CENTRAL SORTING of cannery tomatoes has been used to some extent in most tomato growing areas of California. This article is not intended either as a criticism or as a recommendation, but rather as a brief economic appraisal of the system. The table shows the itemized costs per ton of tomatoes for sorting operations in California. The average of $12.28 per ton is in line with custom harvesting costs as well as costs for many growers with yields averaging 17.6 tons per acre.

Frank E. Robinson is Associate Water Scientist, Department of Water Science and Engineering, University of California. Assistance was received from Creative Agricultural Systems, Salinas; Johns Manville Corp.; Paul S. Moller, Sprinkler Irrigation; Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg.; and Ryerson Concrete Co.