The Commerce Department is investigating whether Mexico’s exports of fresh winter strawberries to the United States violates fair trade practices.
The U.S. International Trade Commission determined there’s a “reasonable indication” that unfairly priced winter strawberries from Mexico are hurting U.S. farmers.
That comes after a complaint filed late last year by the Florida-based Strawberry Growers for Fair Trade.
The investigation could be the first step toward tariffs on winter strawberries from Mexico. Last year, a similar complaint from Florida growers led to a new, double-digit tariff on tomatoes grown in Mexico.
Arizona imported about $2.8 billion of agricultural products from Mexico last year, according to the University of Arizona. Much of that was fresh produce, which mostly passes over the border tariff-free, because of the free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Arizona State University is partnering with local school districts on a new fruit and vegetable study. They want to figure out how schools can work with grocery stores to encourage kids and families to eat more of those foods. -
The Arizona Healthy Schools Act recently took effect as the new school year got underway. Several districts said they started planning for the change last year. -
The law, which passed last year, is now in effect as schools start back up this month. The list of banned additives includes colored food dyes and potassium bromide, which are linked to negative health outcomes, including stomach issues and some cancers. -
Salad and Go, the drive-thru chain that started in Arizona more than a decade ago, is closing all stores on Wednesday. -
Some wine growers in California are struggling. The New York Times reports some wineries are ripping out — or burning — their grapes in response to lower sales.
