The clusters are harvested by clipping the main cluster stem from the plant. All tomatoes on the cluster remain attached, and range in maturity from breaker to ripe. Harvested clusters are usually marketed in a mesh bag or in a one-layer box. Many cluster tomato cultivars have outstanding flavor and appearance to compete with the best of the vine-ripe tomatoes sold. In addition, consumers are highly attracted to the tomato aroma provided by the stems of the cluster.
Consumers also enjoy harvesting the fruit from the clusters themselves.
Outstanding fruit quality and shelf-life allow the consumer to pick tomatoes from the cluster over several days. The post-harvest quality of the calyx is therefore an important characteristic in the appearance of the cluster. Most greenhouse-tomato crops are grown today with very little pesticide sprays applied to the crop. This is especially true in the northern states of the U.S. and in Canada. Environmental controls are important in managing diseases, and biological pest control has become a standard practice.