EON

Industry On Verge Of Complete Collapse

Miami, Florida-The Florida tomato industry is nearing total collapse because of the current salmonella outbreak in the United States.

There is nearly $40 million dollars worth of Tomatoes that will be useless and left to rot unless something is done to trace the source and clear the tomato crop in Florida.

“We have stopped shipping, stopped packing, and the tomatoes are just sitting,” said Reggie Brown.

Mr. Brown is the executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange.

The USDA have warned all consumers in the United States to avoid certain types of tomatoes because of the danger of contracting salmonella from consuming raw tomatoes.

The tomatoes that consumers are advised not to eat include red whole round tomatoes, red roma, and red plum tomatoes.

There are currently over 140 people that have contracted the “Saint Paul” variation of Salmonella, and while there have been no reported deaths, there have been over 25 people that have required hospitalization because of the complications.

The state of Florida leads the nation in production of tomatoes, and their crop is valued at nearly $700 million dollars annually.

Without some method of clearing the Florida tomato crop it is a potential financial tragedy to the Florida agricultural tomato growers.