Readers’ digest July 2020

In July 2020, we published the following articles:

• Based on available and collected data, WPTC expects the price of raw materials to be slightly higher this year.
• Efficient homogenization of tomato products and why two-stage homogenization is the best method for tomato products.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 3 July 2020.
• Current market conditions in California, growers. costs have increased due to more governmental requirements.
• Imports of tomato products to Australia are limited and relatively stable.  About half is allocated to canned tomatoes and one third to pastes.
• A recent study on structural genome variation used both a new DNA sequencing technology and a genome editing technology, and was able to identify 230,000 structural variants, comparing 100 different varieties of tomato.
• Heinz launched Heinz Creamz, a kit including accessories and a recipe to make a Heinz ice cream from a Heinz sauce.
• Kraft Heinz decided to shift focus to growth and sustainability, and has recently appointed Cristina Kenz as chief growth officer, and Miriam Ueberall to head up research and development.
• Communication from some Italian processors (Divella Food Company, Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori, Petti) on prices, Covid, climate etc.
• The Government of Extremadura announced it would strengthen the controls on tomato haulage.
• An article has been published on Chemical Stability of Lycopene in Processed Products: A review of the Effects of Processing Methods and Modern Preservation Strategies (Part 1 & 2)
• A team of researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of a gelatin coating, enriched with a hydrolysate if tomato proteins, to improve the quality of pork by delaying the oxidation process.
• In South Italy, some contracts were finally signed with processors at the indicative price of 105 euros per tonne for round tomatoes and 115 euros per tonne for long tomatoes.
• ERA Economics LLC issued a 65-page report on the evolution of the impact of Covid-19 on California agricultural industries.
• Ukrainian exports for pastes are still climbing and the increase so far is about 9% for the 2019/2020 marketing year compared to last year.
• Summer 2020 edition of the short-term outlook for EU agricultural markets in 2020. The EU production is expected to remain stable.
• California 2020: Crop situation as of 18 July, projection to 25 July.
• A new study evaluates the effect of Rhizophagus intraradices inoculation on tomato plant physiology and yield, in response to progressive water deficit conditions.
• In North Italy, the planted surfaces (37 071 hectares) are in line with expectations.
• The Weather page on our Tomato News website has been updated, so that you can see more details on what the weather will be in the next five days in the main tomato growing areas.
• A new study shows that tomato plants can communicate by passing electrical signals through the Mycorrhizal network in the soil.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 24 July 2020.
• Iran and Pakistan are both planning for new tomato plants to be launched.
• California 2020: Crop situation as of 25 July, projection to 1 August.
• 2020 processing forecast details in Spain.
• Researchers from the University of Wageningen are working on digital twins in the areas of tomatoes, food and farming.
• Israeli scientists developed Xanthoma, a new tomato variety rich in zeaxanthin, that can help fight degenerative eye diseases.

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