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“We had some equipment challenges, too, with some new installations which caused some delays and we take responsibility for that,” he said. “All I can say beyond that is we’re taking care of the growers and that is currently being resolved.”

Thomas said he’s arranging a meeting with the growers next week on compensating them for the tomatoes that the plant couldn’t process.

The farmers in Essex County and Chatham-Kent recently received money for the tomatoes that were accepted at the plant. Some are considering suing to get money for the tomatoes they grew under contract but weren’t processed, Epp said.

The farmers couldn’t break their contract and try to sell the tomatoes to another processor or to the public. Their tomatoes are different from greenhouse or field tomatoes and have been developed to be canned as whole tomatoes or to be processed for paste and juice.

Epp, a second-year grower for Thomas Canning, said the company has promised a resolution for some time. He said he had a contract for 4,050 tons of tomatoes. He received $114,730 but said he’s out $375,967. Thomas Canning wouldn’t give him times to deliver, even though the tomatoes were ripe and by mid-August he knew it would be a disaster, he said.

Epp said Thomas Canning had contracts for about 46,000 tons of tomatoes but only took about 12,000 tons. He said the tomatoes left to rot in fields were worth more than $4 million. The price paid per ton is different depending on the quality and whether the delivery is for whole tomatoes, paste or juice. However, even at the price for low quality tomatoes, 34,000 tons would be worth at least $3 million.