Charles H. Bronson

In response to growing concerns over tainted pet food and contaminated animal feed from China, as well as recent food-borne illnesses associated with California spinach and peanut butter from Georgia, Bronson and the Florida Tomato Exchange devised a plan to assure consumer confidence in what is one of Florida’s largest crops and convinced the Florida Legislature to enact the change into law during the recently-concluded legislative session.

“Florida is the nation’s largest producer of fresh tomatoes, and our department and industry are committed to doing all that we can to make sure that our crop is the safest that it possibly can be,” Bronson said.

Added Reggie Brown, of the Florida Tomato Exchange, an organization representing farmers who produce about 90 percent of the state’s tomato crop:

“We’re talking about a comprehensive statewide program requiring mandatory standards to assure that we produce the safest tomatoes in the world as a means of assuring public confidence.”

Bronson said that he believes that the new tomato regulatory program will serve as a model both in Florida and throughout the nation, and that the program will trigger other commodity groups to seek such oversight of the crops that they produce.

Many Florida farmers, packing houses and other processors currently rely on what are known as Best Management Practices (BMPs) or Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to grow and process the crops that they grow or handle. But the programs are voluntary, and the change enacted by the Legislature involving tomato production will make such practices mandatory.

While Bronson’s department will be required to adopt specific rules spelling out the requirements that must be followed, the rules are expected to include testing of water used to irrigate the crops, the installation of portable toilets and hand washing stations on farms and in packing houses, and routine inspections of such facilities.

“Consumers, retailers and food establishments are understandably concerned over the safety of the food they eat or purchase, and this new program will put Florida in the forefront of what our citizens want and deserve, “ Bronson said. ‘I applaud Florida’s tomato growers for stepping forward and requesting this regulation of their industry.”