Most of the U.S. tomato volume is supplied out of Florida, California and Mexico all year long. But there are other local tomatoes available during the summer months that compete with those districts. There are also the many backyard tomato gardeners who add to the rivalry. Depending on the weather and the first killing frost, those variables could last through September.

Oceanside Pole will harvest its season’s first vine-ripened tomatoes at the end of June alongside exclusive marketer Oppy.

Gem Tomato Sales Inc. began in 1982 with offices in Arkansas, Florida and Michigan, marketing and promoting fresh market vine-ripened summertime tomatoes.

Thanks to a reliable supply from multiple states, progressive packaging options and overnight delivery to most major markets, regional promotions proved to be a powerful marketing tool for the company.

I was shopping at the grocery store and wanted some grapes. Not seeing any, I remembered the decreased supplies. So I asked my friendly produce manager if he had any. He told me there were none available and that I probably already knew that. He was correct, but I just wanted to confirm that the stores were unable to get supplies. I checked three other stores and there were no grapes in those produce departments either.

NatureSweet has filed a third lawsuit against Mastronardi Produce LTD and Mastronardi Produce-USA Inc. The lawsuit alleges that Mastronardi is mimicking NatureSweet’s licensed packaging once again, and as a result has caused consumer confusion.

Late last year, Jacobs Village Farm Corp., rebranded as Jacob’s Tomato Corp., and the Brooklyn, NY-based company is seeing big dividends from the name change.