Tomatoes

Thurs, April 2nd, 2026

Dear Ole Tyme Customers:

The North American tomato market remains under significant pressure this week, with critically short supplies across all varieties and growing regions. Ongoing weather-related challenges continue to disrupt production, and many supplier partners have formally declared AOG/Force Majeure on existing contract programs due to these extraordinary conditions. Overall availability remains extremely limited, with only gradual improvement expected from late April into May.

Regional Overview:

Florida: Supplies remain severely constrained across all varieties. Round tomatoes are virtually unavailable, and tight Roma volumes are expected to continue through late April. Cherry production is still recovering from earlier freeze damage, with overall yields limited and quality ranging from fair to average.
Mexico: Prolonged heat in key growing regions, including Culiacán and Sonora, is accelerating crop maturity, shortening shelf life, and creating production gaps. Strong domestic demand is absorbing a significant portion of supply, while Holy Week labor shortages are further restricting exports. Export availability remains very limited, and quality reports are mix
Canada (Greenhouse): Cool, cloudy conditions are slowing ripening and delaying harvests, keeping supplies tight despite fruit on the plants. Quality remains very strong—noticeably superior to field-grown product—and demand continues to be steady.

Overall Market Conditions:

Round tomatoes remain extremely scarce nationwide, leading to increased substitution into Roma tomatoes, which are also in short supply. Grape and cherry tomatoes continue to face critical availability challenges. With multiple suppliers invoking AOG/Force Majeure, contract fulfillment remains impacted and availability is being managed week to week. Quality varies by origin, with greenhouse product performing best, while field-grown tomatoes continue to experience shorter shelf life. As production recovers, market conditions are expected to stabilize gradually.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Sales Representative.

Thanks,

Ole Tyme Produce