Tomato prices strengthen as supplies transition to U.S.

The Mexican tomato season is winding down causing Roma and vine-ripe prices to rise.

The outlier on pricing comes from Florida’s volume surging, sending mature green prices down.

Florida weather has been favorable for tomatoes, and Markon Cooperative BB #:123315 reported this week that harvests are going well from the Ruskin/Palmetto, FL region.

“Roma, round, cherry, and grape tomato quality is good,” Markon said this week. “Large sizes dominate the market as new fields are being harvested. Mexico vine-ripe and mature green production will continue to decline through May, the last month of the season.”
The late season round tomato quality is good, with medium-sizes dominating.

“Western Mexico has a mix of new crop/existing Roma acreage, with jumbo and extra-large sizes most plentiful,” Markon said. “Grape tomato production will transition to Baja [California, Mexico] over the next month; quality may dip over the next few weeks.”

The California desert region will begin limited round tomato production starting in mid-May, with the bulk of the California summer season beginning in mid-June.