As of January, California’s tomato processors reported they have, or will have, contracts for 12.4 million tons in 2023, which is an increase of 18% compared to 10.5 million contracted tons forecast in the August 2022 California Processing Tomato Report. Processors estimate that the contracted production for 2023 will come from 248,000 acres, generating an average yield of 50.0 tons per acre. The contracted planted acreage forecast is 8% higher than the 2022 acreage of 229,000 reported under contract in August.
The USDA-NASS Pacific Regional Office surveyed California’s tomato processors for their intended contract acreage and tonnage for the upcoming 2023 season. The data reported by processors was either tonnage with derived acreage, or acreage with derived tonnage.
This early processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Producers.
