Tomato Shortage Again

Dutch · February 18, 2011

Tomato Shortage Again. This looks like it is becoming an annual event.
Per TV channel 7 Chicago;

February 15, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A freeze in Mexico and cold weather in Florida and Texas are creating a tomato shortage.
This is expected to drive up prices at the grocery store.
The shortage has forced the Wendy's restaurant chain to only serve tomatoes on its sandwiches upon request.
Growers expect the shortage to last through April.
The freeze in Mexico has also shortened the supply of cucumbers, bell peppers and other vegetables.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...mer&id=7960686

JackE · February 18, 2011

This is when the greenhouse operators make a killing! Wish we had some to sell!

I'm LUVIN' this weather!!! Low last night was 59, it's 74 right now and the a/c is on! We put-in corn, snap beans and potatoes on Wed. If it frosts we'll just replant. We do that every year - sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.

Jack

kygreg · February 18, 2011

The "tomatoes" that the fast food and other resturants put on sandwichs and in salads during the winter months are not real tomatoes anyway and must be just for color; surely not for taste.

RinTinTin · February 18, 2011

The people @ Subway always give me strange looks when I say "No lettuce or tomatoes please".

strax · February 18, 2011

is there anything on the bun when you get it? i think subway subs are 99% lettuce. lol, sad but true.

JackE · February 19, 2011

Most people that eat in those places have never tasted a vine-ripened OP - they think that's the way tomatoes are suppose to taste. I'd just as soon it stays that way - the more demanding they are, the more they complain about things, the harder my life becomes! :-).

surf4grrl · February 19, 2011

Quote:

The "tomatoes" that the fast food and other resturants put on sandwichs and in salads during the winter months are not real tomatoes anyway and must be just for color; surely not for taste.

Amen.

As an aside - anyone have any luck with "Longkeepers" etc. I'm playing with the idea of growing them and seeing how they last through the early winter here in NY - but it's somewhat of a logistical nightmare. If anyone has any experience/ideas - I'd love to hear about it.

rnewste · February 19, 2011

surf,

There is a real nice "Search" function here at Tomatoville. Just type in "longkeeper" and you will get dozens of posts. Here is a link to a recent one:

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ght=longkeeper

Raybo

FILMNET · February 19, 2011

Grape cherry tomatoes 1 pint 2.99 same cheapest store 2 weeks ago 1.25

sprtsguy76 · February 19, 2011

Actually some of the grocery store cherry and grape tomatoes that I buy during the dead of winter arent bad. They aint no Sun Sugar or Black Cherry but they satisfy my craving for the time being. I dont even bother with any thing larger.

Damon

jabbok · February 22, 2011

I know a owner of a local pizza shop........he said he went from paying $17 per case (25lbs) to $43, talk about an increase.

Barbee · February 23, 2011

I ordered take out from a local pizza joint here in town. After placing my order for a large entree salad, the man informed me that due to the freeze in Texas, they did not have roma tomatoes for my salad. Did I still want to order?
I said no tomatoes was fine, I'd take the salad anyway. I had to laugh to myself about it. I always pick the nasty styrofoam tomatoes out of my salad anyway

JackE · February 23, 2011

Those tomatoes are actually picked totally green and have no taste whatsoever. The color is artificially induced with ethylene gas, which turns them red but doesn't develop any sugars. The producers would like to sell good-tasting tomatoes, but it's impossible when you have to transport them half-way across the country and hold them in cold storage for days, or even weeks, on end.

It's just "something red" people expect to see in their salad - most people pour-on so much dressing that's all they taste anyway.

Jack

JackE · February 23, 2011

Barbee, I know that the tomatoes in your photo are a gourmet's delight with fantastic taste - but they sure are UGLY!! LOL LOL

Jack

Worth1 · February 23, 2011

Cost is of no concern to me, I have my private food purchaser fly around the world to get the produce I want once a week.
Just last week we had BBQ'ed baby panda bear stuffed with a family of rare hummingbirds said to be the last of their kind.
5 men and 2 children died getting this delicacy to my table, a small price to pay for what I want.

The tomatoes that commoners purchase at the local markets are of no use to me and I couldnt care less what they pay or even if they starve to death.
My only concern is what I have and want, nothing more.

Worth

February 18, 2011	#1
Dutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b Posts: 1,831	Tomato Shortage Again Tomato Shortage Again. This looks like it is becoming an annual event. Per TV channel 7 Chicago; February 15, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A freeze in Mexico and cold weather in Florida and Texas are creating a tomato shortage. This is expected to drive up prices at the grocery store. The shortage has forced the Wendy's restaurant chain to only serve tomatoes on its sandwiches upon request. Growers expect the shortage to last through April. The freeze in Mexico has also shortened the supply of cucumbers, bell peppers and other vegetables. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...mer&id=7960686

February 19, 2011	#6
JackE Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Woodville, Texas Posts: 520	Most people that eat in those places have never tasted a vine-ripened OP - they think that's the way tomatoes are suppose to taste. I'd just as soon it stays that way - the more demanding they are, the more they complain about things, the harder my life becomes! :-). Last edited by JackE; February 19, 2011 at 05:27 AM.

February 23, 2011	#12
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	I ordered take out from a local pizza joint here in town. After placing my order for a large entree salad, the man informed me that due to the freeze in Texas, they did not have roma tomatoes for my salad. Did I still want to order? I said no tomatoes was fine, I'd take the salad anyway. I had to laugh to myself about it. I always pick the nasty styrofoam tomatoes out of my salad anyway __________________ *Barbee*

February 18, 2011	#3
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	The "tomatoes" that the fast food and other resturants put on sandwichs and in salads during the winter months are not real tomatoes anyway and must be just for color; surely not for taste.

February 18, 2011	#4
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	The people @ Subway always give me strange looks when I say "No lettuce or tomatoes please".

February 18, 2011	#5
strax Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: z5 Posts: 146	is there anything on the bun when you get it? i think subway subs are 99% lettuce. lol, sad but true.

February 19, 2011	#8
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	surf, There is a real nice "Search" function here at Tomatoville. Just type in "longkeeper" and you will get dozens of posts. Here is a link to a recent one: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ght=longkeeper Raybo

February 19, 2011	#9
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	Grape cherry tomatoes 1 pint 2.99 same cheapest store 2 weeks ago 1.25

February 19, 2011	#10
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	Actually some of the grocery store cherry and grape tomatoes that I buy during the dead of winter arent bad. They aint no Sun Sugar or Black Cherry but they satisfy my craving for the time being. I dont even bother with any thing larger. Damon

February 22, 2011	#11
jabbok Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Greencastle PA Posts: 12	I know a owner of a local pizza shop........he said he went from paying $17 per case (25lbs) to $43, talk about an increase.

February 23, 2011	#15
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Cost is of no concern to me, I have my private food purchaser fly around the world to get the produce I want once a week. Just last week we had BBQ'ed baby panda bear stuffed with a family of rare hummingbirds said to be the last of their kind. 5 men and 2 children died getting this delicacy to my table, a small price to pay for what I want. The tomatoes that commoners purchase at the local markets are of no use to me and I couldnt care less what they pay or even if they starve to death. My only concern is what I have and want, nothing more. Worth