Reader’s Digest – April 2021

In April 2021, we published the following articles:

• The final results for the 2020 campaign were compiled by the IO Pomodoro Nord Italia. They show changes in the distribution among the different categories.
• Global imports of Tomato Products, updated 1 April 2021.
• A review article was recently published by the European scientific competence network EU-COST "EUROCAROTENE", on dietary suggestions for major carotenoids.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 2 April 2021
• In Italy, a request for the PGI "Peeled Tomatoes of Naples" is being met by an opposition from the regional government. The Director General of Anicav added that "The PGI recognition must be linked to only one of the stages of production".
• Summary of the FEGA Aid by region for the last 5 years in Spain.
• 2020 has been a year of consolidation for Chile and 84% of their exports are to Central and South America, as well as to the Far East.
• Kraft Heinz is planning to increase ketchup production in the US to balance the shortage created by the Covid pandemic.
• The American owned Red Gold company announced there was no shortage of ketchup, as the company had prepared for the surge.
• An exceptional wave of cold weather hit Western Europe at the beginning of April, after a week of warm weather, causing severe damage in many orchards and vineyards. Some damages have been reported in France, Italy and Greece so far.  
• OI Pomodoro Nord Italia reports that 131 contracts have been filed for the 2021 season.
• CFT and Heinz have a long-standing collaboration. Heinz intends to expand its production capacity in Mexico and has chosen CFT's solution for the ketchup production line.
• The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture declared drought conditions in California, in 50 counties, comprising most of the tomato producing counties.
• Kagome stopped importing tomato paste from China's Xinjiang region, following up on reported abuses against Uyghur Muslims.
• Paste Prices, April 2021: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile.
• The cost of processing tomatoes has increased by 7% compared to the average reference price for the period 2018-2020.
• Reports from processors and growers on tomato seed varieties being unavailable or delayed led us to investigate the issue with several seed companies and the American Seed Trade Association.
• Italian plant nurseries are busy developing a technological and sustainable approach, using alternative strategies instead of chemical inputs.
• Obituary: Ben George (HeinzSeed and Heinz Agricultural Research until his retirement in 2004).
• Global Exports of Tomato Paste, updated 15 April 2021.
• The tomato processing industry in Thailand (part 1 & 2).
• Peru's exports have increased in 2020 and this trend seems to be lasting in 2021 as well.
• The Aseptic Bag Manufacturers Association (ABMA) represents manufacturers, promotes the development of the market, facilitates the exchange of technical information and represents its members nationally and internationally.
• The impact of the pandemic varies greatly between the different production regions. In average, paste exports worldwide grew by 4% over the past year.
• California is in the second year of a drought; but the problem of drought is not limited to California alone. 

You can find the individual articles in the NEWS list and/or search by keyword, date etc.