Tomatoes Rebound After January Freeze

Tomatoes have made a comeback after a January freeze slowed crop growth and delayed harvest. Massive amounts of tomatoes have been harvested since mid-May, causing tomato prices to plummet 78 percent since March. “Growers tend to stagger plantings based on their market projections. When you have a disaster that puts everybody on the same wavelength, they all come in at once and spoil that market timing,” said Gene McAvoy, director of Hendry County extension office for the University of Florida. USDA is buying $6 million of fresh tomatoes for federal food-nutrition assistance programs to aid Florida growers. Learn more.