One topic that is on the training agenda year after year for the  USDA Inspectors is the topic of size involving tomatoes.  I’ll try my best to keep this short, clear, and easy to understand.  Tomatoes are designated in size by two different methods.  You may see your tomatoes being marked as Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large.  Or you may see your cartons marked as 5 x 6,
6 x 6, or 6 x 7.  Is there a difference, and why the different markings?

Years ago, when tomatoes were first packed and shipped throughout the country, the majority of the packing was done by hand, placing each tomato into the carton.  The tomatoes were uniformly sized by the packer to place the tomatoes in rows, such as 6 tomatoes across one way and 6 tomatoes across the other, hence the 6 x 6 pack.

If the tomatoes were larger, the packer could only fit 5 tomatoes one way, while placing 6 tomatoes across, making that a 5 x 6 pack, shown above.  Actual size dimensions (minimum diameter and maximum diameter) were later established for a 6 x 6 tomato as well as the other packs, such as a 4 x 5, 5 x 6, 6 x 7 and a 7 x 7. We still see this concept today in tray packs, although the tomatoes are no longer being sized by the judgement of the packer.

Many of the larger tomato packers and re-packers size their tomatoes using optical technology.  The tomatoes pass under cameras which instantaneously take a picture, and measure the size, and send that tomato to the correct packing line.

As you can see, the tomatoes are measured to the hundredth of millimeter, ensuring the tomatoes are packed in the carton, with the designated size.

But let’s get back to the beginning…….why the different designations?  When the U.S. Grade Standards for Tomatoes was developed a uniform method of sizing tomatoes was established.  The tomato industry across the United States requested a simple method, so 4 size categories were created, small, medium, large and extra large.  Size designations were set, for each size.  For example, a tomato marked as Large means it must be larger than 2-1/2 inches in diameter but no larger than 2-25/32 inches in diameter, to keep the tomatoes fairly uniform in size.

The Florida Tomato Industry decided to keep the established method of sizing tomatoes, so they do not use the U.S. Grade Standard size designations, they still use most of the original size terms.  The Florida growers pack their tomatoes to three size designations, 5 x 6, 6 x 6 and 6 x 7.  The size designations they established are a little different than the U.S. Grade Standard sizes.  For example, a 6 x 6 is similar to the Large tomato, but the minimum diameter for a 6 x 6 tomatoes is 2-17/32 of an inch, 1/32 larger than the large size.  The maximum diameter of a 6 x 6 is 2-29/32 of an inch, 4/32 of an inch larger than the large size.

Because of the different size designations and diameters of each, two sets of tomato sizers are available.  As an inspector it is pretty simple; if the tomatoes are marked with the size markings of “Small”, “Medium”, “Large” or “Extra Large” use the sizer marked as such.  If the tomatoes come from Florida, or from any state which also packs using the numerical markings (which is most) use the Florida Tomato Sizer, marked as “5 x 6”, “6 x 6” or “6 x 7.”

If you need to purchase one or both of the sizers, they are available for purchase from the USDA Inspection Service’s Supply Depot.  Click here for the link to their inspection equipment catalog.