Tomatoes in Winter
Fresh off the Avocado market turmoil of last month (which has since relaxed to near record lows!) – Tomatoes are going to be at “extreme” market pricing until at least Mid-December. California has finished harvesting for the season leaving Florida the only domestic growing area to service the nation’s demand. Baja and Mexico are both helping supply with Vine ripened crops but also struggling to find tremendous yields with cool weather trends experienced during the growing cycle. Nearly all roma tomatoes currently are imports with reasonable pricing for the season. Grape and cherry tomatoes are in a period of transition between fields with supply improving slightly week over week, however there has been no realization of relief in the market with demand from contracts and holiday adds pressing markets upward. Until winter production gets underway in December, extreme markets are expected to be the scenario for the next several weeks.