Florida tomato growers hit by low prices

Several months after four hurricanes hit their production, Florida tomato growers are suffering from low prices as production outstrips demand. "It costs the grower $9 to produce each box of tomatoes," said Dr. John Van Sickle, economist with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. "That $9 per box includes growing them, packing them and getting them out the door of the packinghouse. At the $2, $3 and $4 our growers are currently getting per box, it is clear they are taking a serious beating." Fine weather since the hurricanes struck has produced exceptional quality tomatoes, but prices have fallen to an almost 20-year low due to a drop in demand from the foodservice sector.