Imported Greenhouse Tomatoes From Mexico Illustrate the Growing Diversity in Fresh-Market Tomatoes

As the U.S. fresh-market tomato sector has evolved to provide an increasing volume and variety of globally sourced offerings, U.S. per capita availability of fresh-market tomatoes has steadily risen. Growing imports, changing consumer demographics and tastes, and emerging production technology are among the major factors shaping the fresh tomato market. One illustration of the convergence of these drivers comes from the rising availability of greenhouse-grown tomatoes, which provide year-round access to more diverse tomato varieties than were previously available. In 2017, greenhouse tomatoes accounted for approximately 56 percent of total imported fresh tomatoes and about 32 percent of total domestic supply.