Outbreak of Fungus Threatens Tomato Crop . Will the tomato farmers ever get a break? A highly contagious fungus that destroys tomato plants has quickly spread to nearly every state in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic. According to the federal and state agriculture officials, the weather over the next week will determine whether the outbreak is thwarted or whether tomato crops are ruined. (pic) Green tomatoes affected by the spores of highly contagious fungus, called late blight. Ph