Georgia's growers have had their share of controversary this summer.  Below are articles concerning the tomato and jalapeno salmonella scare and the effects on Georgia's economy. 

 The tomato scare may be over, but it has taken a toll.

The recent concerns expressed by the Food and Drug Administration that linked certain types of tomatoes with salmonella have cost the industry an estimated $100 million and left millions of people with a new wariness about the safety of everyday foods.

Though Georgia tomatoes never were involved, and the FDA later declared most tomatoes safe, the scare still sent sales and prices tumbling. Many unsold Georgia tomatoes were tossed away. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin said Georgia tomatoes were not ready for market at the time of the outbreak.

"Our market was injured because people stopped buying tomatoes," Irvin said, adding that the scare will end up having a negative economic impact of $25 million to $35 million.

But consumers appear to have confidence in other produce grown in the state. The agriculture department for a number of years has used the branding of "Georgia Grown" to market the state's produce, ranging from Vidalia onions to peaches.

"Locally grown produce has an appeal to our consumers, and we need more of our stores to stock and feature ‘Georgia Grown,'" Irvin said. "It's ridiculous to buy products coming in here from Mexico, when the same products are grown right here in Georgia."

 By Harris Blackwood of the Gainesville Times

Click here to read full article

July 20, 2008

Georgia Jalapeno peppers and salsa found negative for Salmonella

Samples of fresh jalapenos and salsa grown and produced in Georgia have tested negative for Salmonella.  Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin made the announcement this afternoon after receiving the results from the Department’s food microbiology laboratory.   

The Georgia Department of Agriculture tested samples from six Georgia farms and nine samples from Salsa Y’all, a Watkinsville producer that uses Georgia jalapenos.  All samples were negative for Salmonella.

“I hope news of our test results will encourage grocery stores and restaurants to start placing orders for these products again,” said Commissioner Irvin.

The testing was done in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) blanket recommendation that consumers avoid all fresh jalapenos and products that contain them.  FDA made that recommendation after one pepper from a farm in Mexico tested positive for the Salmonella Saintpaul strain that has sickened more than 1284 people across the U.S. and Canada.

“I am fully committed to food safety,” said Irvin.  “FDA unfairly condemned innocent farmers and food processors that produce safe and healthy food.  That is not right.  Many farms have not even begun harvesting; yet they are being forced to suffer.  Putting American farmers out of business does not make our food supply safe."

Press Release from the Georgia Department of Agriculture

July 25, 2008

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