>Heat Adjusts Plans of Global Tomato Processors
The majority of European and North African nations have commenced their tomato harvests. Waves of heat have accelerated fruit maturation in the fields, potentially shortening the season and reducing overall yields, according to Sophie Colquhoun, Executive Director of the World Processing Tomato Council.
This information is reported by Tomato News.
In Ukraine, the projected gross tomato harvest remains steady at 550,000 tons. “The available tomato fields are sufficient to meet this target,” the report states. Weather conditions in the country during July were varied, experiencing heatwaves followed by rain and hail. However, no significant damage or high pressure from pests and weeds has been recorded, and the harvesting campaign is expected to begin in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the situation differs among the world’s leading producers.
In Italy, the area dedicated to tomatoes has increased by 15.4% to 38,000 hectares, with projections remaining at 6.1 million tons (3.1 million tons in the north and 3 million tons in the south). Nevertheless, due to the heat and rapid ripening, a peak load on processing plants is anticipated, possibly followed by a sharp decline in volumes after August 20-25.
In the USA (California), harvesting in the southern regions is exceeding contracted volumes, while in the north, it is either on track or slightly above plan, with good quality raw material.
In Spain, processing facilities are already operating at full capacity due to the rapid ripening of the fruits. However, processors are concerned about potential crop losses for mid and late-season varieties because of the prolonged heat.
Also read: Tomatoes Adapt to an Almost Rainless Climate