By Kimberly L. Morgan, Xiuri Cui and Zhengfei Guan Driven by consumer demand, the fresh tomato supply-chain network includes product harvested at different maturity stages, resulting in a unique marketing process distinguishable from other produce. Fresh tomatoes are typically marketed either through retail or foodservice channels. From farm to fork, the supply chain is divided into stages with different entities: …
Dry Weather Aids North Florida/South Georgia Tomato Production
By Clint Thompson The prolonged dry period sweeping across the Southeast benefited tomato producers in the North Florida/South Georgia region. Growers welcomed the dry conditions that helped save the crop from bacterial spot disease. Josh Freeman, an agronomist and regional manager with TriEst Ag Group, discussed the impact that minimal rainfall had on tomato production. “Everything started off really bad. …
Alabama Tomato Production: Optimal Planting Period Begins This Week
By Clint Thompson Planting dates are an important factor to consider when planning for tomato production this year. Alabama Extension reminds interested producers that this week begins the optimal planting period for South Alabama. Andre da Silva, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, encourages growers in the southern part of the state to plant their crop between March 1 and April 30. …
Supplemental Fumigation Strategies for Tomato Production
By G.E. Vallad, J. Desaeger, J. Noling and N. Boyd Vegetable and strawberry growers have long relied on soil fumigants to contend with various soilborne pathogen and pest complexes, as part of an integrated management strategy that includes crop resistance, cultural control and pesticides. However, with the loss of methyl bromide (MBr), many growers have struggled to maintain consistent soilborne …
SmartIrrigation Technology Improves Tomato Production
By Ibukun T. Ayankojo and Kelly T. Morgan Fresh tomato production in the United States is dominated by the states of California and Florida. Florida harvests about 28,000 acres of tomatoes with a production value of $382 million. This accounts for approximately 40 percent of the total production value in the United States. IRRIGATION ACCURACY IS CRITICAL Vegetable production requires …
Florida Tomato Expert: Production High, Prices Low
By Clint Thompson Almost perfect weather conditions for Florida production of tomatoes should have had most growers reaping the rewards by now. But that’s not the case, due in large part to a multitude of factors, says Michael Schadler, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee and Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange. “The weather throughout the Florida growing …
Tomato Research: UF Scientist Hoping to Improve Crop’s Production, Size
Florida growers yielded 606 million pounds of fresh-market tomatoes and $463 million of revenue last year. That is tremendous success, though competition from Mexico continues to put pressure on the state’s producers. That’s why University of Florida scientist Tong Geon Lee spends most of his research time in the lab and fields looking for the right combination of genes. He …
Machine-Harvestable Tomatoes Available from UF/IFAS
Ever since Florida farmers have been producing tomatoes, they’ve picked them by hand or hired laborers. It’s painstaking work that might be made easier soon with machine-harvestable tomatoes developed by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers. Now that the varieties are available, growers in Florida’s $400 million-a-year industry hope they can use mechanized harvesting, but doubts …
USDA NASS: Findings for Vegetable Production
Production for 26 estimated vegetable and melon crops totaled 758 million cwt in 2023, an increase of 6% from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The three largest crops were tomatoes, onions and sweet corn. They combined for 54% of all the vegetables total. The value of utilized production for vegetable crops in …
Climate Change Challenges Vegetable Production
By Juan Carlos DÃaz-Pérez Climate change is increasingly impacting agriculture and our lives in general. Agricultural crop production, including organic vegetable production, faces growing challenges associated with heat and drought. Temperature plays an essential role in plant development and function by determining the rate of biological activities. Each crop has a specific optimal temperature range. Cool-season crops (e.g., lettuce, broccoli, …