California Grown Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a great source of lycopene. Lycopene has been shown to reduce the development of cancer and heart disease. Tomato breeders, growers, and processors are, therefore, very interested in the lycopene composition of different varieties and how this composition is affected by growing region and season. Researchers found that the amount of lycopene contained in tomatoes depends on the area it was grown in, and can vary from area to area, even within the same state, because the growing season may vary. The variety of tomato is a factor in lycopene content, and how long that tomato is left to ripen is also a factor that affects that amount of lycopene contained in the tomato. 550 types of tomatoes were grown by farmers in several counties in California.

California is the world's largest producer of processed tomatoes and accounts for nearly half of the world's total production. California's acreage devoted to tomato crops doubled from the year 1970 to the year 1994. Crop value has exceeded 547 million dollars. It seems that tomatoes can be grown anywhere in California, and the Tomato Genetics Stock Center at the University of California has more than 2,750 genetic varieties of tomatoes.

Insecticides are used on 79 percent of all fresh tomatoes grown in California. Once the crop emerges, the treatments are applied to the foliage. Most sprays are made to protect the crop once the fruit is about one inch in size. By the time tomatoes make it to market, they have received an average of three insecticide treatments.