Half-way point for the North Italy crop

The latest survey by the OI Pomodoro da Industria del Nord Italia's Technical Department confirmed that on August 20, 1,282,666 tonnes of tomatoes had been processed, representing 46.13% of the contracted quantity with an average brix of 4.76, lower than in recent years.

The 2017 season is progressing at a very sustained pace in processing plants, as the high temperatures of this year have accelerated the ripening of the product. Field yields are good despite the water deficits in some areas, while yields in the factories are below the expectations as due to the low brix a greater quantity of raw material is needed to make the processed products.

Overall, there are 36,707 hectares of actual tomato cultivated areas for 2017, down 7.5% compared to last year's figure and down 2.5% compared to the contracted start of the campaign. The growth in organic production is confirmed and represents 6.6% of the total surfaces of the OP Associates, up from 1,316 hectares two years ago to the current 2,310.

Emilia Romagna is the region with the largest share of 24,866 hectares of tomato cultivated in the OI region, followed by Lombardy (7,494), Veneto (2,121) and Piemonte (2,029). The breakdown in the main provinces characterized by the presence of tomato cultivation by industry: Piacenza: 10,003 hectares; Ferrara: 6.177; Parma: 4.666; Mantova: 3.963; Cremona: 2,102; Ravenna 1.929; Alessandria: 1,821; Reggio Emilia: 993; Rovigo: 895; Verona: 780 and Modena: 729, with additional small surfaces in other provinces.
 
(Source: OI Pomodoro da Industria del Nord Italia)