Tomato
Value:
o What is the cost of production, distribution & sustainability?
- Tomato is one of the most commonly grown fresh vegetables.
- Tomatoes are both high yielding and labor intensive so most farmers don’t grow more than one acre
- Tomatoes yield 650 to 800 boxes (30 lbs. each) per acre in the the central US. This equals between 19,000 and 25,000 lbs or 10 to 13 tons per acre.
o In 1990, the tomato yield nationwide was 25,100 per acre
- Production and marketing costs can be over $4,000 per acre with an expected return of $4,000 to $8,000 per acre.
- Efficient harvesting, handling, and marketing techniques are extremely important in the production of this highly perishable crop.
o Labor intensive = estimated 350 hours of work for each staked acre.
- For storage and shippin, it can be picked at the “breaker” stage of maturity, when the blossom end turns pink.
- Post-harvest temperature management is critical to maintain quality.
- Tomatoes may be damaged when stored below 55 degrees Fahrenheit
- For the longest shelf life a tomato should be stored from 55 to 70 degrees F
- Tomato market fluctuates with growing season -> starts high and drops as summer season progresses.
o Plasticulture and hoop house production are techniques which increase earliness or extend the tomato season which is why they have become so popular.
- Tomatoes are often picked unripe and then ripened with ethylene.
- Tomatoes are often grown in greenhouses in cooler climates.
Variety Selection
- Selection of tomato varieties include market demands, disease resistance, suitability to production systems, and regional adaptability.
Suitability to Production Systems
- Tomatoes have growth habits ranging from determinate (bush) to indeterminate (vining).
o Limited access, closed – sometimes overlap
o The privilege of rents
- No dominant coalition is permanent. Stability is maintained through the balance of interests in the rent-creation process.
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