The Packer,Tom Burfield: “Distributors anxious about expanded tomato inspections” (12/03/2020)
Tomato distributors in Nogales, Arizona are not sure what to expect from a new agreement between Mexican tomato growers and the US Department of Commerce that requires all round and roma tomatoes to be inspected by the US Deptartment of Agriculture within 24-hours of their arrival in the United States beginning April 1. Divine Flavor’s Michael DuPuis agreed that the effects are not yet known and comments on the need for those in the produce industry to remain adaptable to these types of changes. DuPuis also mentions that poor weather has resulted in a smaller-than-usual April tomato crop, which might take some of the initial strain off of these new inspection requirements.
