A "tomato cliff" could be coming, according to trade association fighting a proposal to stop tomatoes from coming in from Mexico.
The Fresh Produce Association of Americas, based in Nogales, Az., held a conference call with reporters on Thursday.
The group sponsored a pricing study that said if Mexican tomatoes are forced to withdraw from the U.S. market, then prices for some hothouse tomatoes would double from $2.50 a pound to nearly $5 a pound.
The US Commerce Dept. is considering ending its agreement with Mexico at the request of Florida farmers.
Florida produces much of the nation's winter tomatoes, and is the largest producer of fresh tomatoes in the country. Much of those are grown in South Florida.
Florida growers have complained that their Mexican counterparts have been taking advantage of the Tomato Suspension Agreement to "dump" their product in the U.S.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.