To ship tomatoes without damage, send them at the mature-green to breaker stage, pack them in a single layer in vented cell trays or clamshells, and keep them between 55°F and 70°F with an insulated box and a 1- to 2-day service. Don’t pack tomatoes with ice. USDA research shows that holding them below 55°F causes chilling injury and stops them ripening properly.
What Temperature Should Tomatoes Be Shipped At?
Ship tomatoes between 55°F and 70°F. USDA Agriculture Handbook 66 says mature-green tomatoes ripen normally at 55 to 70°F (13 to 21°C). Below 55°F, ripening slows and chilling injury develops, especially in green fruit. Above 81°F, the red color comes in weak.
Fully red tomatoes can handle somewhat cooler air. USDA notes they can be held at 50°F without visible chilling injury, and at 45°F for a couple of days, but flavor and aroma suffer. For a parcel that means one thing: tomatoes need insulation, not refrigeration.
| Condition | What happens to tomatoes | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Above 81°F | Red color develops poorly; fruit softens fast | Insulated box, one wrapped gel pack in summer, overnight service |
| 55 to 70°F | Normal ripening for mature-green fruit | Target range for the whole trip |
| 50 to 55°F | Acceptable for red-ripe fruit only, with flavor loss | Short trips only |
| Below 50°F | Chilling injury: pitting, uneven ripening, decay | Insulate against winter cold; never pack directly with ice |
Commercial packers cool tomatoes to about 54°F for storage, or 68°F for ripening, before loading. They prefer forced-air cooling because it cools more evenly. At home, simply let tomatoes sit at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator before you pack them.
What Ripeness Stage Ships Best?
Tomatoes picked at the mature-green, breaker or turning stage, when color is just starting to show, survive shipping far better than dead-ripe fruit. Tomatoes are climacteric, so they keep ripening after harvest from their own ethylene. A tomato shipped slightly under-ripe arrives close to peak.
Fully vine-ripened tomatoes have the best flavor but soft flesh and taut skins, so ordinary handling bruises them. USDA also notes that impacts at the green or breaker stage can cause internal bruising: yellow-green gel inside a ripe tomato that looks fine outside. Cushioning matters at every stage.
How Should You Package Tomatoes for Shipping?
Pack tomatoes in a single layer, with every fruit held in place, inside a vented box. Commercial growers pack tomatoes in single- or double-layer cartons, often with foam bottom pads that USDA says reduce abrasion and bruising. Cherry and grape tomatoes go in 8- to 16-ounce clamshells set inside a larger master carton.
| Tomato type | Best packaging | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Heirlooms | Single-layer molded cell trays | Thin skins; each fruit must be held apart |
| Cherry and grape | Vented clamshells inside a master carton | Holds small fruit as a cluster and dampens vibration |
| Romas and slicers | One or two layers with a pad or divider between | Firmer fruit, but upper layers crush lower ones over several days |
| Cluster (on the vine) | Single-layer carton with a foam bottom pad | Protects stems and fruit attachment |
Follow these steps for a home or small-farm shipment:
- Sort the fruit. Remove any split, soft or blemished tomatoes, because decay spreads to neighboring fruit.
- Wrap or seat each tomato. Use cell trays, paper wraps or crumpled paper so fruit can’t touch other fruit or the box walls.
- Leave a little give. Pack snugly but not so tight that fruit is compressed. Tomatoes are sensitive to compression.
- Use an insulated liner in extreme weather. A foam or insulated liner buffers both summer heat and winter cold. Our how to ship produce guide covers liners for other vegetables.
- Use a sturdy outer box. Choose a new double-wall corrugated box, seal every seam and put the label on the largest flat side with a return address.
How Do You Control Ethylene and Condensation?
Tomatoes produce moderate amounts of ethylene and react to very small amounts of it. USDA says as little as 0.5 parts per million triggers ripening. In a sealed bag, a tomato’s own ethylene speeds up the whole box, so use vented clamshells or a breathable liner rather than airtight plastic.
Condensation is the second risk. A cold box that warms up in a truck sweats, and surface moisture invites mold and split skins. Packing tomatoes at room temperature, rather than straight from a refrigerator, keeps them dry. Don’t pack tomatoes with ethylene-sensitive produce, such as leafy greens, in the same box.
Which Carrier Should You Use to Ship Tomatoes?
USPS and UPS both accept fresh tomatoes, but neither offers refrigerated parcel service. Perishables travel at the shipper’s risk with both carriers. The UPS tariff states that UPS isn’t liable for damage from heat, cold or spoilage, even on a guaranteed service. That makes transit time the deciding factor.
| Service | Delivery commitment | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail Express | 1 to 3 days by 6 PM, money-back guarantee | Ripe or heirloom tomatoes |
| USPS Priority Mail | 2 to 3 days, not guaranteed | Green or breaker-stage tomatoes |
| UPS Next Day Air | Next business day | Ripe tomatoes in hot weather |
| UPS 2nd Day Air | Second business day | Mature-green tomatoes going cross-country |
| UPS Ground | 1 to 5 business days | Green tomatoes to nearby states in mild weather |
Ship Monday through Wednesday so the box doesn’t sit over a weekend, and send the recipient the tracking number. To see what your box costs with each service, compare live UPS and USPS rates for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator, or read how our shipping calculator compares carriers. ParcelPath is free to use and offers up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS retail rates, with no subscription or minimums.
Growers moving whole pallets need refrigerated freight instead. Because packers hold tomatoes near 54°F for storage, set the trailer temperature for the fruit’s ripeness stage rather than the colder setting used for berries. Our guide to refrigerated shipping costs explains how reefer freight is priced.
Can You Ship Tomatoes to Another State?
Usually, yes. One catch: USDA lists tomatoes as a host for fruit flies, so tomatoes grown inside a fruit fly quarantine area can’t be moved out of it without meeting the quarantine’s conditions. Check the APHIS fruit fly quarantine maps before shipping garden tomatoes. Our guide on how to ship fruit to another state explains the USDA and state quarantine checks, and how to mail fruit covers smaller gift boxes.
If your package mixes garden produce with homemade treats, pack the food items in their own sealed containers. Our guide on how to ship cinnamon rolls covers baked goods, and how to ship frozen food covers anything that has to stay frozen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you refrigerate tomatoes before shipping them?
No. USDA Agriculture Handbook 66 says tomatoes stored below 55°F ripen poorly and can develop chilling injury, especially at the mature-green stage. Keep tomatoes at room temperature before packing, ship them in an insulated box, and add a paper-wrapped gel pack only in hot weather, never touching the fruit.
How long can tomatoes be in transit?
Mature-green and breaker-stage tomatoes handle 2 to 3 days in transit well, because they keep ripening on the way. Fully ripe and heirloom tomatoes should arrive within 1 day, so use USPS Priority Mail Express or UPS Next Day Air. Ship early in the week to avoid weekend delays.
What is the best box for shipping tomatoes?
A new double-wall corrugated box with a single layer of tomatoes in molded cell trays or vented clamshells works best. USDA notes that commercial packers use foam bottom pads to reduce abrasion and bruising. Leave a small amount of cushioned space so tomatoes aren’t compressed, and add an insulated liner in extreme weather.
Can you ship tomatoes with USPS?
Yes. USPS accepts fresh tomatoes when they’re dry, packed to arrive before spoiling, and not restricted by a USDA quarantine. USPS has no refrigerated service, and perishables are mailed at the sender’s risk. Priority Mail Express offers 1- to 3-day delivery with a money-back guarantee, which suits ripe tomatoes.
Sources
- USDA Agriculture Handbook 66: The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Stocks (Tomato)
- USPS Publication 52, 53: Fresh Foods and Other Perishables
- USPS Publication 52, 562: Quarantines
- USPS: Shipping Restrictions
- USPS: Priority Mail Express
- USPS: Priority Mail
- UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States (3.14 Perishable Commodities)
- USDA APHIS: Fruit Flies
Part of our How to Ship Produce guide. Related: How to Ship Fruit to Another State, How to Mail Fruit, How to Ship Frozen Food.
