2026 California Processing Tomato Report

As of May 15, California’s tomato processors reported they have or will have contracts for 9.9 million (short) tons (8,981,000 metric tonnes) of processing tomatoes for 2026. This production estimate is 1 percent above the January intentions forecast of 9.8 million tons and 11 percent below the final 2025 contracted production of 11.1 million tons (10,1 million metric tonnes).

The May contracted acreage of 185,000 (74,700 hectares) is unchanged from the January intentions forecast and 15,000 acres less than last year’s final contracted planted acreage. This is the third consecutive years of declining contracted acreage and the lowest in over 30 years. 

Fresno County remains the top California county in contracted acreage for 2026 with 49,000 acres. Yolo, Merced, Kings and San Joaquin make up the remaining top five counties, accounting for 70 percent of the 2026 total contracted acreage for California.

This early processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Producers.

Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service