Greetings from the Veg IPM team! Things are ramping up, and we have some important updates on diseases in tomatoes and peppers.
May 22, 2026 Amanda Quadrel and Maria Cramer
Vegetable IPM Update 5/22/26
Greetings from the Veg IPM team! Here are the most recent pest and disease issues we’re seeing in various vegetable crops.
May 8, 2026 Andy Wyenandt
Controlling Rhizoctonia root rot
Rhizoctonia root rot has been reported over the past week in transplanted crops. Rhizoctonia root rot, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is an important soil-borne fungal pathogen with a very large host range. The pathogen can survive saprophytically on living or dead plant material (organic matter) or as sclerotia in the soil (for more than 3 years). Disease development is favored by warm temperatures, dry (or very well drained) soils and stressed plants. Symptoms of Rhizoctonia root rot may begin as stunted plant growth (with poor root systems) with the appearance of brown lesions at the base of the stem causing wilting with lesions eventually girdling the stem and killing the infected plant. Rhizoctonia root rot infections only extend about an inch above the soil surface (Figure 1), unlike Phytophthora blight infection which can extend much farther up the stem. [Read more…]
May 7, 2026 Amanda Quadrel and Maria Cramer
Vegetable IPM Update 5/08/26
Greetings from the Veg IPM team! We hope everyone is doing alright despite the tough spring weather. In this post, we’ll discuss what we’ve been seeing as we’ve begun scouting cole crops and high tunnel tomatoes.
Tomato spotted wilt virus alert 5/1/2026
We have seen a couple scattered cases of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in Southern NJ greenhouses this spring. Be on the lookout for any tomato plants that seem abnormal [Read more…]
April 12, 2026 Seowoo Sophie Lee
Recent Increase in Tomato Prices
Tomato prices in the United States have risen notably in recent months, driven by a combination of supply constraints, trade policy changes, and rising costs throughout the supply chain. Tomato prices at the consumer level nationwide, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), increased 18% from February to March and were 24% higher than a year earlier. Consistent with this trend, wholesale market data from terminal markets in New York and Philadelphia indicate strong price increases.
Source: USDA Market News; figure created by the author.
Note: Weekly tomato prices (non-organic) at the New York and Philadelphia Terminal Market by origin and year. Prices in 2026 are highlighted in red, while earlier years (2022–2025) are shown for comparison. Line types distinguish between origins.
Why Are Tomato Prices Increasing?
One of the primary drivers of higher prices is tight supply conditions. Weather disruptions in major producing regions such as Mexico and Florida have reduced available volumes, creating shortages across the supply chain.
Trade policy has also played a significant role. The imposition of tariffs on Mexican tomatoes, which account for roughly 70% of U.S. fresh tomato consumption, has increased import costs and contributed directly to higher market prices.
In addition, broader economic factors are amplifying price pressures. Rising fuel and transportation costs have increased the cost of moving perishable goods such as tomatoes, while higher input costs (e.g., energy and fertilizer) are raising production expenses, particularly for greenhouse production.
