According to the 2026 California Processing Report released on 23 January, as of January, California’s tomato processors reported they have, or will have, contracts for 9.8 million short tons (8.89 million metric tonnes) in 2026, which is a decrease of 11% compared to 11.0 million contracted short tons (9.8 million metric tonnes) forecast in the August 2025 California Processing Tomato Report.

Processors estimate that the contracted production for 2026 will come from 185,000 acres (74,700 hectares), generating an average yield of 53 tons per acre (119 metric tonnes per hectare).

This year’s contracted planted acreage forecast is 10% below the 2025 estimate of 205,000 planted acres (82,800 hectares) under contract in the August forecast.

The USDA-NASS Pacific Regional Office surveyed California’s tomato processors for their intended contract acreage and tonnage for the upcoming 2026 season. The data reported by processors was either tonnage with derived acreage, or acreage with derived tonnage.

This early processing tomato estimate funded by the California League of Food Producers can be accessed.

From California League of Food Producers