The United States of Tomatoes

Nothing says summer like a bright red juicy tomato. And when it comes to United States tomato production, several states battle it out over this juicy red fruit, each claiming they grow the tastiest tomatoes.

Tomatoes grown in Grainger County, Tennessee, for example, are famous for their quality, which extension agent Anthony Carver attributes to the acidic limestone-based soil in northeast Tennessee. The acid in the soil gives the tomatoes their “bite.”

“Tennessee is the sixth leading [fresh-market] tomato producer in the nation, and Grainger County leads the state in tomato production,” Carver says. “We have over 500 acres of tomatoes and over 500 greenhouses dedicated to tomato production.”

Read More: Florida’s tomato industry is planting the seeds of safety.

However, it’s California that ranks first in United States tomato production for both fresh-market tomatoes and tomatoes for processing (turned into juice, sauce, paste, salsa, etc.), according to the USDA. Here’s the list of top tomato-growing states for fresh-market tomatoes in 2018:

1. California
2. Florida
3. Indiana
4. Ohio
5. Michigan
6. Tennessee
7. South Carolina
8. New Jersey
9. North Carolina
10. Virginia

Read More: Arkansas tomatoes are ripe for the pickin’.

Is your garden overflowing with fresh tomatoes this summer? Put them to good use with some of our favorite summertime tomato recipes below:

Yellow Tomato Gazpacho

Grilled Tomato Basil Pizza

Shakshuka (Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce)