More than 96% of the season to be achieved
Most facilities are expected to close after October 12th
PTAB estimates that 775,124 short tons (sT) (703,115 metric tonnes (mT)) were delivered during the fourteenth week of harvest (ending October 5th). Provisional total (10,773,205 sT, or 9,772,374 mT) is still 11% lower than the average quantity processed during past three seasons at this time (11.62 million sT).
Another 271,039 sT (245,859 mT) are estimated to be delivered the week 41 (ending October 12th). If this holds, the provisional total is expected to reach 11,044,244 sT, (or 10,018,234 mT). Last year, 99% of the crop was harvested for the same time period. Most facilities are expected to close after October 12th, so next estimate for week ending October 19th should be even smaller.
The 2019 California Organic processing tomato deliveries for the week ending September 28 amounted to 9,410 sT (8,536 mT) harvested. This brings the total harvested up to 371,902 sT (337,352 mT). Organic production in 2019 will be well below organic consumption.
According to the figures available, the current harvest path is 694,352 sT (629,847 mT) behind the average of the quantities harvested at the same date (end of week 41) in the past three years. Quantities being harvested represent more than 96% of the revised official target of the season (11.5 million sT or 10.432 million mT); however, significant adjustments regarding California production have been made in the latest WPTC forecast, which reduce the expected quantities to 11 million sT (about 10 million mT). Initial objective for California crop was (12.1 million sT, or 10.976 million mT).
Source: PTAB
