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| California tomatoes OK, but locals still feel sting |
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| Written by John Saiz | Patterson Irrigator | |
| Friday, 13 June 2008 | |
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U.S. safety officials have said California tomatoes almost certainly had nothing to do with a recent outbreak of salmonellosis across the nation, but fresh tomato growers still could be feeling the pinch.  A pair of tractors spray pesticides on a tomato field off of Rogers Road on Thursday. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator “They pulled all tomatoes without really paying attention,” Beckman said. The sandwich retailer Subway, one of the nation’s largest purchasers of fresh tomatoes, started serving tomatoes again late this week, he said. The scare started after 167 people were diagnosed with the same strain of salmonella, prompting officials with U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Center for Disease Control to issue a recall June 5, according to the FDA. Salmonellosis occurs when the bacteria salmonella infects humans. People can catch it if animal feces come into contact with food. Typical symptoms include diarrhea, fever and cramps persisting for several days. Some cases are fatal.  Some tomato growers are still feeling the pinch even though safety officals ruled California tomatos are A-OK. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator “The word came down (Sunday) from corporate operations,” said Save Mart produce manager Greg Williams. “(Customers) like to see that we’re taking measures.” On the other side of town at Sam’s Supermarket, all tomatoes remained on the shelves, but people seemed hesitant to buy the fruit, produce clerk Joe Bernal said. Of the 167 people diagnosed with salmonellosis, two were from California, but it is thought they got sick after eating tomatoes while in other states, Beckman said. With the situation changing so rapidly, his cooperative is focused on getting the word out that California tomatoes are safe. “California tomatoes have been cleared,” Beckman said. The chief administrative officer of local processor Patterson Vegetable Co. said it is unlikely that company operations will be hurt by the scare. Paul Fanelli said the tomatoes they process will not be harvested for another 45 days, and they are all from California. The frozen foods company is one of Patterson’s largest employers. Local farmer Ken Bays, who grows about 400 acres of tomatoes, said he does not expect it to have much effect on the growers, either. Some local growers sell only to processors who cook their products, thus removing the salmonella threat. The growers most likely to be affected are those who sell fresh tomatoes. Crows Landing-based San Joaquin Tomato Growers, which harvests numerous acres locally, referred all questions to California Tomato Farmers. “We were guilty by association,” Beckman said. “That’s starting to change.” To reach John Saiz at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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