Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program
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Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Pennsylvania Tomatoes Cleared June 11, 2008 The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that tomatoes grown in Pennsylvania are NOT associated with the recent salmonellosis outbreak. Thus consumers can safely enjoy raw, fresh “Simply Delicious, Simply Nutritious” Pennsylvania tomatoes of all types, including red, round tomatoes as well as red, roma and red, plum tomatoes. The FDA continues its investigation to find the source of the contaminated tomatoes but has concluded that the contaminated tomatoes were NOT from Pennsylvania. Currently, the only Pennsylvania tomatoes on the market in any volume are greenhouse tomatoes. Local produce auctions report good quantities of local greenhouse tomatoes are being harvested now. Tomatoes grown in high tunnels or unheated greenhouses will start ripening in volume later in June. Most field-grown tomatoes in Pennsylvania will not be ripe until July. The local tomato season will continue into October for field tomatoes and into November and early December for high tunnel and greenhouse tomatoes. Pennsylvania ranks eighth in the nation for the production of fresh market tomatoes. By acreage, tomatoes generally rank fifth among vegetable crops in Pennsylvania, but are usually second or third in dollar value, being worth about $24 million annually. For further information on the salmonellosis outbreak, visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html.
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