Reader’s Digest – January 2022

In January 2022, we published the following articles:

• Dossier on the architecture of the world trade 2020/2021 (part 1 and 2)
• The Greek Canning company Kyknos plans to expand into the US, particularly within the foodservice markets.
• Global Imports of Tomato Products, updated 4 January 2022.
• In Brazil, Cargill decided to substitute a polypropylene solution made by Berry Superfos for the traditional tin can of its Elefante tomato pastes, for effective product protection, ease of use, waste reduction and potential reuse by consumers.
• The San Juan congress has been moved fully online, and is now taking place from Monday 21^st to Friday 25^th March, while the Symposium will take place from Monday 28^th March to Friday 1^st April. Both will be live streamed via the Whova platform to allow participants to interact live with speakers and sponsors.
• The farms associated with Consorzio Casalasco del Pomodoro have been certified G.R.A.S.P. (Risk Assessment on Social Practice), an additional module of Global.GA.P. (Good Agricultural Practices), for the second consecutive year.
• 2021 has been a particularly difficult year in economic terms: costs of maritime transports exploded, steel prices brutally increased and are expected to remain high into 2022, and with the cost of raw materials also facing a sharp increase, processing tomatoes is now 10% more expensive than during the 3 previous seasons.
• U.S. Processed Tomato Stocks-on-Hand Report for December 1, 2021
• The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) launched an investigation into several companies using the Nutri-Score labeling scheme, fearing that the Nutri-Score misleads consumers. Europe seems divided, some states have adopted it, some oppose it and some are skeptical.
•  In Australia, Kagome applauds the critical worker exemption decision and is fully prepared for the processing season, with a 100% mask-wearing rule and Rapid Antigen Tests available for its employees.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 10 January 2022
• The European Commission approved the acquisition of La Doria by Amalfi Invest Opportunities.
• Paste Prices, January 2022: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile.
• Global Exports of Tomato Paste, updated 17 January 2022.
• Antonio Latorre Arteche, former director of the Nestlé Research Center in Badajoz and architect of the transition to the CTAEX Research Business Association, left us on the 14^th January 2022.
• Based on Mutti's success, we can say that tomatoes made in Italy are still a promising business idea. The company focuses on quality, innovation and sustainability.
• Comment on U.S. Processed Tomato Stocks-on-Hand Report for December 1, 2021
• In Argentina, a heat wave which lasted about 10 days (instead of the usual 3 to 5 days) accelerated the ripening of the fruit and caused disruption on the logistics.
• The SVO (Vegetable and Ornamental crops) section of Euroseeds issued an informative document to help prevent the introduction and spread of the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBFRV).
• In California, growers are cutting their tomato acreage because of diverse issues, such as the costs of fuel, fertilizer, potential water supply shortages and the rising cost of labor.
• California's tomato processors have contracts for 11.07 million metric tonnes in 2022, an increase of 10% compared to last year's forecast.
• Prices of canned tomatoes, January 2022: Italy, Spain, USA, Greece, Portugal.
• Auctioneers Rabin Worldwide and Liquidity Services will conduct an auction in February, on the contents of the former Condies Foods factory, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Worldwide (total fresh) tomato production in 2020 reached 186 million metric tonnes. The production of tomatoes for processing is expected to remain stable by 2031.
• Research shows that tomato is a model plant for CRISPR/Cas9 systems, whereby creating new varieties without compromising the plant genome.

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