As greenhouse tomato growers in North Carolina are gearing up for the season, N.C. MarketReady has launched the Tomato Growers Information Portal. The new web resource is the 3rd in a series of grower information portals. The portals were developed through grant funding from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the Agricultural Advancement Consortium of the N.C. Rural Center.
The tomato portal features N.C. State Univ. production resources for both greenhouse and field-grown tomatoes, including information on economics, energy management and specialized equipment. There are resources on marketing, food safety, integrated pest management, industry events and risk management specific to North Carolina tomato production.  N.C. MarketReady worked with N.C. St. Univ. assistant horticulture professor Chris Gunter, and other N.C. St. faculty to develop the tomato portal.
Greenhouse tomatoes are experiencing a surge in popularity. The ability to produce crops year-round in climate-controlled structures has expanded business opportunities for growers and retailers. Roughly 37% of all fresh tomatoes sold in U.S. retail stores are now greenhouse grown. North Carolina ranks 7th in the U.S. in tomato production, growing more than 1 million lbs. annually.