A bushel basket contains 50 to 60 lbs of tomatoes. Red, ripe tomatoes, however, will not survive long at the bottom of 60 lbs of tomatoes. Place mature green or breaker stage tomatoes at the bottom, with progressively more ripe tomatoes toward the top. In three to five days the fruit in the middle or bottom of the bushel will be red ripe. Be certain to inform buyers how you arranged the basket and why.
Retail sales are usually by the pound, by the count or unit price.
Units for wholesale marketing of tomatoes are waxed cardboard cartons containing 20 or 25 lbs. Plum tomatoes are packed in 12-quart baskets. Local wholesale price may vary considerably from terminal market prices. Cultivars showing promise for commercial production in this area include the 'Daybreak' and 'Carnival' for early production. Crack resistance has been good in 'Jet Star' and 'Mountain Spring'.