Image: 2011-03-17 21:50:59
Virginia Tech officials said the university could be as much as a month away from having a steady supply of fresh tomatoes for its dining halls.
The tomato supply plummeted following a freeze in Mexico in early February, with North American tomato counts dropping between 20 and 25 percent.
Ted Faulkner of dining services said the prices of tomatoes are still three to four times higher than normal.
Dining halls suspended serving fresh tomatoes until the costs lowers, although they are still serving foods that use canned tomatoes.
Joe Bernardi of Bernardi & Associates, a vegetable and melon distributor, said the supply in Mexico is still dwindling.
“We’re entering the 30 days after the freeze where our supplies have dropped,” Bernardi said. “We are in very short supply but Florida is just about to start with their spring crops.”
He said by the end of March, the supply and quality of tomatoes should be significantly better. Dining services expects to resume serving fresh tomatoes by April.
A version of this article appeared in the Mar 18 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 9 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
2012 is approaching - god help us all.
Welcome to two days before the day after tomorrow.
Reply to this Top
I don't understand how Tech can suspend serving tomatoes to the students who pay an already outrageous fee for their meal plan because the costs are too high, yet employ the local inbreeds to "guard" the commuter lots surrounding Cassel 2-3 days a week...
Reply to this Top
You chose to purchase your meal plan. You also chose to come to school at VT, which every year seems to finish at the top of the "Best Food" category in the Princeton Review. You can get a freakin LOBSTER on campus if you want. Do you think you're going to get that for free?
And what do parking attendants have to do with ANYTHING this article is about?
Don't whine about your meal plan fee. Go get yourself a flex plan and call it a day.
Reply to this Top
"local inbreeds"
Those inbreeds are virginia tech students moron.
Reply to this Top
How come all of the other local restaurants have tomatoes? Wendy's is a locally owned franchise and they have tomatoes, much smaller outfit than VT.
Reply to this Top
Conspiracy! I demand the SGA take action
Reply to this Top
Conspiracy! I demand the SGA take action
Reply to this Top
Burger King was out of them the other day. O.o
Reply to this Top
Wendy's is an international company. Even if they franchise restaurants, the folks who own those restaurants are still responsible for certain standards and keeping a certain menu. So, unless corporate says it's okay, it's most likely not acceptable to change the menu (i.e. leave tomatoes off their sandwiches/salads).
Reply to this Top