ABSTRACT
In 1968 the National Food and Agricultural Council started a vegetable research and extension program at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos that led to the identification of varieties that were better adapted to local conditions. In 1975, as the counterpart of the national rice production campaign, a national commercial vegetable production, marketing, and credit program was launched. Small factories with limited production capacity and little investment in equipment and personnel buy tomatoes from local markets or even from farmers whose fields are contracted to other factories. Mexican scientists and tomato growers agree that the fundamental reasons for the successful production in Sinaloa are favorable climatic conditions, an excellent irrigation and drainage system, ready market outlets, and abundant, inexpensive labor. Tomatoes thrive under a wide range of environmental conditions, but for optimum production they require plenty of sunshine, moderately cool night temperatures, warm days, and well-drained soil. They suffer from frost or prolonged chilling temperatures.
