Organic tomato volume ramping up

With no major weather events impacting the growing season in Mexico thus far this year, the production of organic tomatoes is ramping up with good supplies and decent FOB prices expected as shippers move into and through the end-of-the-year holiday season.

“We are wrapping up production from Baja California,” said Michael DuPuis, manager of quality assurance and public relations for Divine Flavor Inc., on Nov. 15. “Sonora production should get started in the next 10 days and Sinaloa should be going by mid-December.”

Based in Nogales, Arizona, Divine Flavor specializes in organic grape tomatoes, but it also offers some organic production of beefsteak, round and roma tomatoes.

“Though I hate to use the word ‘normal’, this is a much more normal season compared to last year,” he said.

In the fall of 2023, four tropical storms made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, beginning in early October with Hurricanes Lidia and Otis. Both caused significant structural damage and impacted the Mexico winter vegetable crops, including tomatoes. Organic tomatoes prices were very high a year ago at the start of the Mexico winter deal, and it took many, many weeks for supply and demand to become more closely aligned.

According to published reports prepared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which together provide figures for tracking fresh produce imports, Mexico exported almost 80 million fewer pounds of fresh tomatoes during the period from Sept. 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024, largely due to weather issues. The FOB carton price on conventional tomatoes was consistently in the $30 to $40 range during the last couple of months of 2023, with organic FOB prices 15-20% higher on average.

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Expanded snacking

Barring any late-season tropical storms (official season ends Nov. 30), DuPuis said there should be good supplies in late November/early December of this year, which should last well into the new year.

He added that grape tomatoes are Divine’s “bread and butter” and this time of the year typically sees consistent volume for the U.S. market. He also noted that the snacking organic grape tomato in an array of colors is an important element of the company’s portfolio as the brand continues to develop fresh products in the snacking category. “We want to be known as snacking line specialists in which flavor is the most important component,” DuPuis said.

Divine Flavor offers its tomatoes in several different consumer packs with volumes between 1-2 pounds creating the most traction. The company also continues to work with carton manufacturers to continue to improve on the sustainability of the retail packaging material.

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Hector Aguilera, produce buyer for Los Angeles area wholesaler Heath and Lejeune and its Soully Organic label, agreed that the organic tomato category is just starting to see its volume from Mexico climb. “It’s getting chilly in Southern California so the production is shifting to Mexico,” he said on November 19. “We are seeing increases in beefsteaks, romas, rounds and cherries.”

Aguilera said Heath and Lejeune should have a full compliment of sizes, colors and varieties by the time the calendar turns to December.  “There won’t be much available for Thanksgiving but by the end of November and into December, we are expecting very good volume of organic tomatoes from Mexico.” Aguiler said. “As of right now, I have not heard of any weather problems that will impact volume moving forward. There were a few tropical storms that hit Mexico in October but they didn’t do much damage.”