The tomato season is starting in August across leading producing states such as Florida, Indiana and California. 

Meanwhile, central Ohio is already reaping the vine crop, and could enjoy handsome prices which echo those of the corresponding August 2023 period.

Some farms around the state capital Columbus were already inviting “u-pickers” for the summer vegetable as of July 27, 2024.  

The select farms in central Ohio are offering this “you-pick” option just at the culmination of the strawberry season.

Alongside tomatoes are sweet pepper, sweet corn and yellow peach, among other fresh produce now in the market. 

The you-pick season for Ohio tomatoes begins July 5 to 10 and ends around September 15. This is two-to-three months from the usual early transplanting date.

Colorado Tomato Season

Another state that is just a month away from its tomato harvest is Colorado, whose tomatoes ripen in August before a September harvest.

The August heat is strategic for bringing peak flavor and bright color to the fruit. After this the temperatures simmer down to around a maximum 75ºF (above 23.8ºC), an optimum that is good for ripening. 

Consequently, Colorado farmers water their vine tomatoes regularly before end August and then withhold the watering during the ripening stage early September. 

Prices

Even as certain states start the season while others await for the autumn harvest, the price question remains king.

Conversely, canned tomatoes have been showing an upward pricing trend beginning  March 2024 at the export level. In March, American-origin tomatoes sold at $881 a tonne, while in April and May at $900 and $943 respectively. 

The 2024 peak export prices have been relatively higher than those of 2023, whose peak was $925 a tonne. For the rest of 2024, the rates could cool down as upshot Mexico’s supplies trickle in from October through March.

So, as farmers in the United States welcome the tomato season, time has come for those tasty salads and sandwiches. There is more to the tomato sector in the U.S. than the above facts, however, as the data below reveals.

United States Tomato Statistics 

The United States is among the biggest tomato-producing nations. In 2022, it ranked fourth in global production at 10,1999,753 metric tonnes. In comparative terms, the leader, China, produced 68,241,811 tonnes, followed by India at 20,694,000 while Türkiye came third at 13,000,000 tonnes. 

Which states lead in tomato production? 

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), California led production (including processed weight) in 2022 at 10,495,880 tonnes. The state also led production of fresh tomatoes at 263,743,000 ct (11,868,435 tonnes) in 2023, with Florida second at 8,970 ct (199,333 tonnes).

How high is tomato consumption per capita in the U.S.? 

The U.S. was third in total tomato consumption worldwide in 2013 at almost 13 million tonnes, behind India and China. In per capita terms, the U.S. has been consuming at least 18.3 kg of tomatoes per person between 2000 and 2022. The highest record since 2000 was 20.7 kg per person per year in 2014. The 2022 rate was at 19 kg per capita.