California’s tomato processors reported they have contracts for 13.3 million tons of processing tomatoes for 2009 harvest. This is 14 percent higher than the contracted production of last year.

The May contracted acreage of 308,000 is the same as the January intentions forecast.

Fresno County retains the top spot over all the counties in contracted planted acreage for 2009 with 102,000 acres. San Joaquin County grabbed the No. 2 spot with 44,000 contracted acres. Rounding out the top five counties for contracted planted acreage in 2009 were Yolo, Kern and Kings.

This early processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Processors, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The USDA estimate for all states will be issued on July 10.