Market Minute: Good tomato crop availability is ready to start promoting

Tomato volume from Florida and Mexico is on the rise with excellent quality of all varieties. There is a good supply available to begin ad promotions, and demand is fairly light with a slightly lower market.

Round, grape, cherry and Roma tomatoes are shipping from Mexico and the quality is excellent. The retail demand for tomatoes has lightened up lately bringing down some of the market costs.

Florida is reporting a high volume of tomatoes but an extraordinary lower demand for them. The yield from harvesting is very robust. The quality is outstanding from both Florida and Mexican shipping areas. Get them in your ads now.

Merchandising
The best way to set up an attractive tomato display is to place all the varieties on an end cap location. Key in on your most popular selling tomato and build all the other varieties around it. Place both packages and loose tomatoes on the display. Even jars and packages of dried tomatoes can be included. A nice selection of up to 10 different choices for customers is the ideal display.

With the current light demand, check with your suppliers for some possible great deals. Now is the time to take advantage and get those tomato features in your ad program.

Ron Pelger is a produce industry adviser and industry writer. He can be contacted at 775/843-2394 or by e-mail at [email protected].