Patterson Irrigator

 Cool summer, boost in demand brighten farmers’ outlook

Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator

It’s a good year to be in the canning tomato industry, too. A shortage last year and high demand from Europe and China have boosted prices here.

“So far, (the crop) is looking pretty good,” said Mike Lara, who grows cannery tomatoes in the Westley area.

Industry representatives predict 12 million tons of tomatoes could be processed this year, up from 10.1 million tons last year.

Canning tomatoes are used in a variety of products, including tomato paste, ketchup and salsa. Though demand has remained relatively flat, supply has been down during the past couple of years, so the time is ripe for a plentiful crop, explained Ross Siragusa, president and CEO of the Sacramento-based California Tomato Growers Association.

At the same time, relatively small tomato harvests in China and European countries have opened up opportunities to increase exports.

Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator

In some cases, farmers’ fields have yielded more tomatoes than they have promised canneries under contracts, so they still have leftover tomatoes sitting in their fields, Siragusa said.

Some of those fruits eventually may have to be disked if farmers cannot find a market for them, he said. The last time the harvest was that plentiful was in 2004.

Weather conditions the past few years, including a hot spell in July 2006, contributed to lower yields in those seasons.

“The heat spell in July (2006) really shocked the plants,” said Bill Cox, who grows about 1,100 acres of canning tomatoes in the Westley area.

Cox said some of his tomato plants this year have developed powdery mildew as a result of rains three weeks ago. However, the crop looks good as a whole, he said.

Rising demand has also helped the local sun-dried tomato industry. Skip Vanderford, a partner with Bonacich Orchards north of Patterson, said the dry yard could process 3,000 tons this year, up from around 2,500 tons in past years. Sun-dried tomatoes are becoming increasingly popular as more people see them at the store and in dishes at restaurants, he said.

Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator

Meanwhile, prices are averaging $63 per ton from most canneries, growers said, a step up from the $58-per-ton rate they got last year.

Still, Jon Maring of Del Mar Farms, which grows tomatoes throughout the West Side, said the cost of water will cut into some of those revenues.

Local water districts had to seek new water sources this year after state and federal water projects were required to shut down their pumps in May and June to avoid endangering the Delta smelt, a threatened fish found in the San Joaquin Delta.

The pump shutdown could lead to a slightly lower yield next year, though it’s hard to determine the full extent of the harm, industry representatives say.

In the meantime, local growers may have much to celebrate.

“So far, (the yield) is on schedule,” Cox said.

To reach Jonathan Partridge at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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