Just a few facilities still operating
PTAB estimates that 234,234 short tons (sT) (212,474 metric tonnes (mT)) were delivered during the fifteenth week of harvest (ending October 12th). Provisional total (11,001,334 sT, or 9,979,310 mT) is still 10% lower than the average quantity processed during past three seasons at this time (11.74 million sT).
Another 108,034 sT (97,998 mT) are estimated to be delivered the week 42 (ending October 19th). If this holds, the provisional total is expected to reach 11,109,368 sT, (or 10,077,308 mT). Most facilities are shutdown with just a few still operating. This will be the last PTAB estimate until the official close of the season, when the final tonnage number will be released.
The 2019 California Organic processing tomato deliveries for the week ending October 5 amounted to 20,573 sT (18,662 mT) harvested. This brings the total harvested up to 392,475 sT (356,014 mT). The year to date organic harvest is the lowest since 2014. Organic production in 2019 will be well below organic consumption.
According to the figures available, the current harvest path is 737,262 sT (668,770 mT) behind the average of the quantities harvested at the same date (end of week 42) in the past three years. Quantities being harvested represent almost 97% 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. Initial objective for California crop was (12.1 million sT, or 10.976 million mT).
Source: PTAB