All tomato varieties are extremely tight. Round tomatoes are especially scarce this week and will remain so through April, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Round
Florida
- The South Florida season is just getting underway
- Supplies are limited
- Average volume is not expected until early May
Mexico
- Yields are extremely low, with only a few growers offering pallet quantities
- Production should remain constrained through next week
- Markon recommends substituting the Roma variety
- Quality is mixed
Roma
Florida
- Supplies are limited
- Romas are more available than rounds
- Yields are forecast to increase over the next two weeks
- Mexico
- Stocks are tight
- Production levels will remain below normal through next week
- Quality ranges from fair to average
- Prices are rising as buyers use Romas to cover round tomato demand
- Grape and Cherry
- Florida
- Supplies remain extremely limited following the January/February freeze
- Mexico
- Volume is declining as the Sinaloa season winds down due to unfavorable weather and disease pressure in the fields
- Summary
- Supplies remain extremely tight across all tomato varieties; rounds are the most limited
- Markets are elevated (record-level for this time of year), and buyers are using Romas to cover round demand
- Order flexibility (size/variety) and quick product rotation are recommended due to reduced shelf life
- Near-term relief is limited: some improvement may begin in mid-April (including grape/cherry supplies as new fields come online), but Florida growers are not expected to reach typical round volume until early May