Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
Warm-season fruiting vegetable in the nightshade family, grown as an annual in temperate regions (Zones 3-11) with transplants set out after the last spring frost. Two distinct production tracks: fresh-market (predominantly hand-harvested, sold open-market) and processing (mechanically harvested under contract for paste, sauce, and canning). Yields and labor needs differ markedly between the two; growers should choose a track before selecting variety, trellis system, and equipment.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Determinate cultivars are typical for processing and short-trellis fresh-market plantings; indeterminate cultivars are common in staked/trellised fresh-market and high-tunnel systems. Processing tomatoes in the United States average roughly 50 tons/acre under contract on irrigated ground; fresh-market yields vary widely with system but commonly 25-35 tons/acre. Crop is sensitive to early-season cold (chilling below 50F slows growth) and to late-season disease pressure (early blight, late blight, septoria). Drip irrigation plus plastic mulch is the dominant fresh-market system; processing fields are typically furrow- or drip-irrigated with mechanical harvest. Crop rotation away from solanaceous crops (pepper, eggplant, potato) is recommended to suppress soilborne disease.
Growing Season
- Plant
- late spring – early summer
- Harvest
- mid-summer – first fall frost
- Frost-free days
- 90+
- GDD (base 50°F)
- 1,300 – 2,000
Yield
- Typical yield
- 50 tons/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 1 years
- Labor
- 350 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
1 active buyer on record purchasing this crop.
Price Trend Stable/Up
3-year price trend recorded as "stable".
Supply Below Demand
Commodity vegetable — regional and national supply is well established, limiting headroom for new entrants.
Multiple Buyer Channels
1 recorded buyer and 6 documented market channels. Multiple routes to market.
Value-Added Potential
6 documented market channels, including value-added and direct-to-consumer routes.
Market Growth Projected
Mature vegetable market; growth over a 5-year horizon expected to track population rather than outpace it.
Market Channels
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Crop tolerates zones 3-11; region spans 5-6. Overlaps.
GDD Sufficient
Crop needs 1300 GDD (base 50F); region accumulates 2500+. Sufficient.
Precipitation Compatible
Crop needs ~22 in; region receives ~38 in/yr. Compatible, irrigation available as supplement.
Frost-Free Season OK
Crop needs 90 frost-free days; region provides ~180. Sufficient.
Chill Hours Met
Not applicable — annual crop has no winter chill requirement.
Climate Trend Favorable
Crop spans 9 hardiness zones (3-11). Wide adaptive range buffers against warming trend.
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
10 documented equipment requirements. Within range adaptable from general row-crop or orchard equipment.
Storage Available
3 documented storage/handling requirements, all achievable with conventional on-farm or third-party facilities.
Irrigation Compatible
Requires ~22 in. Deliverable with conventional drip or overhead irrigation.
Field Layout Suitable
Suited to the small-to-mid-size fragmented parcels typical of the region.
Labor Availability
350 labor hr/ac vs catalog 75th percentile 250 hr/ac. Labor-intensive — competes for scarce seasonal labor.
Processing Proximity
1 processor/cooperative buyer on record for this crop, 1 within NY/PA/OH.
Equipment Requirements
spraying
Mounted or pull-behind. Required for fungicide schedule on field tomatoes. Backpack sprayers acceptable below 0.5 acre.
planting
General-purpose tractor for bed prep, spraying, and harvest hauling on small to mid-size operations.
Carousel or finger-style water-wheel transplanter. Cuts transplant labor by 70%+ versus hand-planting once acreage exceeds ~1 acre.
cultivation
Lays drip tape and plastic mulch in one pass. Black plastic warms soil for early planting; white plastic for hot-zone summer crops.
Per-acre cost. Hardwood stakes (5-6 ft) every 2-3 plants, plus tomato twine for stake-and-weave. PTO-driven stake pounder optional but speeds setup on larger acreages.
irrigation
Per-acre cost. Includes header lines, manifolds, drip tape, and filtration. Critical for blossom-end-rot prevention via consistent moisture.
Allows weekly liquid fertilizer applications through drip lines. Standard for commercial fresh-market tomato production.
harvesting
Plastic stackable lugs (25-lb capacity). Reusable; budget assumes 100 lugs sufficient for ~1 acre fresh-market harvest crew.
Only relevant for processing tomatoes (paste/sauce). Self-propelled harvester with on-board sorting; not used for fresh-market.
post_harvest
Tomato storage temperature (55-60°F) — colder causes chilling injury. Essential for holding for direct-market or short-term wholesale.
Storage Requirements
Fresh cold storage (vine-ripe)
Temperature
50–55°F
Humidity
90–95%
Max Storage
10 days
Fresh cold storage (under-ripe / after-ripening)
Temperature
55–65°F
Humidity
85–95%
Max Storage
21 days
Frozen (processing, cooked)
Temperature
-10–0°F
Max Storage
365 days
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue not recorded for this crop in lake_erie. Cannot establish it exceeds the catalog median of $5,500.
Input Costs Acceptable
Input cost not recorded; not penalising. Catalog 75th percentile is $5,387/ac.
Payback Period OK
Reaches full production in 0 years. Acceptable payback.
Insurance Available
No federal crop insurance recorded for this crop; risk sits with the grower.
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Cannot compute — net return not recorded. Catalog median is $13.16/hr.
Grants/Subsidies
Vegetable crops are eligible under the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $54/$/cwt (fresh market) |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | — |
| Annual Operating Cost | —/acre |
| Establishment Cost | —/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | — |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Not available |
Source: USDA NASS Vegetables 2025 Summary (February 2026) (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
10 documented risk factors. Within the range manageable by conventional IPM.
Market Diversified
1 buyer, 6 channels. Not dependent on a single outlet.
Low Establishment Risk
0 years to full production. Low establishment exposure.
Climate Resilient
Tolerates zones 3-11 (9 zones). Broad tolerance indicates resilience to seasonal variability.
Regulatory Burden Low
No crop-specific licensing or reporting regime beyond standard food-safety and pesticide rules.
Diversifies Portfolio
Adds a vegetable revenue stream distinct from the region's grape-dominated base.
Known Risks
disease
Phytophthora infestans is the most destructive tomato disease in cool, humid conditions. Causes rapidly expanding water-soaked lesions on leaves and fruit; can defoliate a crop and rot fruit in days during favorable weather.
Alternaria solani / A. tomatophila causes target-spot lesions on lower leaves that progress upward. Severe defoliation reduces yield and exposes fruit to sunscald. Very common across most growing regions.
Septoria lycopersici produces small circular leaf spots with dark margins and gray centers. Typically begins on lower foliage during prolonged leaf wetness. Yield loss is from premature defoliation rather than direct fruit damage.
Vectored by thrips. Causes bronze or necrotic ringspots on leaves and concentric rings on fruit; infected plants are stunted and unmarketable. Can move quickly through a planting once thrip pressure builds.
pest
Manduca quinquemaculata larvae are large (up to 4 inches) and consume foliage and fruit rapidly. A few caterpillars can defoliate a plant in days. Generally one to two generations per growing season in temperate zones.
Several species feed on tomatoes; primary economic concern is virus transmission (CMV, TSWV co-vectoring) rather than direct feeding. Honeydew can also lead to sooty mold on fruit.
Halyomorpha halys (BMSB) and native species pierce fruit and feed, causing white-corky areas under the skin ("cloudy spot" or "cat facing") that downgrades marketable fruit. Late-season pressure can be severe near woodland edges.
weather
Sustained daytime temperatures above 90°F (32°C) and nighttime above 70°F (21°C) cause flower abortion and poor fruit set. Pollen viability declines sharply. Result: a midsummer "yield gap" with little fruit ripening 4-6 weeks later.
Tomato fruit and foliage are highly susceptible to hail. Even small hail produces wounds that lead to fruit rot or downgrade. A single severe storm can destroy weeks of expected harvest.
market
Wholesale tomato prices typically collapse during midsummer regional peaks as supply outstrips demand. Direct-market growers may also see saturation at peak. Profitability depends heavily on hitting early or late market windows.
Nutritional Yield
Macronutrients
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per acre |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 18 kcal | 7,429,845 kcal |
| Protein | 0.9 g | 363,237 g |
| Total fat | 0.2 g | 82,554 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3.9 g | 1,605,672 g |
| Fiber | 1.2 g | 495,323 g |
| Sugar | 2.6 g | 1,085,583 g |
Key micronutrients
Uncertainty: Per-acre values are estimates that compound the yield range, edible-fraction assumption, and a single representative nutrient panel. Treat them as order-of-magnitude planning numbers, not nutritional advice. Confidence: high.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Eden Valley Growers
Eden, NY · 30.0 mi
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from USDA Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) Tomatoes profile; cross-checked against UC Davis Postharvest Center vegetable handling references and Penn State / Cornell vegetable production guides for agronomic and labor estimates. AgMRC URL: https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/tomatoes
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →
20 tracked changes across 7 data categories