Christopher Ranch

Bill Christopher, Christopher Ranch owner, shared his insight on the news show about how cheaper Chinese garlic has disrupted the domestic garlic market.

In recent years, he said, despite a steady supply of fresh, domestic garlic yearround, imported Chinese garlic has come to represent at least 50% of fresh garlic consumed in the U.S. Read more about the conversation in this article – China-U.S. Trade Dispute Key Issue at G-20

The influx of Chinese garlic compromises not only the business of domestic farmers, but the quality of garlic many consumers are receiving, as Chinese garlic has proven inferior in flavor, freshness, safety, health and sustainability to domestic garlic.

For example:

- Chinese garlic can take up to 60 days in an ocean container to reach the U.S., threatening freshness, flavor, safety and the environment.
- Chinese suppliers are not forced to adhere to the strict food safety and quality control standards that U.S. suppliers must comply with, including Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Agricultural Practices and third-party food safety audits.
- Sensory evaluations testing for flavor – conducted by leading Chef Cary Neff – proved that California heirloom garlic maintains its flavor throughout the cooking and serving process, whereas the flavor of Chinese garlic drops dramatically – at times, losing up to 50% of its original flavor.
- California heirloom garlic contains higher levels of essential oils and nutrients (including vitamins, amino acids, proteins and minerals) than Chinese, Mexican and Argentine garlic, according to brix and allicin tests performed by the National Food Laboratory. This translates to more flavorful, healthier garlic.

While the garlic business might not be as sweeping as the tire industry, domestic garlic growers, such as Christopher Ranch, are facing similar market degradation, due to Chinese suppliers exporting mass quantities of a competitive product at an unmatchable low price.

In recent years, like the tire market, the garlic industry has taken a serious hit from Chinese garlic – business has declined and acreage is down.

California garlic is available to consumers year-round,  yet Chinese garlic still represents more than 50% of the U.S. market.

Higher domestic prices are not motivated by bigger profits, either. Rather, domestic growers are confronted with higher costs to grow quality, safe garlic, including equitable wages to farmers and workers; following an extensive food safety program; sustainable farming practices; cost of land and inputs, etc.

In his move to apply the 35% tariff against Chinese tires, Obama invoked a clause – Section 421 – of trade law, which “allows U.S. industries or unions to seek protection from ’surges’ of Chinese imports, with a lower burden of proof than normal antidumping or countervailing duty cases,” according to an article in The Wall Street Journal.

In a letter to the White House, the Committee to Support U.S. Trade Laws – consisting of the California Fresh Garlic Producers Association; the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; the U.S. Beekeepers; the Flower Growers of Puget Sound and the American Furniture Manufacturers Committee for Legal Trade – expressed its support of the tariff, according to a separate Wall Street Journal article.