16 • September | October 2026 • abasto.com U.S. Maintains Anti-Dumping Duty on Mexican Tomatoes Winners of the 2026 Retail Produce Manager Awards · Lauren Perkins of Fred Meyer/Kroger, Shoreline, WA · Antonio Mai of Fresh Thyme Market, Geneva, IL · Christopher Latour of Giant Eagle/Market District, Strongsville, OH · Jamie Peavey of Hannaford, Dover, NH · Chris Sanders of Harps Food Stores, Elkins, AR · Michael Ferro of Meijer, Davison, MI · Craig Belanger of Price Chopper/Market 32, Midd- letown, CT · David Gonzales of Randalls, Houston, TX · Jonathan Wilkinson of Roche Bros Supermarkets, West Roxbury, MA · Josh Mock of Schnucks, St. Louis, MO · Michelle Rocha of Safeway, San Jose, CA · Randy Hall of Shaw’s, Hanson, MA · Rui Lima of Star Market, Harwich, MA · Herbert Chavez of Stop & Shop, Rocky Point, NY · Ricky Allemand of Super 1 Foods, Carencro, LA · Renato Barrantes of The Fresh Market, Orlando, FL · Robynn Orndorf of The GIANT Company, Mecha- nicsburg, PA · Efrain Hernandez of Tom Thumb, Firewheel, TX · Aaron Brown of Tops Friendly Markets, Dunkirk, NY · Davouce Michel of Whole Foods Market, Boston, MA IFPA Honors 20 Produce Leaders BY VIOLETA MONTES DE OCA T he International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) announ- ced the 20 winners of the 2026 Retail Produce Manager Awards, recognizing their outstanding dedication to fresh pro- duce, innovative marketing, community commitment, and ex- ceptional customer service. These produce department managers represent a wide variety of retailers. They connect consumers with fresh fruits and vege- tables, drive sales, inspire their teams, and create memorable shopping experiences. Agricultural News BY HERNANDO RAMÍREZ-SANTOS T he U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) determined that Mexican tomato producers failed to demonstrate suffi- cient changes to warrant lifting a decades-old anti- dumping order, according to a statement from the agency. The decision lea- ves a 17% tariff on imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico in place. Commissioners Jason E. Kearns and Amy A. Karpel cast their votes on June 30, the USITC reported. Chair- man David S. Johanson did not participate in the vote. This outcome concludes a review that the Commis- sion initiated on January 21, 2026, under Section 751(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930. Mexican producers, the previous framework had been. The Florida Tomato Ex- change hailed the ruling as a vindication. “The decision is a victory for fair competition and the rule of law,” said Executi- ve Vice President Robert Guenther. For supermarkets and fresh-produce buyers, the practical impact remains largely unchanged for the time being: the supply dy- namics and price pressu- res linked to the 17% tariff persist. But the ruling clo- ses, at least for now, one of the most direct avenues Mexican exporters had for renegotiating trade terms. The Commission plans to publish its full report, titled “Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico,” by August 17, 2026. led by Grupo Bioparques, had sought the review, arguing that market con- ditions no longer justified the tariff, according to the Federal Register. The dispute, however, dates back further. Produ- cers from Florida, Michi- gan, New Jersey, and Cali- fornia testified at a hearing in May to defend the order. Their argument relied hea- vily on the Department of Commerce’s July 2025 decision to rescind the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement and impose anti-dumping margins of up to 273.43 percent—a move the industry views as proof of how ineffective 16 • Septiembre | Octubre 2026 • abasto.com Special Insert Agriculture industry