CALIFORNIA CROP UPDATE FALL 2026

California’s 2026 Tomato Season Wraps Up: A Right-Sized Crop, Solid Quality, and an Eye on 2027

Contributing Writers: Robby Force

California’s 2026 processing tomato harvest is in the books. Over a 17-week season, growers delivered roughly 10.3 million short tons, according to the Processing Tomato Advisory Board’s final count on October 26. That’s about 8.6% below last year’s record-setting crop, but ahead of the 9.9 million tons processors contracted this spring. The state delivered what it set out to, with a little to spare.

Harvest started on schedule and moved steadily through July. Yields were strong across most growing regions. They didn’t match 2025’s exceptional levels, but they were healthy and dependable.

Solids were a highlight. The statewide average held at 5.14 through early October, a strong result in a year with good yields, since heavier tonnage tends to dilute sugars in the fruit.

The season’s biggest test came in early August, when parts of the Central Valley sat at or above 105°F for more than a week. That heat slowed lycopene development, so fruit reached full size and sugar content, but came in less red than usual. This was a weather event felt across the industry, not a field or variety problem, and color improved as fruit that set after the heat reached the factories.

As we plan for 2027, two things outside the tomato field are shaping where and how tomatoes get grown.

First, the crops that compete with tomatoes for ground are getting more attractive. Forage prices have been soft but are starting to firm, and almond shipments are running well ahead of last year on strong export demand. If those trends hold, growers will have more options for their acres.

Second, water. Groundwater rules under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) are tightening in parts of the Central Valley, and that is changing what growers plant and how reliable their irrigation supply is year to year. Surface water entered this season tight after a dry winter, with statewide reservoir storage near 68% of its historical average in late August.

We’re getting ahead of both. We’re assessing water exposure across our grower base, weighting our sourcing toward ground with dependable water, and starting grower conversations early so acreage is secured well before planting. Evaluating each acre on both crop economics and long-term water availability is how we keep supply reliable and costs in check for our customers.

California once again supplied about a quarter of the world’s processing tomatoes in 2026, and it came in on plan. Quality was solid, and the heat event in August was managed without disrupting supply. Our focus now is on locking in good acres with good water for 2027, so next season starts on the same firm footing.

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