“Outbreaks of Salmonella”
“Chains Pull Tomatoes from Shelves Amid Salmonella Scare”
“McDonald’s Removes Tomatoes from Menu”

Scary headlines like these ones have made their way through all media streams this week. But this isn’t the first outbreak of problematic tomatoes, it’s just the first time that the media has made it a full-blown awareness campaign. News like this should make you think.

• How often does this occur and we don’t hear about it?
• What other issues can there be with my food?
• What can I do to ensure my safety?

Message boards are now filled with Canadians shouting for restaurants to use local produce and families threatening to take on the 100-Mile-Diet. Naysayers think this isn’t a solution, but I think it’s the only solution.

Buy local from a farmer you trust or grow some of your own produce. My tomato plant is growing like mad and it’s content to be in the window box; what could be easier? I also stopped in at Sanson Estate Winery this week where they had some local tomatoes available.

The Windsor Star reported yesterday that Leamington tomato growers are now inundated with call and inquiries (see Demand Soaring for Local Tomatoes). At the end of the article, one businessman actually complains about the additional workload to keep abreast of the tomato news. Here was my reply:

Hi. I work at a tool and die shop. We’d love to be run off of our feet with work and speaking to new and potential customers. If keeping tabs on the daily developments of our industry was important to handle the workload, then we’d do it. Hopefully the quote was a little off and maybe they just weren’t prepared for the deluge. Hire someone on a contract, I can direct you to lots of unemployed people…even PR specialists and marketers.

Another comment after mine has a lady whining because Subway isn’t serving tomatoes right now and she lives in Canada. Guess what, Subway doesn’t buy local produce anyway. Don’t you ever wonder why your tomatoes are green and crunchy?

I have a theory that Subway employees see me coming and try to use up their crappy veggies on my sub, thinking that I won’t complain. But I refuse to eat the ass-end of a tomato and will ask them to replace it. Some happily make the swap, others question me. I even refuse tomatoes at times if they look tremendously sad; one employee pleaded with me to call headquarters and request local tomatoes as customers complain to her continuously about freshness. This is why we don’t go to Subway anymore…that and the fact that we spend about $20 on two combos so we might as well go to an actual restaurant.

Buy local tomatoes. “Leamington Fresh” has never sounded more appealing.

Victoria Rose Leamington, Sanson Estate Winery, salmonella, tomatoes