- Donald Trump has imposed a 17 per cent tariff on tomatoes imported from Mexico, raising concerns about increased prices for consumers and businesses.
- The tariffs took effect after the US withdrew from the nearly three-decade-old Tomato Suspension Agreement, with the Secretary of Commerce stating American farmers had been ‘crushed by unfair trade practices’. The Commerce Department calculated the 17 per cent import tax to measure the percentage by which Mexican tomatoes were allegedly sold at unfair prices in the US.
- The measure is expected to result in higher costs at supermarkets and restaurants, with one Californian restaurant owner predicting bankruptcy within three months.
- Mexico, which supplies about 70 per cent of US tomatoes, has refuted claims of dumping, insisting the popularity of their produce is due to its quality, and stated that substitution would be impossible.
Which is great and all if you have room to grow them—and aren’t a complete brown thumb. But a lot of people live in high-rise apartments without so much as a balcony.
And before someone recommends container growing indoors—assuming the apartment is oriented so the tomato gets enough light—that adds also the cost of pot, soil, and probably fertilizer, and then you have a very toxic plant in your house, which needs to be kept away from kids and pets.
Ahh true. I do have outdoor pots for mine and natural sunlight. My grow tent houses herbs like basil that I use year round.
vErY tOxIc PlAnT
Jesus fucking hyperdramatic christ.
It is though. It’s a member of the nightshade family, and every part is quite toxic, except the fruit. Not an issue for a sensible adult, but kids and pets are not very sensible.
I’ve been around tomatoes way to much. I get a rash if I touch the plants now.
Eggplants cause severe hives like poison oak.
As caretaker of a cat with pica, the toxic indoor plants can lead to very costly vet bills. Probably even worse with toddlers