Reader’s Digest: January 2025

In January 2025, we published the following articles:

• A team of researchers recently achieved clonal seed production in tomato. This innovation would help maintain uniformity and preserve the traits of hybrid plants across generations, as well as reduce costs.
• In 2024, the UK spent more than a billion USD on tomato product imports, a new milestone in our industry.
• A study from May 2024 on tomato ripening revealed the crucial role of cell wall components. This opens new possibilities for reducing spoilage during storage and fruit loss.
• The Portuguese Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Producers' Organization (FNOP) presented the results of the 2024 season, with a production estimated at 1.6 million tonnes.
• Tomato Paste Prices, January 2025: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile.
• US Inventories of tomato products (report) as of December 1, 2024.
• Interview: Greg Pruett Jr
• CFNA published a statement in response to the publication of the BBC world service report on Chinese Tomato Paste.
• Campbell's was awarded a USD 3.4 million grant to support sustainable tomato-growing practices in California.
• The shelf-stable food segment is rising, driven by many factors such as convenience, affordability, accessibility and sustainability.
• Global Exports of Tomato Paste, updated January 15, 2025.
• The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) shows steady monthly increases during most of the year and is currently 6.7% higher than a year ago.
• Casalasco published its 2023 Sustainability Report, integrating the contributions of its subsidiaries for the first time.
• Comment on US Inventories of tomato products as of December 1, 2024.
• The Italian Solana acquires Suncan, producer of fruit preserves, semi-preserves, semi-finished products (including tomatoes).
• Prices of Canned Tomatoes, January 2025: Italy, Spain, USA, Greece, Portugal.
• AMITOM elects Antonio Casana, CEO of Solana, as president and Dimitris Nomikos as vice-president. The first 2025 forecast has also been released, with 17.15 million tonnes expected.
• California processors are planning to decrease the production by 10%, with a forecast of 9.25 million metric tons.
• While Iranian exports are rising, the financial surplus tend to decline.
• In the Southern hemisphere, the 2025 harvest has started and is expected to remain stable at 2.4 million tonnes.
• Groupe GPS unveils its new GPS-7 container at the Food Processing Expo 2025.
• The Turkish company Tukas chose CFT solutions to enhance their tomato paste processing production capabilities.
• BPA is definitely banned in EU for all products in contact with food or drink, following an 18-month phase-out period.
• In North Italy, growers and processors already reached an agreement on a reference price close to 145 euros per tonne.
• A research team from Sichuan University uncovered the influence of gibberellins (GAs) in modulating the ripening process of tomatoes.
• Global Imports of Tomato Products, updated 29 January 2025.

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