A recent report by the University of California agricultural department puts the US tomato industry at around $650 million in California's agricultural economy last year, more than the world's second largest producer, Italy, and greater than a growing industry in China.
The report points out that prices to growers and to processors for the paste they sell have been noticeably stable since the 1996-97 season.
Per capita consumption of the products made from the basic paste that processors create has recovered from a dip it took five or six years ago, leading to optimism at both the grower and processor levels.
A few major growers, especially in the southern growing region, have been persuaded to build their own processing plants. The technology of processing has improved, giving the later plants an economic advantage over older facilities.
Profits for processors have not been spectacular in recent years, but the relative stability and reliability of demand for the past 10 years are attractive to investors. If the era of drama and excitement has passed, regrets are few.
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