The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service will begin inspections of tomatoes coming into the United States from Mexico at border locations on April 4. The inspections are in accordance with the requirements of the Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, negotiated by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.

AMS will inspect all Mexican grape tomatoes in bulk, and all Mexican round and Roma tomatoes, including stem-on, for quality and condition upon their entry into the United States from Mexico. Importers must request an AMS inspection when the load is available for inspection and pay the associated fees. Tomatoes-on-the-vine, specialty tomatoes and grape tomatoes in retail packages of two-pounds or less are excluded from the inspection requirement.

AMS will also provide inspections of all tomatoes covered by the Suspension Agreement at destination locations, upon request. These inspections are offered on a user-fee basis.

The Suspension Agreement was finalized on Sept. 19, 2019, by DOC and Mexican tomato producers and exporters, who account for substantially all imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico.