The Terminal Markets are the main centers for distribution of vegetables, fruits and flowers from different States of Brazil. The CEAGESP wholesalers can be shippers or growers. The amount of tomato commercialized in these terminal markets is very expressive. It was possible to determine the profile and the main features of the wholesale market at CEAGESP. About 45.8% of the wholesalers had an average commercialization volume of 10,000 tons/year, and 70.8% of them commercialize their own production. Cultivars Carmen and Débora were the leaders on the market. The results pointed out that wholesalers had more than one type of buyer, and the main ones were street fair and supermarkets. Most of the tomato is commercialized in boxes (box K), followed by 20.8% of plastic boxes and 16.7% of cardboard packages. CEAGESP wholesalers adopt tomato classification, either done manually (58.4%), or by machines (8.3%) or using both systems (33.3%). The standardization index was not satisfactory, with color and sizes in different degrees, and therefore 45.8% has to be reclassified.
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.; tomato cultivars; commercialization; classification; postharvest losses; packing
