We’ve all heard of indicator species, right?

Usually we think of birds, insects, or mammals—creatures that tell us something about the health of an ecosystem. But on this farm, one of our first indicators is a the tomato.

As much as tomatoes have become the star of our summer meals, they’re also one of the first crops to show us when our environment is under stress. And this week, they’re telling us exactly how they feel about all this smoke.

Just like the rest of us, they’ve got the smoky-day blues.

They’re not in much of a hurry to grow bigger or ripen. The plants are essentially pressing pause, waiting for cleaner air and more sunlight before putting their energy into fruit.

Don’t worry—the tomatoes aren’t giving up on us. But they are asking for a little grace this week. So don’t expect quite the abundance we’ve enjoyed over the last couple of weeks.

Instead of harvesting armloads of fruit, we’re giving the plants what they need: trellising, pruning, and feeding.

Everyone say a little prayer for the tomatoes.