Farmers say salmonella scare has hurt tomato sales

By GARANCE BURKE , Associated Press Writer, General Science / Other

In this Friday, June 13, 2008 file photo, tomatoes ripen on the vine in Hanover County, Va. Since a salmonella scare has caused many customers to shun what's normally a summer favorite, tomato farmers across the nation have had to plow under their fields and leave their crop to rot in packinghouses. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

(AP) -- Expect fewer slices of red, ripe tomatoes next to the grill this holiday weekend. With a salmonella scare causing many customers to shun what's normally a summertime favorite, tomato farmers nationwide have had to plow under their fields and leave their crop to rot in packinghouses.

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Posted by JerryPark 07/05/08 06:12

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"Congress must investigate this matter and determine ways to avoid this in the future and make the innocent tomato growers, packers and shippers whole."

Why should congress 'make growers, packers and shippers whole'? Congress doesn't make other businesses 'whole' when they fail in the market place.

Produce producers should develop a tracking system which will allow rapid identification of problem production areas. If they had such a system, this problem would likely have been quickly resolved. It is not the consumer's fault that the producers have no tracking system.