North American Fresh-Tomato Market
See Background Statistics on
Fresh-market Tomatoes
In the first half of 2012, grower prices for fresh tomatoes
throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico remained low
across most tomato categories. Prices approached these low levels
in earlier years, but the duration of the downturn in 2012 is
unusual. Among the factors likely influencing the low prices of
2012 are good growing conditions throughout North America; a rising
share of fresh tomato production coming from protected agriculture
(i.e., non-field production such as greenhouse, shadehouse);
growing diversity of tomato types available (e.g. vine ripe,
cherry, grape, heirloom, greenhouse beefsteak, and greenhouse
tomatoes-on-the-vine); shifts in market preferences, and the
economic downturn.
Almost all fresh-market tomatoes consumed in the United States
come from domestic production or imports from Mexico and
Canada. Both field and protected agricultural production
practices in all three countries have evolved to provide a seamless
supply of tomatoes to the market. With multiple production regions
in the market every month, there are likely to be fewer and fewer
periods of short supply and peak prices.
For more information on North American fresh-tomato markets and
a discussion of terminology see: Recent Trends in the Fresh Tomato Market
(p.26).
Field Production
Warm weather and good growing conditions across North American
production regions produced large supplies of high-quality fresh
tomatoes for U.S. markets during early 2012 even as longer-term
production trends for field tomatoes are generally down or stagnant
(with the exception of roma tomatoes in Mexico). Almost two-thirds
of U.S. fresh-tomato commercial acreage is in two States:
California and Florida. Florida round and roma field tomato
production peaked in 1992 and declined 51 percent by 2011. USDA's
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) production data
show very little trend in California round and roma field tomato
production since 2000.
Field tomato imports from Mexico peak in the winter when
southern Florida is the predominant U.S. producer. The Florida
tomato season runs from October through June. Florida tomatoes
dominate the field market during the spring as Mexican field
production seasonally declines. California produces field-grown
fresh tomatoes from May through November. Growers in the Baja
California peninsula of Mexico also export field tomatoes to the
United States during the summer and fall months. Across all
seasons, U.S. imports of round field tomatoes from Mexico have
declined 43 percent since 2003 while imports of field roma tomatoes
from Mexico are still increasing (up 58 percent between 2003 and
2011).
Protected Culture
In 2005, U.S., Mexican, and Canadian protected culture tomato
shipments into the U.S. market were about equal. Since then,
production has increased in all three countries. Shipments from
Mexico have grown dramatically and now dominate supplies of
protected culture fresh tomatoes in the U.S. market.
For more information on the growth of protected culture tomatoes
in the North American market see:
Background Statistics: Fresh-market Tomatoes
Production and Use
• U.S. fresh-market tomato planted area: 1/
2009: 113,200 acres (39,500 in California, 34,600 in
Florida)
2010: 107,700 acres (36,500 in California, 32,000 in
Florida)
2011: 105,400 acres (35,500 in California, 32,000 in
Florida)
• U.S. farm value of fresh-market tomato production: 1/
2009: $1.34 billion ($394 million in California, $520
million in Florida)
2010: $1.35 billion ($368 million in California, $620
million in Florida)
2011: $1.29 billion ($377 million in California, $565
million in Florida)
• U.S. fresh-market tomato production 1/
2009: 3.32 billion pounds (1.13 billion in
California, 1.23 billion in Florida)
2010: 2.80 billion pounds (1.12 billion in
California, 0.86 billion in Florida)
2011: 3.04 billion pounds (1.24 billion in
California, 1.02 billion in Florida)
• U.S. fresh-market tomato production, top six states, 2011:
1/
California: 1,242 million pounds
Florida: 1,023 million pounds
North Carolina: 140.8 million pounds
Tennessee: 104.5 million pounds
Virginia: 101.2 million pounds
Ohio: 75.2 million pounds
• U.S. fresh-market tomato yield per acre, top six states, 2011:
1/
North Carolina: 44,000 pounds
California: 35,500 pounds
Alabama: 35,000 pounds
Florida: 33,000 pounds
Tennessee: 27,500 pounds
Ohio: 23,500 pounds
• Share of States' total field tomato area harvested for the
fresh market, top six states, 2007: 2/ 3/
Florida: 99 percent
California: 11 percent
Georgia: 100 percent
Virginia: 99 percent
Tennessee: 100 percent
North Carolina: 99 percent
• U.S. per capita use of fresh-market tomatoes: 4/
2009: 19.59 pounds
2010: 20.55 pounds
2011: 21.07 pounds
2012: 21.23 pounds (forecast)
Prices
• U.S. farm price for fresh-market tomatoes: 1/
2009 average: 40.4 cents per pound
2010 average: 48.4 cents per pound
2011 average: 42.5 cents per pound
• U.S. wholesale price for tomatoes, week of September 29, 2012
average: 5/ 7/
Vine ripe: $15.10/ 25 lb carton loose/ extra large
(19% lower than 2011)
Greenhouse (on the vine): $12.50/ 5kg/11 lb flat/
medium-large (42% lower than 2011)
Mature greens: $15.43/ 25 lb carton loose/ 5x6 (8%
lower than 2011)
Cherry: $15.22/ flats 12 1-pt baskets/ various sizes
(4% lower than 2011)
Roma: $16.52/ 25 lb carton loose/ extra large (11%
higher than 2011)
Grape: $13.58/ flats 12 1-pt containers with lids/
various sizes (39% lower than 2011)
• U.S. average monthly advertised retail price for fresh-market
tomatoes, 2012: 6/ 7/
1/ USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service,
Vegetables. 2/ USDA, NASS, 2007 U.S. Census of
Agriculture. 3/ The U.S. fresh- and processing-tomato
industries target different markets and tomato varieties are bred
specifically to serve the requirements of either the fresh or the
processing markets. Most tomatoes grown for processing are grown
under contract between growers and processing firms. Fresh tomatoes
are produced and sold largely on the open market. 4/ Computed
by USDA, Economic Research Service. 5/ Simple average of all
quoted markets (excluding organic) for the listed type and
container. Includes all grades. Comparison week is October 1,
2011. 6/ Monthly simple average of weekly weighted-average
price for the listed type. 7/ USDA, Agricultural
Marketing Service, Fruit and Vegetable Market News.