French tomatoes

French tomato production is expected to rise 3 per cent to around 620,000 tonnes this year, according to interprofessional organisation Interfel.

The increase has been attributed predominately to an increase in the greenhouse production area.

The southeast of the country and Brittany are the two main production areas, followed by the Loire Valley and the southwest.

Although the season got off to a good start in March, sales suffered after Easter with the advent of rainy conditions, before rising again in May as the weather improved.