Egyptian cotton manufacturers are being dropped by U.S. retailers after a worldwide product error, and that means new opportunities for Arizona’s cotton growers.
A scandal involving the sale of falsely labeled Egyptian cotton products by a textile manufacturer to U.S. big box retailers sparked concern regarding the legitimacy of imported cotton. Target has since dumped its contract with its overseas cotton supplier, and will no longer sell that product under its Fieldcrest label, and it’s removing sheets made with the imposter cotton from its stores.
According to Reuters, other U.S. retailers are following suit and now looking to Pima cotton growers in Arizona and California to fill the gap. In a summary report released Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service said manufacturers choose U.S. Pima cotton over Egyptian cotton due to its higher quality, even though its price is also higher.
