Local News

Salmonella Concerns Affecting Farmer's Market

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― While much of the country continues to be cautious when buying tomatoes, Maryland is entering its busy season for locally-grown produce.

Tim Williams has more on whether international salmonella concerns are tainting the image of vegetables grown closer to home.

Interest, activity and confusion surround tomatoes at Baltimore's Downtown Farmer's Market.  Judy and Sonny Davis have questions.

"There's been a lot out about salmonella cases from the tomatoes and I really wasn't sure which ones were safe to eat and which were not," Judy Davis said.

The Davises are not alone, and for good reason.  Since April, more than 550 Americans have caught salmonella from eating tomatoes across 32 states and Washington, D.C. Scientists hope they've isolated the last outbreak of tomatoes, tracing them back to Florida and Mexico.  FDA inspectors are specifically checking farms, warehouses, packaging and transportation.

Local farmers contend buying produce closer to home eliminates much of the guesswork.

"We do everything possible to make sure our tomatoes are grown in a clean environment, that we handle them in proper fashion and we try to take care of them as you would any food product.  Try to do a good job with sanitary conditions and whatnot," said Tom Albright.

Now with the growing season well underway, many customers are still leery, but lowering their guard.

"I'm more comfortable buying them from a local person--grower--than I would be from the grocery store," Davis said.

The recent slowdown in tomato sales has not been without its challenges for farmers.  Tomatoes account for a large portion of total produce sales, so if customers don't buy red, farmers don't see green.

The trend is that more commercial clients are beginning to buy locally while national concerns still exist.

"It's actually helped my tomatoes.  I have demand.  I have two other produce stands in Baltimore County that are buying from me who have stopped using shipped-in tomatoes and are now buying mine.  We get a premium price, but we feel it's a premium product," Albright said.

Experts maintain cherry or grape tomatoes or tomatoes with vines attached are safe.

Many fast food chains have yanked tomatoes from their menus but local restaurants are slowly adding them back.

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