No matter how you said it...

I didn’t like tomatoes as a kid. In fact, I avoided them at all cost when I was growing up, much to the chagrin of my mother, who would eat them like apples. Fortunately, that dislike didn’t last through my teenage years, and the tomato has become one of my favorite foods to eat and grow.

And I’m not the only one — according to Dr. Roberta Cook, specialist and lecturer for UC Davis’ department of agricultural and resource economics, scanner data in 2014 showed some growth in tomato consumption. At the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit last October, the tomato was featured prominently, from new “snackable” dried, roasted and seasoned tomatoes in an easy-to-carry packet to marketing and packaging that showed cherry tomatoes as a great alternative to popcorn, candy and other snacks for kids. For more interesting statistics about tomatoes, turn to page 50.

Because 82 percent of readers who responded to our survey stated that they grow either finished tomatoes, transplants or both, we knew we needed to take a more in-depth look at the topic. In this issue, we’re debuting our State of the Tomato Report, a comprehensive look at all aspects of the tomato industry, from breeder all the way to the final consumer. We include some stats about who’s growing tomatoes under cover and buying them at the consumer level, information about the latest trends, production tips and more. Check it out starting on page 9.

As you move through 2015, you’ll also need to know the most current information about produce industry trends and new food safety legislation to keep your operation viable. No worries — we’ve got you covered. Turn to page 28 to learn more.

We’ve got a great year planned for you here at Produce Grower. As always, I invite you to drop me a line with any comments, suggestions or questions at kvarga@gie.net. We look forward to serving you and moving the produce industry forward.

kvarga@gie.net | (216) 393-0290
Twitter: @Karen_GIE