Greenhouse operators in southern Ontario are feeling the squeeze because of a glut of tomatoes on the market this fall, says the chair of the Leamington-based Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.

Don Taylor said Tuesday that ideal growing seasons in Mexico and the United States as well as Ontario has driven down prices by as much as 40 per cent. More than 70 per cent Ontario greenhouse tomatoes are shipped to the U.S.

“It’s been painful for sure,” said Taylor, adding the glut especially hurts those just getting into the greenhouse growing business.

The greenhouse produce business — tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers — in southern Ontario is worth about $700 million a year, with tomatoes making up about 40 per cent of that.

The Ontario growers call it a “perfect storm” of growing conditions this year in most of the competing jurisdictions.

“Whereas last year there was freeze and cool weather in the southwest (U.S.) and Florida, this year they had really excellent conditions — Mexico, California, Florida, the Carolinas — and of course we had good growing conditions for greenhouse vegetables,” Taylor said.

“There is much more supply than last year and that obviously put pressure on the prices . . . .,” he said.

In southern Ontario there are about 2,100 acres under glass and the number continues to grow each year as greenhouse vegetables compete head to head with produce grown in warmer climates. For example, Ontario greenhouse tomatoes are now exported to Florida, turning a tide of trade that existed for decades

“We are looking at expansion of markets (elsewhere) . . . and other varieties (of tomatoes) that might have potentially a slightly different market,” Taylor said.

“A lot of people don’t realize it but greenhouse production has grown to be a fairly major Ontario success story.”

In a related matter, the United States is about to lock horns once again with Mexico over claims that it is dumping cheap tomatoes on the U.S. market.

A legal battle was avoided in 1996 when the U.S. Department of Commerce set a minimum price on Mexican tomatoes. But given that that price hasn’t changed in 16 years, U.S. growers are once again complaining that the price is too low and are demanding the federal government to open up a anti-dump investigation.

“We are following it with interest because it obviously has an affect on us. And it could be a positive affect or could be a negative affect down the road but is really between those two countries right now,” Taylor said.

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