Where have all the tomatoes gone?

Restaurants are cutting back on tomatoes because of the price increase. Cases that used to sell for $20 now sell for $50.

Parkway Restaurant manager Melyssa Jennings said, "Tomatoes are very important because it's in everything we make so we had to cut back. We stopped putting them as garnish and ask if they want salsa now."

Local restaurants aren't the only ones hurt by the shortage of tomatoes. Big Chain Restaurants buy about 40 pounds of tomatoes but can only use 25 percent because of imperfections.

Some Subways only put 4 tomato slices instead of the usual six. Subway patrons Brad Humpert and Julie Maeuser said they haven't noticed the tomato limit but do find them important to all sandwiches. Humpert said, "It's just a classic. You just have to have tomatoes on a sandwich."

Wendy's displays signs that say they won't serve tomatoes on sandwiches unless you specifically ask for them. Wendy's spokesperson Denny Lynch said that it has to do with the quality of the tomatoes. They don't want to serve anything below their standard and the tomatoes aren't up to their standard. Lynch expects the shortage to continue for another few weeks but commented that there hasn't been a significant decrease in customers.

Jennings said, "Customers have been lenient with us, but still tomatoes are very important so we need this to stop now."

Spring's warm weather is heating up the Sunshine State and farmers have planted new tomatoes since the weather has gotten warmer. They are expected to harvest in mid April.

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