Trouble for Tomato Producers in Paraguay
By Michelle Fabio
For tomato growers in Paraguay, there really can be too much of a good thing.
Because of overproduction in its sector, tomato producers registered a loss of $25 million this past October.
Juan Martinez, president of the Paraguayan Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Producers, says that there are simply too many tomatoes being produced for Paraguay’s needs which has led to over 100 tons of tomatoes rotting every day in storage.
The problem is compounded, says Martinez, by illegal imports arriving from Brazil. In the first week of November alone, 5000 tons of tomatoes that had entered Paraguay illegally from Brazil were confiscated and destroyed.
In every day life in Paraguay, as reported on Brendas Blog from Paraguay, the situation has led to not only extraordinarily high prices for tomatoes but also stories of law officers being offered bribes to permit smuggled tomatoes across the border.
Make no mistake—tomatoes are big business worldwide.
Source: Losses close to US$ 25 million: Tomato producers in Paraguay face critical situation
January 15th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
T is for tomato.
Did you know that it’s a fruit?
Some say that it’s a vegetable
Which causes a dispute.
From The Just Published:
“The ABC’s of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond”
By Steve Charney and David Goldbeck
January 18th, 2008 at 8:50 am
That’s cute David! Thanks for sharing!