The effects of potassium on the quality of processing tomato fruit

The problem of improving the raw-product quality of processing tomatoes has confronted the tomato processing industry for years. Tomato processors in cooperation with the universities and other private industries are expending much time researching this particular problem. Some processors base their payment to growers on the quality each individual grower has delivered through the season. Producers with an average quality above the normal quality standards set by the processors, receive an incentive payment. This bonus is added on to the price per ton already stipulated in the producers' contract. Producers with quality below the normal standards receive payment less than the contracted price. More processors are in the midst of studying these type of payment procedures. Many processors will enforce similar quality based payment programs in the near future. These types of quality based payment programs put the pressure upon the producers. If they intend to maintain or increase their tomato production, they have no alternative but to comply with the standards set by the processors. The raw-product quality of processing tomatoes varies considerably from season to season. Varieties, climate, ripening date, nutrition, cultural practices, etc., all affect the raw-product quality of tomato fruit. With the increasing competitiveness in the tomato processing industry and higher quality demands by the consumer, more research is needed to determine the effects of all of these variables on the raw-product quality of tomato fruit. In December, 1970, a glasshouse nutritional experiment was set up to study just one of the variables mentioned above. The macronutrient potassium (K) was applied to tomato plants to determine if there were any correlation between increasing levels of potassium and the raw-product quality of tomato fruit. The variety VF 145-B 78-79 was selected because It is still the most widely accepted, adaptable and popular tomato processing variety to date.