Consistency ensures that canning tomatoes are at their best in terms of flavor, color, and texture. They're supposed to be sweet, deep red, and not hard or mushy. Most are picked ripe, and packed the same day. The soil is kept at an ideal moisture level by California's dependable irrigation system. Before you buy any canned agricultural products, keep in mind that their quality will fluctuate.
Tomatoes are no different.
They also vary, even within brands. That could be for any number of reasons. Or they might have been hit with a bad bout of weather. Another thing the label will tell you is if any herbs like parsley, basil, oregano, or garlic have been added. Brands we tested with herbs tended to be the worst-tasting of the bunch.