Meyer Tomato Shifts Growing to Mexico
California shoppers buying winter tomatoes and vegetables may find that much of this produce is grown across the border.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Organic Food
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas named Robert Meyer, leader of Meyer Tomato Company, recipient of its 2026 Pillar of the Industry Award. Meyer's company, founded in King City, California, in 1955, expanded its tomato and winter vegetable production into Mexico and grew into a major supplier in the category.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights how California-rooted produce businesses have moved growing and distribution across the border over several decades. For shoppers in California, it is a reminder that a meaningful share of fresh tomatoes and winter vegetables may be grown in Mexico, even when produce is marketed through familiar domestic channels.
This is an industry award and company history rather than a controlled study, drawing on the association's recognition of Meyer's career. The source reports the 2009 expansion as adding millions of cases to an established distribution network but gives no baseline or current production figures.
The players
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
An industry trade association that represents fresh produce companies across North and South America and presents the Pillar of the Industry Award.
Robert Meyer
Leader of Meyer Tomato Company, who guided the firm's expansion from California growing into Mexican produce regions.
Meyer Tomato Company
A produce supplier founded in King City, California, known for tomatoes and winter vegetables grown in California and Mexico.
The details
Meyer and his father, Leo Meyer, founded Meyer Tomato Company in King City in 1955 as a California grower. By the late 1990s, operations had increasingly shifted toward Mexico, where growing seasons and regions allowed the company to supply tomatoes and winter vegetables across more of the year. In 2009, a sales and marketing partnership widened distribution of Mexican-grown produce, bringing millions of additional cases into an established network.
Timeline
1955: Meyer Tomato Company is established in King City, California.
Late 1990s: Company operations increasingly shift toward Mexico.
2009: A sales and marketing partnership expands distribution of Mexican-grown produce.
2026: Robert Meyer receives the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas' Pillar of the Industry Award.
Health Landscape
The growth of Mexican produce supply tied to California-founded companies reflects a longer-running shift in how fresh vegetables reach American tables. Understanding where produce is grown helps frame broader questions about supply, seasonality and access to fresh food.
If you regularly buy fresh tomatoes or winter vegetables, it can help to check packaging for origin information when it is available. Shoppers who want to know how their produce was grown can also look for labeling details at the point of purchase.
The takeaway
Knowing where your produce is grown is one practical way to understand the food supply behind your meals. Check origin labels when you shop, and ask your grocer or farmers market vendor about growing region if the information is not posted.
Further reading
For more on how produce is grown and labeled, explore our Organic Food coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Freshplaza.
