PICK ONLY red-ripe tomatoes. Tomatoes should be placed in the shade as soon as possible after they have been harvested. They should be moved to the processor promptly. Under average conditions yields should range from 15 to 20 tons per acre. Growers in past years have received yields varying from 10 to 30 tons per acre.
Contract prices vary with processors, grades and years.
Contract prices are seldom as high as fresh market prices but the cost of producing processing tomatoes is not as much as the cost of producing fresh market tomatoes. Machine harvesting of tomatoes is a reality in many areas. Contact your county extension agent regarding this and other means of mechanizing your tomato operation. Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned.