Sweet California Tomatoes

There is just nothing better than a ripe, juicy, sweet tomato and California grows tons of them. Tomatoes are not only good to eat they are healthy for you as well. Tomatoes contain Lycopene which is an antioxidant that can reduce the risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

California tomato farmers have one of the most recognized organizations dedicated to providing the best quality tomatoes. They have developed and committed to a “Fresh Standard” that not only ensures the high quality and safety of California produced tomatoes but the quality of the work environment as well. These farmers produce 80% of the fresh tomatoes grown in California.

California also produces 95% of the processed tomatoes used in the United States. In 2007 California farms harvested 293,000 tons of the delicious vegetable. These growers are said to be some of the most efficient and innovative producers in the world. Due to their abundance of moist, dry, sandy soil tomatoes are able to grow just about everywhere in the state.

Additionally, the climate provides an extended growing season that ranges from June to November. During the peak of the season (July – September) tomato growers harvest an average of 2,000,000,000 tomatoes each week. These tomatoes are very different from the ones you purchase at grocery stores. The tomatoes ripen on the vines and are harvested completely by machine. Then they are processed within six hours to maintain their fresh flavor. California processed tomatoes are probably on the shelf of every home in the US, included in salsa, pasta sauces, ketchup and marinades.