Reader’s Digest – October 2021

In October 2021, we published the following articles:

• Global Imports of Tomato Products, updated 1 October 2021.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 1 October 2021.
• California: Crop situation as of 2 October.
• Branched broomrape reappeared in California after a 40-year absence, causing concern for growers. Researchers are looking at ways to better detect and manage the pest.
• Nestlé and its partners, such as Steriltom in Italy, are focusing on sustainability. Nestlé launched a program to optimize the use of irrigation water, using tensiometers.
• Northern Italy had a very productive season, with more than three million tonnes processed, with a high yield and an excellent brix.
• In Japan, Sanatech Seed Co. launched a tomato variety modified by CRISPR, the first of its kind to be put on the market.
• The Kraft Heinz Company purchased Assan Foods in Turkey, and entered into an agreement to acquire the Brazilian Hemmer (Companhia Hemmer Indústria e Comércio).
• California: Crop situation as of 9 October.
• Prices for packaging materials increased in one year by up to 185% in Europe and 225% in the US.
• In Italy, Consorzio Casalasco del Pomodoro finished harvesting and reached record numbers in quality as well as in quantity.
• Global Exports of Tomato Paste, updated 15 October 2021.
• Paste Prices, October 2021: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile.
•  Greece saw a historic increase of their exports in 2020/2021, with a very large proportion shipped to Europe.
• California: Crop projection to 23 October.
• In Italy, the opening prices for tomato products for the 2021 processing season have recorded increases from 13 to 19%, this one being the 4^th consecutive increase.
• Inflation and rising input costs have caused the processors to increase their prices on most products, even thought they are also trying to absorb some of those costs.
• New research confirms the influence of packaging on consumers' perception of health benefits. The combination deemed the healthiest is organic, white-blue, includes "with natural ingredients", indicates a domestic origin, a nutritional claim, and is square- shaped.
• WPTC Crop estimated at 38.7 million tonnes, only 0.9% higher than the 2020 final production.
• The 14^th WPTC Congress and the 16^th ISHS Symposium have been confirmed for 6 to 11 March 2022 in San Juan. They have been planned as hybrid events, to ensure the congress will not be postponed or cancelled.
• In Sao Paulo, Brazil, Heinz developed a limited edition packaging for their Heinz Ketchup, with a plantable tomato seed label.
• In Russia, the trade deficit has dropped over the past seven years, while the volumes of products processed in the country have considerably increases.
• In Italy, Investindustrial VII signed a purchase agreement for the acquisition of 63% of La Doria for 323 million euros. If all authorizations and approvals are obtained, the closing could take place in January 2022.
• Consumer trends caused by the pandemic, such as working from home, focus on comfort and premium products, explosion of the e-commerce, express delivery, will likely stay after the pandemic.

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