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.

[Carriage Hill]

Still more:

http://madeinusaforever.com/rara625lagaw.html

[Smokin' Joe]

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.

I agree fully!

[Viking2002]

I'd like to place an order of that 'cool and dry'. Delivered, FedEx Priority Overnight. We're at the other end of the temp spectrum (calling for 101 F. - ambient - on Saturday), but still as dry, hence the need for my irrigation system. But my tomatoes and beans are loving it as long as they get plenty to drink. My peppers aren't too happy about it; they never are, but I just put down about 50 more seeds from last year's crop, and they'll respond well once cooler weather gets here. We've picked hundreds of cherry tomatoes so far, and they're the size of ping pong balls. Beet red inside. So much flavor, they actually make you pucker. Tonight I may halve a couple dozen, brush them with olive oil, top them with some fresh basil out of our herb garden and some shredded Mozzarella, and broil them as a side dish.

This is a weird piece of real estate. I have to plant cyclically to get maximum yield. I haven't even put down the squash and zucchini yet!

"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

[Safetgiver]

Who shoots cooks?....The grunts that have to eat it without Tobasco sauce?

[Viking2002]

That's a neat gizmo, but I have too many obstructions in the yard for it to do the job properly. I'd have a four star Charlie Foxtrot going on out there in about five minutes flat. It will be a good idea once we do sell this place off and get a larger piece of property, though.

"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

[Carriage Hill]

This is what we use on the Farm’s acreage:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16932314@N04/5471336210/sizes/l/in/photostream/

[Viking2002]

Yeah, I live about 30 minutes from Auburn University, and see them in their Ag School's fields all the time. Fascinating to watch, too. They always remind me of huge, skinless, 1920's monoplanes trying to take off.

"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

[N. Theknow]

We got 58 excellent quality tomatoes for a buck. And a “free” kitten for my daughter.

I was in a gift shop in Kennebunkport, ME that had a sign: "Unattended children will be given a cup of espresso and a free kitten."

[Carriage Hill]

That system was invented, years ago, in Israel to irrigate the Negev Desert’s fruit trees and other produce. They can draw-down a spring-fed pond very quickly, depending upon the pipes’ linear footage and pumps’ hp. I like your analogy to “huge, skinless, 1920’s monoplanes trying to take off”... I can see that scenario! LOL.