Crop Shipping Season: October through June
Fiscal Year: August 1 through July 31
Regulated Area(s): Florida, except the area west of the Suwannee River
Order Authority and Regulations
The marketing order authorizes quality regulations, research and promotion programs, and container and pack regulations for Florida fresh market tomatoes. The order took effect in 1955 and was last amended through a rulemaking process on November 16, 2020. View the full regulation.
- Quality Regulations: The marketing order authorizes minimum grade, maturity, quality, and size regulations on Florida fresh tomatoes grown in the production area. These requirements are applied to imported tomatoes from October 10 through June 15, due to 8e requirements.
- 8e requirements: The 8e requirements specify that imported tomatoes must meet the same or comparable minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements, as those specified under this marketing order. Learn more about importing tomatoes.
- Research and Promotion: The marketing order provides authority for production research, marketing research and development, and marketing promotion, including paid advertising.
- Container and pack regulations: The marketing order authorizes regulations on the containers and pack used to ship Florida fresh tomatoes to market. The order’s container and pack requirements are not applied to imported tomatoes.
Committee Structure
The Florida Tomato Committee, which administers the order locally, consists of 10 producers and their alternates. Members representing two districts serve two-year terms that begin August 1. Producer members are nominated by producers at nomination meetings held in each of the two established districts. View a list of members & alternates.
Contacts
Michael Schadler, Manager; Florida Tomato Committee
800 Trafalgar Court, Suite 300
Maitland, Florida 32751
Phone: (407) 660-1949
Fax: (407) 660-1656
michael@floridatomatoes.org
Website:http: https://www.floridatomatoes.org
USDA/AMS Contact
Director, Marketing Development Division
Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service
Phone: (202) 720-2491