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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUS imposes a 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes in hopes of boosting domestic production
Proponents said the import tax will help rebuild the shrinking U.S. tomato industry and ensure that produce eaten in the U.S. is also grown there. Mexico currently supplies around 70% of the U.S. tomato market, up from 30% two decades ago, according to the Florida Tomato Exchange.
Robert Guenther, the trade group's executive vice president, said the duty was an enormous victory for American tomato farmers and American agriculture."
But opponents said the import tax will make tomatoes more expensive for U.S. consumers.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-imposes-17-duty-fresh-210632170.html

Prairie Gates
(5,706 posts)
Clown shit.
JustAnotherGen
(35,696 posts)He's fucking deranged.
Justice Brandeis
(88 posts)Because they can.
And Trump, Miller and Homan are deporting all the pickers.
surfered
(8,010 posts)I thought they hated California?
Retrograde
(11,199 posts)or go into sauces. I often see trucks full of them in the Central Valley in late summer, and they definitely werent bred to require gentle handling. There are some varieties grown for eating, but those tend to end up in farmers markets or some local stores. A lot of the fresh tomatoes in major California stores(especially heirloom varieties), maybe except for a brief time in summer, come from Mexico or Canada.
republianmushroom
(20,701 posts)Very labor intense crop.
msongs
(71,813 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(57,175 posts)DET
(2,117 posts)I know nothing about tomatoes, except what I like and can buy at the grocery. Full sized tomatoes are a crap shoot, sometimes delicious but often inedible. But Ive consistently found that Campari and Sapori tomatoes are always good, even in the winter. Theyre larger than a cherry tomato, but smaller than a full sized tomato, and theyre usually packed in a plastic container. Just my 2 cents.
MissB
(16,329 posts)Looks like Ill be doing without slicer tomatoes over the winter.
I have a greenhouse but Im not sure Ill be heating it this winter. Itll already extend my season for a bit, but all I have in there are some Ildi (a cherry sized tomato) and a canne torre (a storage tomato). It is possible that Ill start a micro tomato or two this summer to bring inside but the ones I have are cherry tomato size or mini marzano.
Maybe the storage tomatoes will be decent fresh eating.
Karadeniz
(24,559 posts)Norbert
(7,170 posts)that in the Midwest, if tomato plants are not in the ground and starting to bud six weeks ago, you are behind the eight ball for the outdoor growing season.
The guy placing a duty on tomatoes from Mexico probably has never as much as watered a house plant.
Ms. Toad
(37,329 posts)I've got a few 2" tomatoes. It will be the end of July before I get full-sized ripe ones.
You're right - Trump can't just snap his fingers and make tomatoes magically appear.
Dave says
(5,186 posts)Gotta pay for the billionaire tax breaks somehow.
Retrograde
(11,199 posts)in their native land, and the first frost will kill them. Here south of SF mine will blossom and even set fruit until early November, but the fruits wont ripen outdoors. (otoh, they usually dont even start fruiting until Mid August - the wonder of micro climates)
There are varieties that can be grown indoors and fruit most of the year, but they tend to produce small fruit. Some growers are raising tomatoes in plastic tunnels, which are supposed to extend the growing season, but I don't know much about this. I suspect it's labor-intensive, though.
So get ready for the rock-like pink spheres of my youth, or grow your own, or learn to eat seasonally. And get ready to pay a lot more for less.
KentuckyWoman
(7,132 posts)They have huge greenhouses all around. Tomatoes all year. Spinach, and other greens. Surprisingly good even in January.
Expensive. But worth it.
Local eggs, dairy and meat as well. Have not been as lucky with other foods but am working on it. I miss living in farm country.
EarthFirst
(3,738 posts)
theres no one to harvest or process them!
Blue Full Moon
(2,464 posts)That some restaurants are going to close over this.
tinrobot
(11,646 posts)Brilliant.
Jack Valentino
(2,838 posts)and growing my own, in the back yard....