The 2010 Tomato Shortage

   In reading this you are thinking tomatoes are short? Tomatoes are not something that most people think about. They are found on you Burger on in your salsa. This year is a little different when it comes to the tomato. In this country tomatoes are grown commercially in Florida and California. Florida is the major producer for the early spring and for consumers. California produces tomatoes in the summer and supplies the food industry. Other states do grow in greenhouses year round but are mainly for the specialty market. In "normal" years Florida ships out 25 million pounds of tomatoes each week. Right now they are only shipping 1 million pounds per week. The low winter temperatures and snow has wiped out the Florida crop. This January and February were the coldest months on Record!  Experts have said that the plants would recover and produce more in April. However, temperatures have stayed in the 38 degree range and the crop has not yet recovered. Demand has finally caught up with supply. Prices are skyrocketing. The average WHOLESALE price for a 25 pound box of tomatoes is $30.00. That price is up from $6.50 a year ago.

   The tomato growers in California have tried to help. The problem is, is that Florida is the only state that grows tomatoes in the winter months. California produces its crop in the Summer. Its crop is primarily used by the canning industry and for things like ketchup. Just this week Wendy's food chain posted signs about the limited supply. What this will mean for Preppers is this: limited supply will affect canned prices across the board.  My wife and I still have Sun-dried tomatoes from last year. This year we will document the drying and post it here. In the short term however, maybe this week is the time to pick up a case or three.