The Tomato Magazine focuses on the fresh market industry, where California and Florida tomato growers dominate. Of the 127,870 acres of fresh tomatoes harvested in the U.S. in 2001, 83,900, or 66 percent, were grown in the two states. Other major production states include Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, New York, Georgia, Michigan, Maryland and Indiana.

Processed tomatoes today account for nearly 69 percent of all tomato acreage planted in the U.S. (279,830 versus 127,870 acres for fresh), total fresh market tomatoes dominate in value. In 2001, the value of fresh market field-grown tomatoes was $1,116,982,000 while processing was $547,624,000, making the total U.S. field-grown tomato crop valued at nearly $1.7 billion. Fresh market tomatoes have always had a higher per unit value than processing tomatoes.

Editorial material ranges from best management practices for insect, disease and weed control to new and improved varieties coming on the market. Experts from the California and Florida Tomato Commissions also keep readers up-to-date on the latest developments in fresh market tomato trade.

Since a heavy percentage of tomato producers also grow peppers, editorial content has been expanded to include pepper production information. The major focus will remain on fresh tomato production. There are a wide range of peppers grown in the U.S. today, although bell peppers clearly dominate in terms of acreage. Over the past few years, U.S. peppers growers have been planting just under 60,000 acres. They come in a range of colors, the most common green, red, yellow and orange.