Proper
handling is essential to delivering a quality product on a consistent
basis. There must be care in handling from the time they are sorted
in the growing area all the way to the restaurant or supermarket. The
importance to handling can't be emphasized enough. Key areas to handling
are.
Speed
of sorting belts at farm: If the belts are moving to fast
the tomatoes may absorb "Mechanical damage"
Transportation:
The trucks that transport the tomatoes, both from the farm and to
Thomas Colace Co. customers, can bruise them if they are to rough
during the drive. Tomatoes are like people in the fact that they bruise
easily. Our trucks are equipped with "Air Ride" (inserted
picture) instead of "Springs". This cushions the tomatoes as
much as possible on the road.
Packing:
Tomatoes that have turned from green to pink and or red are more susceptible
to being bruised. We at Thomas Colace Co. believe that by packing
each tomato by hand instead of a mechanical color and size sorter
our customers will receive a firmer more consistent product.
Packaging:
In
many of our packages the tomatoes rest on 1" air filled bubble
pack. The same type of packaging that is used to transport expensive
china. This bubble forms around the perimeter of the tomato so as
to evenly distribute any shock from loading and unloading.
Speed
of sorting belts at farm: If the belts are moving to fast
the tomatoes may absorb "Mechanical damage" 
Transportation:
The trucks that transport the tomatoes, both from the farm and to
Thomas Colace Co. customers, can bruise them if they are to rough
during the drive. Tomatoes are like people in the fact that they bruise
easily. Our trucks are equipped with "Air Ride" (inserted
picture) instead of "Springs". This cushions the tomatoes as
much as possible on the road. 
Packing:
Tomatoes that have turned from green to pink and or red are more susceptible
to being bruised. We at Thomas Colace Co. believe that by packing
each tomato by hand instead of a mechanical color and size sorter
our customers will receive a firmer more consistent product. 
Packaging:
In
many of our packages the tomatoes rest on 1" air filled bubble
pack. The same type of packaging that is used to transport expensive
china. This bubble forms around the perimeter of the tomato so as
to evenly distribute any shock from loading and unloading.