Reader’s Digest – June 2022

In June 2022, we published the following articles:

• California intends to process 10.6 million mT for the 2022 season, less than originally forecasted.
• In Spain, exports of tomato products decreased in the paste and canned tomatoes sectors, but increased for the sauces sector. A comparison with the pre-Covid period shows a positive basic dynamic.
• The European Commission agreed to suspend import duties on all Ukrainian exports to the EU for one year.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 3 June 2022
• In Turkey, the first tomato-dedicated field event, "Tomato Days Turkey", will be held on 27-29 July, with 50 exhibitors who will present trial plots, stand and equipment on 5.5 hectares.
• In Portugal, HIT Group relies on satellite imagery, EOS Crop Monitoring precision agriculture tool, in order to track the condition of the fields in near-to-real time, for better field management.
• Global Imports of Tomato Products, updated 7 June 2022.
• The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific report stating that the intake of Alternaria (common fungus in many crops) toxins is above the threshold of toxicological concern. Therefore the European Commission recommended that food business operators should monitor the Alternaria toxins in processed tomato products and a few other products.
• In Italy, the Pomodoro Nord IO and Terra!, an association working for ecological agriculture and the rights of vulnerable people, signed a memorandum of understanding to take a stand against illegal employment.
• Kraft Heinz Co. teamed up with Pulpex Ltd. to create a paper-based ketchup bottle, made from sustainably sourced wood pulp. The prototypes will first be tested internally before testing with consumer.
• Italy innovates constantly: Mutti launched a Zero Residue project, whereby finished tomato products will have no agro-pharmaceutical residue after industrial processing; Conserve Italia launches the Valfrutta Green line, with an eco-sustainable packaging made from 100% recyclable glass, or with Tetra ReCart packs.
• Paste Prices, June 2022: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile.
• A CFT Case study was presented during the 14^th WPTC Congress, on the hybrid evaporation solutions recently developed.
• California farmers are cutting down their tomato acreage because of draught and reduced water allocation. All around the state, people are challenged with their water supply.
• A UK research team engineered provitamin D3 accumulation in the tomato using tomato genome editing.  As both the fruit and the leaves of the tomato plants contained the provitamin, the leaves could also be used to make supplements instead of going to waste.
• In Portugal, Kagome and NEC will establish DXAS Agricultural Technology, a joint venture, in order to provide farming support using AI.
• Report on US Inventories on June 1.
• Global Exports of Tomato Paste, updated June 23 2022.
• In Italy, the results of a 3-year research carried out by the Terrepadane Consortium and the OI Pomodoro Nord were presented. The most effective strategy consists in containing the infestations of spider mites and voiding the development of resistances to the plant-health products currently available.
• In France, the brand CQLP (C'est Qui Le Patron) will release its first tomato-based product under its own brand, based on the results of a consumer-survey. This product will be in a glass-jar, fair-trade, grown sustainably and processed in the South of France.
• In average, the price has increased by 11% compared to 2021 and is now at just over USD 103 /mT.
• Prices of Canned Tomatoes, June 2022: Italy, Spain, USA, Greece, Portugal.
• U.S. Tomato Products Inventory as of June 1, 2022.

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