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The imports of fresh-market tomatoes from Mexico and Canada have risen in recent years, in part as a result of the staged reduction and elimination through 2005 of the duties on fresh tomatoes under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Also adding to the growth of trade among the three member countries has been the increase in greenhouse-growing facilities in each country which allows for the production and shipments of fresh tomatoes during those seasons when outdoor production is usually reduced or non-existent because of weather.

U.S. imports of fresh-market tomatoes amounted to $1.1 billion in 2005, accounting for 42 percent of U.S. consumption of $2.5 billion. U.S. exports amounted to $166.1 million in 2005 and remain small relative to production and consumption. The bulk of the imports from Mexico are field-grown tomatoes and continue to enter principally through Arizona. By contrast, the bulk of imports from Canada are greenhouse-grown tomatoes raised in Ontario and British Columbia, and enter mainly through U.S. Customs Districts nearest to Canadian production areas. Grower pricing for producing fresh tomatoes continues to lag far behind retail prices charged in grocery stores and at wholesale terminal markets.

You can find the full report here.

Monitoring of U.S. Imports of Tomatoes (Investigation No. 332-350, USITC Publication 3893, November 2006)

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