Do you feel bad for the tomato farmers who are losing their business?

Question

I did, til I thought about it. They claim to be losing "millions" of dollars due to the salmonella thing. Are those millions of dollars that they would have had normally? How rich are these farmers?!

Answer 1

Personally I don't know of any farmers who are millionares, and the tomatoes here in New Jersey are just fine

Answer 2

Most of them aren't small farmers but corporations...

  The reason we have a salmonella crisis dates back to the 1990's when Newt Gingrich and his Republican cronies tried to remove all progressive legislation dating back to 1900 pertaining to food safety, claiming that free trade and fair competition was enough check and balance for the industry... They never succeeded, but when Bush came to power, they just didn't fund the departments....

Answer 3

they aren't rich to begin with, so imagine how much it hurts them....i feel bad for any American who is unable to make a living...regardless of the situation....when so few try to work hard and make a living, any time you see someone who does struggle its a darn shame

Answer 4

Not a bit.

If they had not used agricutural practices that resulted in contaminated food to start with they would not be having the problems.

This was not an unpredicted even or an act of God event. This is a direct result of their own industry's greedy practices.

Answer 5

Many farmers don't own the land they farm, they are in debt to banks or their land is owned by a billion dollar corporation.

Answer 6

Ya alll the tomatoes in winnipeg are just fine so I dont see the problem. Im closed minded soemtimes.

Answer 7

I think I can sympathise for them

after all, they took a big hit for the government to have someone to blame and look like they're taking action.

Answer 8

I feel bad for the people that are losing their jobs because of this. I feel bad for the good farmers that lose business because of some rotten farmers. I think it's a good wake up call to put more restrictions and higher standards for the industry though.

Answer 9

Cut some bucks from meat subsidies and fund them into veggie farmers.

Answer 10

Most of that money is going to the grocery store chains, not the farmers. Most farmers aren't getting rich by a long shot.