April 17, 2006

ISSUE 1111

FFVA URGES CAUTION IN ALLOWING CENTRAL AMERICAN TOMATO IMPORTS

 

In comments sent April 7 to USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), FFVA echoed comments made by the Florida Tomato Exchange objecting to a move by the agency to allow importation of tomatoes grown in several Central American countries.

 

APHIS proposed to allow pink and red tomatoes grown in approved, registered production sites in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama to be imported into the United States without treatment for pests, and recommended a complex systems approach that relied on visual inspections.

 

The Florida Tomato Committee had requested materials to study the situation before the rule was to go into effect. It did not receive those materials, however, until mid-March, and some have still not been received.

 

"We believe that numerous data gaps exist and that either the proposed rule should be withdrawn or additional time be granted so that these concerns can be properly addressed," the comments concluded.

 

DISASTER RELIEF BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE

FFVA URGES CAUTION IN ALLOWING CENTRAL AMERICAN TOMATO IMPORTS

USDA PROVIDES MORE THAN $70 MILLION TO PROTECT FARM AND RANCH LANDS

MORE INSPECTORS WILL ENFORCE WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD

AG IN THE CLASSROOM TO HOLD STATE WORKSHOP

BLUEBERRY BOOK AVAILABLE

INDUSTRY LEADERS WORK FOR ACCESS TO CRITICAL PRODUCTION TOOLS