Production is down on imported tomatoes from Mexico.
“We started to see a lot of tornadoes and hurricanes in Sinaloa, Mexico where our farm is so our production is a little less than the year before,” says Jorge Yanez of JOYA Fruits & Veggies in McAllen, Tex. He estimates there’s approximately 25 percent fewer tomatoes compared to last year at this time. “The season started late as well—by two months. Normally tomatoes start in November and this year we started in January and will go until July. All because of the weather conditions,” Yanez adds.
The tomatoes Mexico does have are also showing slightly smaller than usual. “We have a lot of small and medium-sized tomatoes and the jumbos this season look like extra larges,” says Yanez. “They’re still good tomatoes but they are smaller.”
Push for tomatoes
Meanwhile demand for tomatoes is good in the U.S. “There is a lot of demand for them,” says Yanez, who notes its main competing region on tomatoes right now is the state of Florida.
Pricing on tomatoes has, not surprisingly, seen some jumps. “In November, it was $24-$30 and now it’s $8-$10,” says Yanez. “That’s a lot of difference in two months.”
The pricing seen right now is still high for January, a typically high-pricing month for tomatoes. “It’s also about $2 more than the year before,” says Yanez.
It’s likely though that relief on that pricing is coming. “The production in Sinaloa hasn’t really started yet but when it starts, we think the pricing will go a little lower,” says Yanez.
For more information:
Jorge Yanez
JOYA Fruits & Veggies
Tel: +1 (956) 599-0231
jorgeyanez@joyafruitsandveggies.com
www.joyafruitsandveggies.com