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August 12, 2013

Backyard Farms to start furloughs, 3rd tomato crop

The Madison-based Backyard Farms will start furloughs after Labor Day for all but its essential personnel after a series of problems with its crop of greenhouse tomatoes this season.

Michael Aalto, a spokesman for Backyard Farms, wrote in an email that the company rejected its second crop this year because it did not meet quality standards. The company, which supplies tomatoes to retailers like Hannaford, Walmart and Whole Foods, had destroyed its first crop of nearly half a million tomato plants in July after they were infested with whiteflies.

Aalto wrote the company expects the destruction of its replanted crop will keep its tomatoes off the shelves until early next year. All but essential personnel are expected to take furlough days, including management, Aalto wrote, but the exact number of employees affected by the move is still undetermined.

The company typically produces over 27 million pounds of tomatoes a year and it is the only year-round tomato grower in New England.

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