Northern Italy: 2020 final production is close to target

A total of 2,741,982 tonnes of tomatoes were processed in 2020 in Northern Italy

The last shipment of tomatoes has been delivered and, as every year, the Inter-professional Organization OI Pomodoro da Industria from Northern Italy draws up the balance of the 2020 campaign, which ended earlier than usual, on 2 October. In Northern Italy, 2,741,982 metric tonnes were processed, about 95% of what had been contracted at the beginning of the campaign: an excellent value considering the need to tackle some climatic anomalies. "The data shows", comments Tiberio Rabboni, president of the OI Pomodoro da industria del Nord Italia, "that the production schedule that OP (Organizations of Producers) and Processing Companies had agreed at the beginning of the year in response to market needs was respected. The parties have entrusted the OI with the verification of compliance with the commitments both for the surfaces – which amounted to 37,071 hectares – and for the quantities of raw material delivered". "There is a lot of satisfaction", adds the president, "for a result in line with contractual expectations, despite the complications caused by the climatic anomalies at the end of July, demonstrating how the production planning, implemented in agreement with the parties, is for the benefit of all. Furthermore, once again, the ability of the supply chain organized in the OI to offer agricultural companies affected by climatic anomalies and new plant diseases, concrete protective nets for income protection was demonstrated ”.

The progress of the 2020 season 
The season started in the best possible way, with an excellent spring that made it possible to respect the transplant programs. The situation was then complicated by the climatic trend which, with the persistence of high temperatures at the end of July, subjected the tomatoes in the fields to extreme conditions causing the simultaneous ripening of the raw material whose harvest was scheduled over several weeks. The OI promptly asked the Ministry of Agriculture – later supported by the OP and the Regions – to activate the measure for non-harvesting provided for by the fruit and vegetable CMO to support the income of farms in difficulty due to over-ripening. At the end of the survey it is certified that the measure has been activated on approximately 200 hectares. Also due to this phenomenon, the harvest ended early, about a week earlier than the average. Field production was characterized by high yields – 74 tonnes per hectare – compared to a five-year average of about 70 tonnes per hectare. The quality is also good as evidenced by the Brix degree of 4.82, above average. Excellent yields are also recorded for organic cultivation, thanks to a weather that did not cause significant phytosanitary problems.

At the national level, adding the data of Central-Southern Italy to that of Northern Italy, an overall production of about 5.1 million tonnes is estimated.

Source: OI Pomodoro da industria del Nord Italia

The end of season provisional report is available below. A more detailed report, with the volume of finished products, will be released in November.