IMMOKALEE, FL - As the grower gears up for its spring Florida tomato season, Lipman Family Farms is showcasing good quality across a variety of tomatoes, including crimson, grape, and romas, as well as field vegetables like green peppers. Darren Micelle, President of Value-Added, recently provided more insight into these categories and the opportunities that await retailers.

“Despite some weather-related challenges earlier in the year, our produce has maintained an excellent standard, ensuring a steady supply and consistent quality,” Darren assures. “Notably, the quality and sizing of roma tomatoes from Naples have been impressive, and round tomatoes are seeing very nice quality on both crown and second picks. This robust performance sets us up for a successful 2025.”

As the grower closes off its winter deal and looks forward to the spring Florida deal, Lipman Family Farms reports a solid foundation for a successful year ahead.

While the weather conditions associated with Hurricane Milton posed challenges in maintaining crop health and production timelines during the winter deal, Lipman Family Farms implemented effective strategies that allowed the grower to save the crop. New crops planted after the hurricane have also produced very well.

“Lipman Family Farms’ strategic measures to mitigate the effects of adverse weather conditions include enhancing agricultural practices, investing in resilient crop varieties, and strengthening supply chain logistics to handle disruptions more effectively,” Darren adds. “This proactive approach helps ensure that partners remain well-supported and successful despite environmental challenges. Initially, Hurricane Milton and subsequent weather impacts led to fluctuations in tomato pricing across all varieties including crimson, grape, and romas, as well as field vegetables like green peppers. However, the spring season is off to a strong start.”

As Darren goes on to explain, low prices lead to increased consumption, which will stabilize and increase market prices moving forward.

With excellent quality tomatoes now in supply, retailers should take advantage via strategic promotions and creative merchandising plays. For more category insights, be sure to leave a tab open to AndNowUKnow.