A Million Tons of Tomatoes

In the United States, tomatoes are available year round. This is largely in part to California’s effort in producing tomatoes. The United States production of processed tomatoes is 12.7 million tons. Processed tomatoes involve products like ketchup, pasta sauce, soups, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and pizza sauce. California is responsible for providing 12.1 million tons of these tomato products. The United States consumption is an average of one million tons of tomatoes per month.

Tomatoes are big business for California. Tomatoes are grown according to the way they will be harvested. Harvesting has two approaches, one is mechanical, and the other is by human hands. The best variety bred to take mechanical harvesting is the San Marzano tomato. Hand picked tomatoes are usually the Shady Lane, Sunbrite, and Sonnet varieties. Other special varieties include cherry, heirloom, and cluster. Thirty percent of the United States supply of tomatoes is furnished by California.

Farming tomatoes in California has changed over the years. The onset of mechanical harvesting in 1964 resulted in 4,000 growers, decreasing to 600 in only a ten year span. Assistance and development has been provided by the California Tomato Growers Association. Their mission statement reads, “The CTGA is an association of California processing tomato growers that provides economic, public policy and business leadership for the benefit of growers and the industry. The Association represents grower interests through services to its members including bargaining, communications and advocacy to ensure the stability, viability and prosperity of the industry.”