ABOUT US
THE CALIFORNIA TOMATO RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Founded in 1968, the CTRI is an independently funded voluntary Board of tomato growers. As the industry’s research sponsor in California, the Institute’s purpose is to identify, fund and direct research to maintain and enhance the economic viability of California’s tomato industry with emphasis on productivity, product quality, and sustainability from planting through harvest.
With over 56 years of direct research expenditures, the CTRI has invested significantly (over 14.3 million USD) into the future of the processing tomato industry in California. These investments are both short term: e.g. In-field trials with results which can be immediately implemented in commercial fields (side-by-side crop protection product testing), and long term: e.g. Support of the UC Davis Tomato Genetics Resources Center and the public breeders who utilize its material to explore and make available the genetics which have and will continue to make tomatoes a healthful, delicious food which growers can sustainably produce.
Why do we do what we do?
1. To drive the in-field changes which will continue to move the industry forward incrementally, and,
2. To maintain and strengthen the network of growers, processors, allied industry and researchers globally to cultivate and extend the next idea which will give us more than incremental change.
In a given year the processing tomato growers of California produce more than 95% of the total U.S. production of this crop and over one quarter of the world’s total global production. Investment in research by the grower members of the CTRI ensures continued support to the science that – together with the most productive and innovative growers in the world – will advance the California industry.