Canadian tomato growers are getting calls but can’t fully capitalize on heightened demand for their product in the wake of a salmonella scare south of the border.
On June 7, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a nationwide warning concerning certain red plum, red roma and red round tomatoes, and products containing those tomatoes.
Since mid-April 2008, there have been 228 reported cases of salmonella from tomatoes in the U.S., responsible for at least 23 hospitalizations. As well, the tainted tomatoes continue to be investigated as a possible contributor in the death of a 67-year-old cancer patient in Texas.
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Fast food and restaurant chains removed tomatoes from their menus and U.S. retailers and wholesalers are looking for supplies from regions that have been deemed safe by the FDA, which includes Canada.
Canadian greenhouse growers produced 194,758 tonnes of tomatoes in 2007, with a farmgate value of $357 million, according to Statistics Canada.
Much of that value stems from exports to the U.S. market, which is scrambling for even more product in the wake of the food scare.
“Some of our marketing agencies have had increased inquiries and requests for purchase from the United States,” said Mary-Margaret Gaye, executive director of the B.C. Greenhouse Growers’ Association.
Unfortunately, much of the Canadian tomato crop is already spoken for. Many growers have contracts in place and are unable to fill requests for additional product.
B.C. greenhouse operators plant their tomatoes in November or December. Those plants usually produce for 10 months, with the bulk of the harvest in the summer months.
“People would not be able to increase their production now,” said Gaye.
The situation is the same in Ontario, Canada’s other big tomato growing province. There will be some opportunity to provide product to new customers, but again, that will be limited by forward contracts, said Kristen Callow, general manager of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.
Producers who do have extra production are receiving good prices.
“We’ve seen about a 10 percent increase so far,” said Callow, adding that a price hike was desperately needed.
Energy bills, which account for half of the cost of production for greenhouse operators, have been steadily rising, as have their fertilizer costs.
Callow said there may be some long-term marketing opportunities for Canadian greenhouse growers depending on how long it takes the FDA to find the source of the tainted tomatoes. Earlier this week, the FDA had ruled out 37 states, and six countries, including Canada, as possible sources for the outbreak.
The incident could also create some additional demand from fast food chains, which until now have been the exclusive domain of field tomato growers because field tomatoes are cheaper and easier to slice.
The greenhouse industry sees the salmonella outbreak as a prime opportunity to educate consumers about the difference between greenhouse and field tomatoes.
Callow said growers can control the environment and all the conditions in greenhouse settings.
“It’s much easier to implement and be more confident in your food safety programs,” she said.
All greenhouse growers in Ontario are required by law to belong to the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers and are subject to an annual third-party audit to ensure everybody is following the same food safety standards.
“That is really important to note because everywhere else in North America is voluntary,” she said.
Gaye said greenhouse tomatoes have far less risk of harboring salmonella because they are not grown in manure and are subject to strict food safety protocols. She thinks the health scare south of the border could lead to increased sales of greenhouse tomatoes.
“There could be an opportunity to supply more product both domestically as well as the United States.”
