Tomato
Tomato Production
Tomato is a warm-season crop in the nightshade family. This fruiting crop is sensitive to chill at all stages of growth and can grow in a wide range of soil textures if proper irrigation and nutrient needs are met.
In California, dozens of tomato varieties and hybrids are grown for either the fresh or processing markets. Common processor varieties include AB 2, Heinz 9780, Heinz 9557, Halley 3155, and Hypeel 303. For fresh tomatoes, there are pole production tomato varieties (e.g. Bingo, Merced, Tango, Celebrity) and bush production varieties (e.g. Shady Lady, Monica, Merced, Sonnet). Farmers also grow a variety of niche market tomatoes, such as cherry, heirloom, and cluster.
The majority (90%) of fresh market tomato cultivation happens in nine counties: San Joaquin, Merced, Fresno, San Diego, Kern, Stanislaus, Kings, Tulare, and Sacramento. Processing tomato production is concentrated in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys (Fresno, Yolo, San Joaquin, Kings, Colusa, Merced, Stanislaus, Solano, and Sutter Counties). California accounts for 90% of processing tomato production nationally and 35% of production globally.