19-3-4067 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. INV-19-3-4067; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by July 15, 2019
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its antidumping duty investigation concerning fresh tomatoes from Mexico (Inv. No. 731-TA-747 (Final)).
The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This
report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of
records or information in your firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased fresh tomatoes (as defined on the next page) from any source (domestic or foreign) at
any time since January 1, 2016?

NO

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)

YES

(Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the Commission)

Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: FRESH)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge
and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By means of this
certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the information provided in
this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings or reviews conducted by the Commission
on the same or similar merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
proceeding or other proceedings may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix
3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all contract
personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official

Signature

Title of Authorized Official

Phone

Date

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.-- On April 1, 1996, the Commission instituted a preliminary antidumping investigation in
response to a petition filed by the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, Orlando, FL; Florida Fruit and
Vegetable Association, Orlando, FL; Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Gainesville, FL; South Carolina
Tomato Association, Inc., Charleston, SC; Gadsden County Tomato Growers Association, Inc., Quincy, FL;
Accomack County Farm Bureau, Accomack, VA; Florida Tomato Exchange, Orlando, FL; Bob Crawford,
Commissioner of Agriculture, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Tallahassee, FL;
and the Ad Hoc Group of Florida, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and
Virginia Tomato Growers (61 FR 15968, April 10, 1996). On May 16, 1996, the Commission notified the
Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) of its affirmative preliminary injury determination. On October
28, 1996, Commerce preliminarily determined that imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico were being
sold at less than fair value in the United States.
On November 1, 1996, Commerce suspended the investigation pursuant to a suspension
agreement with growers and processors that accounted for substantially all imports of fresh tomatoes
from Mexico. A suspension agreement has been terminated and renegotiated three times previously.
The most recent agreement was terminated on May 7, 2019, and on that date, Commerce resumed its
investigation. Accordingly, the Commission is resuming the final phase of its antidumping duty
investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico.
Antidumping duties may be assessed on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if
the Commission makes an affirmative determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the
Commerce makes an affirmative determination of dumping. Questionnaires and other information
pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/fresh_tomatoes_mexico/final.htm
Fresh Tomatoes covered by this investigation are all fresh or chilled tomatoes (fresh tomatoes) which
have Mexico as their origin, except for those tomatoes which are for processing. Processing is defined to
include preserving by any commercial process, such as canning, dehydrating, drying, or the addition of
chemical substances, or converting the tomato product into juices, sauces, or purees. Fresh tomatoes
that are imported for cutting up, not further processing (e.g., tomatoes used in the preparation of fresh
salsa or salad bars), are covered by the investigation.
Commercially grown tomatoes, both for the fresh market and for processing, are classified as
Lycopersicon esculentum. Important commercial varieties of fresh tomatoes include common round,
cherry, grape, plum, greenhouse, and pear tomatoes, all of which are covered by this investigation.
Tomatoes imported from Mexico covered by this investigation are classified under the following
subheading of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), according to the season of
importation: 0702. Although the HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes,
the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
fresh tomatoes from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes fresh tomatoes.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire in connection with this
proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to
duplicated questions.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 3

Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.--The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all of your files, worksheets, and
supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy
of the final document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
Valid number error messages.--If you are completing this form in a country that uses periods (“.”) to
delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would appear as $1.000.000 rather than $1,000,000), you
may be unable to enter in numbers greater than 999 in numeric form fields. The solution to this data
entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number formatting to be consistent with
the U.S. number formatting system while you complete this form. Detailed instructions on how to
resolve this issue is provided at the end of this questionnaire and is available upon request from
Christopher Couper (202-708-1440, christopher.couper@usitc.gov).
D-GRIDS tool.--The Commission has a tool that firms can use to move data from their own MS Excel
compilation files into self-contained data tables within this MS Word questionnaire, thereby reducing
the amount of cell-by-cell data entry that would be required to complete this form. This tool is a macroenabled MS Excel file available for download from the Commission's generic questionnaires webpage
(https://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/question.htm) called the "D-GRIDs tool." Use of this tool to help
your firm complete this questionnaire is optional. Firms opting to use the D-GRIDs tool to populate their
data into this questionnaire will need the D-GRIDs specification sheet PDF file specific to this proceeding
(available on the case page which is linked under the "Background" above) which includes the necessary
references relating to this questionnaire, as well as the macro-enable MS Excel D-GRIDs tool itself from
the generic questionnaires page. More detailed instructions on how to use the D-GRIDs tool are
available within the D-GRIDs tool itself.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)
I-1.

Page 4

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than one
establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single response.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of fresh tomatoes, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.

I-2.

Ownership.--Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Firm name

I-3.

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that import fresh tomatoes into the United States or that export fresh tomatoes to the
United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)
I-4.

Page 5

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce fresh tomatoes?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 6

PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Purchases and imports.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of fresh
tomatoes.

II-1.

“Purchase” – Purchase from a U.S. entity such as a U.S. producer, a U.S. importer, or other U.S.
firm.
“Import” – Purchase directly from a foreign supplier and your firm is the importer of record.
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-March
2018

2018

2019

Purchases of fresh tomatoes
produced in-United States
Mexico
All other countries1
Sources unknown2
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of fresh tomatoes
from-Mexico
All other countries1
Total imports3

Please identify these countries:
.
Please indicate the firm(s) from which you purchased this merchandise:
.
3
If your firm imported fresh tomatoes at any time since January 1, 2016, please also complete and
return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in this proceeding.
1
2

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)
II-2.

Page 7

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of fresh
tomatoes from different sources have changed since January 1, 2016.

Did not
Source of purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
Mexico
All other countries
Sources unknown
II-3.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the fresh tomatoes market.
United
States

II-4.

Mexico

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for fresh tomatoes since
January 1, 2016. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of fresh
tomatoes that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2018.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2018 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 8

Part III.—MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES-- If your responses differ between
U.S. and Mexican tomatoes, explain in the most relevant section.
III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of fresh tomatoes
(check all that apply)?
Supermarket
or retail
chain

Food
service or
restaurant

Distributor
or broker

Packer or
repacker

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of fresh tomatoes, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the importers from
which you purchase fresh tomatoes?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-3.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of customers to which you sell fresh tomatoes?

III-4.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for fresh tomatoes?
No

Substitute
1.
2.
3.

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for fresh tomatoes?
No Yes

Explanation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)
III-5.

Page 9

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for fresh tomatoes has changed since January 1, 2016, and how you anticipate
demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that
have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2016
Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-6.

Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss fresh tomatoes supply
(including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2)
each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including Mexico, and (3) the world as
a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2016 to the present and forecasts for the
future.

III-7.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order fresh tomatoes from
one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

III-8.

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2018 purchases of fresh tomatoes that required fresh tomatoes
produced in the United States.
Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2018
purchases of fresh
tomatoes
Purchases that did not require domestic product

%

Purchases that were required by law or regulation to be domestic
product (e.g., government purchases under “Buy American” provisions)

%

Purchases that were not required by law or regulation, but were
required by your customers to be domestic product

%

Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other reasons
(explain:
.)

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0 %

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)
III-9.

Page 10

Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the fresh tomatoes market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to fresh tomatoes?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-10.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.,
seasonal business)
Yes- Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
fresh tomatoes since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-10. Impact of weather on fresh tomato purchasing patterns.-(a) Drought impact.--Did drought conditions and/or wildfires impact your firm's fresh tomato
purchasing patterns or the general market conditions for fresh tomatoes any time since January
1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, describe

(b) Storm impact.--Did Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Matthew, and/or other large rain-related natural
disasters impact your firm's fresh tomato purchasing patterns or the general market conditions
for fresh tomatoes any time since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, describe

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 11

(c) Freeze impact.--Did a freeze impact your firm’s fresh tomato purchasing patterns or the general
market conditions for fresh tomatoes any time since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, describe

III-11. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving fresh tomatoes based on its
producer or country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers
III-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of fresh tomatoes in the U.S. market changed since
January 1, 2016?
Availability in the U.S.
market

If yes, Please explain, noting the countries and reasons
No Yes for the changes.

Changes since January 1, 2016:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from Mexico
Imports from all other
countries
III-13. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of fresh tomatoes only
available from certain country sources?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the countries and the grade/type/size.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 12

III-14. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
fresh tomatoes since January 1, 2016 (examples include firms placing customers on allocation or
“controlled order entry,” declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers,
delivering less than the quantity promised, being unable to meet timely shipment commitments,
etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-15. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of fresh tomatoes (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Do you expect this purchasing frequency to change in the next two years?
No

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-16. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-17. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of fresh tomatoes usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

If yes, explain the factors you generally negotiate and note whether your
firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.

III-18. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2016?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or dropped,
and the reasons for the change.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 13

III-19. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2016?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new fresh tomatoes suppliers to enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-20. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell fresh tomatoes to your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.
• The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
• A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

No

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

III-21. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2016, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their fresh tomatoes with your firm, or have any producers lost
their approved status?

No

Yes

If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and
the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 14

III-22. Major purchasing factors.-- Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
your firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase fresh tomatoes (examples include
availability, color, firmness, flavor, price, quality, availability of varieties, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 15

III-23. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for fresh tomatoes.

Factor

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability
Availability of varieties
Color
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Firmness
Flavor
Freshness
Lack of bruising/punctures
Minimum quantity requirements
Organic or non-organic
Packaging
Payment terms
Price
Product consistency
Reliability of supply
Ripeness
Shape
Shelf life
Texture
U.S. transportation costs

III-24. Organic vs. non-organic tomato variety.--Has there been an increase in customer awareness of
organic vs. non-organic growing methods and/or any shift in customer preference between
organic vs. non-organic products since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 16

III-25. Seasonal characteristics.-(a) Does the seasonality of the fresh tomatoes market have an impact on the characteristics
(such as flavor, price, quality, ripeness, etc.) of the tomatoes available in the United States
based on the time of the year?

No

Yes

If yes, please explain the seasonal differences between fresh tomatoes from
the U.S. and Mexico and report the months when these differences occur.

(b) Please identify the beginning and end of the season for open field tomatoes.
Growing location

Beginning (month)

End (month)

California
Florida
Southeast (AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC,
SC, TN, VA, and WV)
Northeast (CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and
VT)
Midwest (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH,
SD, and WI)
Baja (Baja California and Baja California Sur)
Sinaloa
Other Mexico
(c)

Are there seasonal differences for greenhouse and controlled environment tomatoes1 compared
to open field and adapted environment tomatoes2?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain

“Greenhouse and controlled environment tomatoes,” for purposes of this questionnaire, are defined as
tomatoes grown in a fully-enclosed permanent aluminum or fixed steel structure clad in glass,
impermeable plastic, or polycarbonate using automated irrigation and climate control (heating and/or
cooling and ventilation), in an artificial medium using hydroponic methods.

1

“Open field and adapted environment tomatoes,” for purposes of this questionnaire, are defined as
tomatoes other than tomatoes grown in greenhouses and controlled environments, including, but not
limited to, tomatoes grown in protected agricultural structures, including tunnels, shade houses, and
other temporary or permanent structures, except for those grown in greenhouses and controlled
environments, as defined above.

2

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 17

III-26. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of fresh tomatoes?

III-27. Minimum quality.--How often do fresh tomatoes from the following countries meet minimum
quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
Mexico
Other
III-28. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase fresh tomatoes
that are offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-29. Price leaders.--A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a price change,
either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a
significant impact on prices. A price leader is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the fresh tomatoes market
since January 1, 2016.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 18

III-30. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2016, did your firm import and/or purchase imports of fresh tomatoes
from Mexico instead of purchasing U.S.-produced fresh tomatoes?
Source

Yes
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))

No
(If “No”, skip to III-31 question)

Mexico
(b)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source

Yes

No

Mexico
(c)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for importing and/or
purchasing subject imports rather than domestic product?

Source

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased and/or
imported instead of domestic
product since January 2016
(in pounds)

No

If No, please indicate the
reason your firm imported
and/or purchased imports
instead of domestic product

Mexico
III-31. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2016, in connection with a sale or offer to sell fresh tomatoes to your
firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced fresh tomatoes in
order to compete with lower-priced imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No”, skip to III-32)

Don’t know

Mexico
(b)

If your firm responded “yes”, please provide an estimate of the reduction in U.S.
producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as timing (e.g., months/years),
frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive factors.

Source
Mexico

Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
%

Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 19

III-32. Bundling purchases.--Does your firm bundle purchases of fresh tomatoes with other products?

No

Yes

Estimate share of your
fresh tomatoes in 2018 If yes, describe other products that are typically in
that were sold in a bundle bundled sales

III-33. Vine ripe vs. mature green tomato comparability.—Are vine ripe tomatoes interchangeable
with mature green tomatoes (regardless of country of origin)?
No

Yes

If no, please explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 20

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Are fresh tomatoes of the same type (e.g., round, plum/Roma,
cherry/grape) produced in the United States and in other countries interchangeable (i.e., can
they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

Mexico

Other countries

United States
Mexico
For any country-pair producing fresh tomatoes which is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable
use:
.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)
IV-2.

Page 21

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between fresh tomatoes of the
same type (e.g., round, plum/Roma, cherry/grape) produced in the United States and in other
countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair

Country-pair

Mexico

Other countries

United States
Mexico
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of fresh tomatoes, identify the country-pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how fresh tomatoes
produced in each country you identified in your response to question II-2 compares with fresh
tomatoes produced in each of the other countries you identified.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for
those country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Other Countries
compared to
product from
Mexico

Superior

Inferior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Other Countries
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to product
from
Mexico

Superior

IV-3.

Page 22

Availability
Availability of varieties
Color
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Firmness
Flavor
Freshness
Lack of bruising/punctures
Minimum quantity requirements
Organic or non-organic
Packaging
Payment terms
Price1
Product consistency
Reliability of supply
Ripeness
Shape
Shelf life
Texture
U.S. transportation costs1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
1

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 23

PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question that
for which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below.

V-2.

OMB statistics.--Please report the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of
completing this questionnaire.
Hours

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful, and
as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average 40
hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and completing
and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for reducing
the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such comments
to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW, Washington, DC
20436.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Final)

Page 24

HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the Commission’s
website at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/fresh_tomatoes_mexico/final.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire document.
Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted below. If your firm
is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one of the electronic methods
of submission, please contact the Commission for further instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/

Pin: FRESH

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to James.Horne@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic documents
that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information from
unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop-box system and the Electronic Document Information
System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 cryptographic algorithms to
encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not use these
encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to unauthorized
disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non-encrypted method of electronic transmission, the
Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is assumed by you and not
by the Commission.
If your firm does not purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned
copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary (202205-1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.