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The article discusses a tomato glut in the U.S. Due to cold winter weather, tomato growers in Florida had to delay developing their crops. Consequently, the Florida and California harvests are coming to market simultaneously. In Florida the price farmers receive for a 25-pound box has fallen from $30 to $5.

The article describes California-based insurance company Geovera Holdings Inc.'s decision to try to increase the sale of earthquake insurance to California homeowners. The author notes the discrepancies between insurance companies' financial needs and the regulations and prohibitions issued by the state governments. The author cites other dealings concerning the economics of disaster insurance throughout the United States.

The article talks about the decision of private equity firm Blackstone Group to purchase Alliant Insurance Services Inc., a medium-sized insurance brokerage in Newport Beach, California. Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone will lead the purchase in partnership with the management and employees of Alliant. Blackstone will purchase Alliant from Lindsay Goldberg, an investment firm in New York City. Tom Corbett, chairman and chief executive officer of Alliant, makes a statement on the purchase.