Florida tomatoes coming on despite damage from Hurricane Ian

While Florida’s November tomato crop will be smaller than normal due to the impact of Hurricane Ian, the state’s growers will remain significant suppliers from mid-October through December, according to a report from the Maitland, Fla.-based Florida Tomato Exchange.

The exchange is a cooperative for the state’s tomato growers.

A statement from the exchange said the weather since the hurricane has been ideal, which has allowed growers to quickly recuperate fields.

“This means that even those farms that sustained damage will be able to harvest a portion of their crop,” the group said.

The exchange reported the storm had no impact on tomato production in north Florida, a growing region which will have steady tomato volume from mid-October through mid-November.  

In fact, the USDA reported that shipments of Florida tomatoes for the week of Oct. 9 to Oct. 15 totaled 75,000 25-pound packages, up from 46,000 packages the same time a year ago.

“As the harvest moves south to central Florida, supplies will be lighter than normal due to the impact of the storm around the Palmetto and Ruskin growing areas,” the group said. 

November volume will be down, according to the group, but there will still be tomatoes available. 

Central Florida production is expected to ramp up through December, according to the exchange.

“The storm’s impact was less severe in the southwest Florida growing regions around Naples and Immokalee, which will help offset reduced volume in central Florida," the group said.

Production in southwest Florida will steadily increase starting in December. Plantings for South Florida’s winter tomato crop have continued as normal with no impact from the hurricane, according to the group.