Reader’s Digest – May 2021

In May 2021, we published the following articles:

• The Italian Food Spa (Petti group) is currently under investigation, and tomato products were seized, reportedly of foreign origin instead of 100% Italian.
•  WPTC Crop Update as of 30 April 2021
• Global imports of Tomato Products, updated 3 May 2021.
• The early summer forecast predicts drought conditions in Western Europe and a stronger monsoon in the United States.
• In Italy, Princes Industrie Alimentari (PIA) and La Doria are focusing in sustainability:  PIA is aiming for a 360° sustainability, already reduced its environmental impact and CO₂ emissions and is working on energy efficiency, La Doria signed a 10-million-euro loan agreement directly related to achieving specific ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) targets.
• Researchers from Boyce Thompson Institute created a reference genome for S. pimpinellifolium, our tomato's wild ancestor, which will allow plant breeders to improve fruit flavor, size, ripening, stress tolerance and disease resistance in today's S. lycopersicum (our modern tomato).
• Auctioneers Rabin Worldwide have conducted an online public auction for the contents of the former Olam West Coast aseptic tomato processing and packaging plant.
• Exports of Tunisian dried tomatoes have nearly doubled in 5 years. The GICA (conglomerate of canned food industries) is organizing a campaign to promote, develop and market them locally and abroad.
• Dr. Elisabeth Varga talked about "Alternaria toxins in tomato juices" during the International Fruit & Vegetable Juice Association (IFU) online technical webinar.
• A team of researchers from the University of California, Davis and from the University of Nottingham, led by Barbara Blanco-Ulate, demonstrated how susceptibility factors accumulating during the ripening process promote infection by fungal pathogens.
• Top Ten processing countries in 2021: while trade is slightly increasing, the overall contribution of the largest tem countries has decreased.
• The Morning Start Packing Company published its newsletter at the end of April, which contained an open letter by Chris J. Rufer explaining how the California processing tomato industry has a history of ups and downs in production volumes, prices and profitability.
• Paste Prices, May 2021: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile.
• In Michigan, farmers were concerned by the frost in early May, as that happened before and acres were lost.
• Tomatech Ltd announced a major success in the fight against the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFBV). They are filing a patent for DNA markers that elicit resistance to ToBRFV.
• Global Exports of Tomato Paste, updated 17 May 2021.
• In California, the increase in demand from the processors is putting pressure on the tomato crops, and it is the first year tomato processors have not been able to contract all the tons they need.
• Bayer announced the availability of new varieties with strong intermediate WPTC Crop Update as of 30 April 2021
• The European Commission has started a consultation process, with a view to allow New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) to be used, as they can promote the sustainability of agricultural production.
• Global market situation in 2020 for canned tomatoes: 11% increase compared to the 3 previous years, the top 15 countries importing 80% of th4 global quantities.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 24 May 2021
• In South Italy, an agreement has finally been reached, with average reference prices at 105 Euros / metric tonne for round tomatoes and 115 Euros / metric tonne for long tomatoes, with a 40% increase for organic.
• A study carried out by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu) and commissioned by Flexible Packaging Europe, shows that flexible pouches are better packaging options, in terms of environmental performance, for pasta sauce.
• A recent study showed that whole tomato powder was more efficient than extracted carotenoid lycopene in quelling post exercise inflammation in athletes. However, the small size of the study makes it difficult to draw big conclusions.
• In California, tomato processors reported contracts for 10.5 million metric tonnes in 2021.

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