown said.

In the meantime, U.S. tomato imports from Mexico nearly tripled in value to about $1.8 billion last year.

[EricT.]

Don’t know. I just moved here last Summer.

[JRandomFreeper]

.do you put all your veggies in a sort of weak bleach solution now?

Yes. I left a kidney and spleen on the side of a mountain, far, far away, so I have one of those compromised immune systems.

Except for my veggies that I grow.

/johnny

[cripplecreek]

About the only thing American left are the seeds

I use mostly heirloom seeds. One of these days the feds are gonna swoop down and arrest me and a whole busload of little old ladies who are part of the seed trading ring.

Just the other day, Mildred said she would hook me up with some Budget Booster tomato seeds next spring if I could score some Broomsdale spinach seed for her.

[Duchess47]

I refuse to buy any vegetables or fruits coming from Mexico and complain loudly when I find that is all the store has. And further complain to management, just as loudly. I also complain about fish from China.

[Aria]

So please let me know how to make this solution - how much bleach to water?

I’n pretty healthy but no use pushing my luck.

Were you in the military? Spleen and Kidney is a lot to leave behind.

[JRandomFreeper]

Technically? 50 parts per million.... and regular bottled bleach requires about a capful per gallon of water. When you can smell it, it's enough or way too much.

Yes. I was in the military.

That had zip to do with leaving the spleen and the kidney. I was a cook last enlistment. Who shoots cooks?

Cooks get hurt in slip fall accidents.

And (deep voice here) it's amazing how short a distance you can fall and get badly hurt.

/johnny

[Viking2002]

Yeah, I'm really getting to appreciate heirloom seeds and my catalogs are starting to arrive in the mail now. Just got a new John Scheepers catalog last week, in fact. And that bit about the feds is no joke - the Ag weenies pack heat, now. Can't sell raw milk. Some states even ban rainwater collection. They'll be coming for our squash next.

"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

[Aria]

Ahh...well I was imagining war wounds....obviously.

Thanks for the info.

[JRandomFreeper]

We had safety briefings in the USAF.

I was safer when I was at war. ;)

/johnny

[bimboeruption]

I do the same thing. I also say the words salmonella and e.coli very loudly.

[JoeA]

Bravo! I do the same here in Northern California. We have the best farmland in the world and have to import produce from Mexico? No way I’m buying from outside the US. Best tomatoes I’ve found, Campari, from Arizona. Consistently sweet and rich, and meaty.

[az_gila]

Technically? 50 parts per million.... and regular bottled bleach requires about a capful per gallon of water. When you can smell it, it's enough or way too much.

---

That's a little stronger than the level of bleach we were told to use after an earthquake -

Boiling water should be your first choice. You can, however, disinfect water with common household liquid chlorine bleach. This will kill bacteria in the water. Add eight drops of bleach per gallon for clear water and 16 drops per gallon if the water is cloudy. Shake and let stand for 30 minutes before using. A slight chlorine odor should be detectable in the water. If not, repeat the dosage and let stand for an additional 15 minutes.

[AlmaKing]

I’m on my third garden hose water sprayer this year. I thought it was just me. What garbage they make.

[Eagles6]

Three words: Chi Chi’s restaurant.
And yes, heirloom seeds. Got Rutgers, Brandywines, Ace 55s, Romas and some volunteers from last year.

[Alas Babylon!]

Read the seed packets. Some now say on the Country of Origin: China.

[Viking2002]

So far, I haven't come across any marked as such; not vegetable seeds, anyway, and I always check country of origin and packing date. But, the best way to eliminate it is cripplecreek's way - go heirloom. They haven't hybridized all the flavor out them, either.

"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

[cripplecreek]

I personally think we should do more of the region specific traditional crop farming. More cold weather crops from places they grew in the 1800s before being hybridized to grown in the desert.

That’s not to say that we shouldn’t maximize crops by growing in the southwest, only that growing traditional crops as a safety measure is a good idea.

[cripplecreek]

This won’t be a great year for tomatoes in southern Michigan, (too cool and dry) but the hybrids that would do well, taste like wax.

[Carriage Hill]

Mine: Made in The USA:

http://www.amazon.com/Rittenhouse-amazwalkingsprinkler-Walking-Sprinkler-Cast/dp/B0002PB214

[Carriage Hill]

US made tools/equipment:

http://www.squidoo.com/made-in-the-usa-garden-tools