Japan Lifts Ban on Imports of U.S. Tomatoes

Japan has lifted its ban on imports of fresh tomatoes from the U.S. The lifting of the ban could be worth $50 million to U.S. growers, the Agriculture Department said, citing industry estimates, and comes after 12 years of negotiations. The lifting applies to only 25 of “hundreds and hundreds” of tomato varieties grown in the U.S. The announcement comes at the end of the Florida tomato season and at the beginning of the California season. Florida and California are the top tomato states in the U.S. and the only two with significant field-grown crops. Historically, Japan never imported fresh tomatoes from the U.S. out of fear of a disease called tobacco blue mold. U.S. tomato farmers will sell tomatoes to Japanese hotels, fast food restaurants and cafeterias in factories and offices.