Reader’s Digest: October 2023

In October 2023, we published the following articles:

• California: Crop situation as of September 30, 2023 (revised).
• ANICAV is looking back at the difficulties encountered this season, such as the constant increase in production costs and the contraction of consumption.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 29 September 2023.
• Obituary: Theodore Corossis, General Secretary of the Greek Canners Association PEK.
• Collaborative research from University of California, Davis and the California Tomato Research Institute is looking at different ways to detect, prevent and neutralize broomrape (Orobranche ramosa)
• New scientific papers on the beneficial health effects derived from consuming tomato products, resulting from the collaboration between the Tomato Foundation and SSICA, are currently under review before publication.
• The American company T. Hasewaga developed a natural flavor modifier, the Tomato Boostract, aiming to reduce the need for paste by amplifying flavor intensity.
• Global Imports of Tomato Products, updated 6 October 2023.
• Tomato Bites by Morning Star, October 5 release.
• California: Crop situation as of October 7, 2023.
• The total value of processed tomato products exported this last year reached a new all-time high. This growth is driven more by price increases than by higher volumes.
• The AccelWater project, led by the Greek startup AGENSO, aims to optimize freshwater consumption in the Food & Beverage industry to reduce its environmental impact.
• A recent analysis of 11 European countries concluded that in all of them people were exposed to unsafe levels of Bisphenol A (BPA).
• Conagra Brands upgraded its tomato processing plant in Dresden, Ontario. This will create more jobs and increase its production capacity by 25%.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 13 October 2023.
• California: Crop situation as of October 14, 2023.
• Global Exports of Tomato Paste, updated October 16, 2023.
• Princes Industrie Alimentari is working on improving packaging sustainability as well as social sustainability, and believes a fair price is one that allows all supply chain operators to cover costs and make a profit.
• A study published in Nature Plants revealed that Chinese scientists were able to elucidate the mechanism of fruit shape formation in tomatoes. They have since then developed fresh tomatoes for mechanical harvesting.
• The QuattroR fund is planning to sell its 49% stake in Casalasco, the largest tomato processor in Italy. La Doria and the Mutti group could both be good candidates.
• Prices of Canned Tomatoes, October 2023: Italy, Spain, USA, Greece, Portugal.
• In Italy, the OI Pomodoro Nord announced the end of the season with a result of just under 2.8 million tonnes processed.
• In Croatia, the food and pharmaceuticals producer Podravka is expected to invest 16 million euros in a new tomato-processing factory.
• California: Crop situation as of October 21, 2023.
• In India, three new tomato-processing units will be built Andhra Pradesh.
• Italian exports of tomato products have slightly decreased and are back to pre-Covid levels or a bit higher.
• The first tomato-processing factory in Afghanistan began operation recently, in the Kandahar Province.
• 2022/2023 Architecture of the tomato products (parts 1 & 2)
• California: Crop situation as of October 28, 2023.
• Tomato Paste Prices, October 2023: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile. 

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