Tomato Quality Standards for the Local Market

To achieve this, farmers are recommended to plant high-yielding, high-quality varieties that are attractive to buyers. One such variety is MAKIS F1 from East West Seeds Company. Tomatoes should be harvested early in the morning to obtain the best quality products, and harvesting should not occur if it is raining. The ideal tomato characteristics include being firm, having the calyx still attached to the fruit, and having a fruit diameter that varies from 4.5 to 6 cm. Tomatoes should also be glossy yellow or red in color, round in shape or oblong depending on the variety, free of foreign matter, and free of insect or pest damage. The market requires tomatoes to meet specific standards, categorized into three grades: Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3. Grade 1 tomatoes must have 95-100% freshness and firmness, with the calyx attached to the fruit. Grade 2 tomatoes require 90-95% freshness and firmness, with either the calyx attached or not. Grade 3 tomatoes have 85-90% freshness and firmness, with no calyx attached. The fruit diameter and number of fruits per kilogram also vary across the three grades. Cambodia HARVEST has established quality standards for tomatoes, which include rejecting products that are bruised, have bacteria Erwinia, or are soft and rotting. Blossom end rotting is also considered a rejected characteristic. The organization emphasizes the importance of adhering to these standards to ensure high-quality tomatoes that meet market requirements.