The USDA-NASS California Field Office surveyed California’s tomato processors for intended contract acreage and tonnage for the upcoming 2012 season. The data reported by processors was either in tonnage with derived acreage or acreage with derived tonnage.

As of January, California tomato processors reported plans to sign 2012 contracts totaling 12.7 million tons of processing tomatoes. Processors estimate the contracted production for 2012 will come from 266,000 acres producing an average yield of 47.74 tons per acre.

The contracted planted acreage forecast is 8,000 acres more than under contract in the August 2011 California Processing Tomato Report.

This early processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Processors in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.