MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Local farmers say they feel supported after a recent Department of Commerce decision that places a 17 percent tariff on tomatoes from Mexico.
West Coast Tomato says the future of tomato farming is bright. After decades of struggling to compete with lower tomato prices from Mexican farmers, the recent decision has made it a new day for American growers.
What You Need To Know
- Earlier this month, tomato farmers got a lifeline. The Department of Commerce announced tariffs of 17 percent on tomatoes from Mexico
- West Coast Tomato sells its product across the eastern United States and Canada. And with this new tariff in place, its president sees a bright future
Bob Spencer and his crew are getting ready for tomato planting season on his 2,000-acre farm.
“He’s out there pulling some pitches to get it ready for laying the plastic that we’re seeing has been laid,” he said.
Spencer is the president of West Coast Tomato. The farm has been in business in Manatee County since the 1950s. But over the years, things have changed.
“It’s been a difficult time period for farmers in the fresh produce industry in the United States because of Mexico,” he said.
Spencer said hundreds of family farms went out of business, and it has been a difficult road for West Coast Tomato trying to compete with the price of tomatoes from Mexico — but it managed to survive.
Earlier this month, though, tomato farmers got a lifeline. The Department of Commerce announced tariffs of 17 percent on tomatoes from Mexico.
“We’ve got a chance to succeed. You know, we’re never going to compete with Mexico, where there’s cheap labor and a lack of regulation,” he said.
Spencer says West Coast Tomato sells its product across the eastern United States and Canada. And with this new tariff in place, he sees a bright future.
“I think there will be an opportunity for growth — grow more acres and supply our country with good American produce,” he said.
Already, he said, the Department of Commerce’s decision has made a difference.
“I’ve heard from fellow farmers around the country — who are harvesting now in Tennessee and Alabama — that the markets have improved, and it’s the same way in California. So that’s good news for the American farmer,” he said.
Potentially putting farmers like Spencer on a pathway to greater success.
Julia Hazel
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