In Roman times the Canary Islands were referred to as the Fortunate Islands due to favourable winds and stable climatic conditions. However, recent years for tomato growers on their islands have provided many headaches and whether it keeps this tag depends on how successful the forthcoming season is. A series of problems has seen many growers change their game plan, and a good season is crucial.
Steve Cornwell, sales and procurement director at ScSmb Produce believes that success this season is essential. He says: “Following on from the difficulties that were experienced last season, growers have spent the summer reflecting on key areas of concern. They have had to make some serious decisions for the future.”
Looking to this season there is a positive feeling among growers as they have looked at the problems experienced in the past and have cut their cloth accordingly. “Overall, the islands have planted less this year, which is due to natural erosion and more consolidation into main co-operative groups,” says Cornwell. “We have been told it is around 500 acres less. With the season starting a bit later and plantings more spread out across the season, we hope to see the right volumes when needed, and a continuation of quality and better prices.”
The early signs for the coming season are that the fruit will be of good quality, according to Hernan Cortes, director at Cortes. “We are hopeful that this will be the best crop we have seen in three or four years,” he says. “The quality of the first shipments we have received in the UK have been excellent. The weather has not caused problems so far and the plants have set well. Also, producers appear to be growing slightly less volume with smaller fruit and better quality, which can be a key factor for pricing and as long as the weather doesn't turn during the season, it is looking promising.”
The Allfru group, which comprises of five co-operatives in Tenerife, is looking forward to this season. Director of Allfruit International, Ramon Malo, says: “The tomato season is shaping up well. We are confident that the new varieties which have been planted will produce the desired results.” The group sends a large percentage of tomatoes to UK retailers, such as Asda, Morrisons, Safeway and the Co-op and believes this season will reap rewards. “So far there have been no problems with viruses or other types of diseases. The plants are healthy and fruit quality is good.”
Jose Hernandez, managing director at Fortuna Frutos is pleased with the crops after a troublesome period. “We are very happy to see the overall crops looking a lot better and healthier than they have done in the last two seasons around the same period,” he says. “So far we have not had signs of any viruses, such as the spoon virus or the yellow-leaf virus and the crops have been clear of white fly during the summer. This is giving us and our customers encouragement for what looks like a promising start to the season in terms of quality and the condition of the fruit.”
Over the past few seasons the virus problem has escalated, this has prompted many growers to look to new varieties. Cornwell says: “Varieties last year did not perform well in adverse weather conditions. Over the last couple of years weather patterns have been difficult for the crops, with heavy rainfalls and unusual cold spells. This year we have changed a lot of the varieties, we have selected types that are more resistant to weather changes and viruses. These were trialed last year and proved successful. Our Spania Fresh growers have also diversified some of their nurseries into growing conventional vine tomatoes and proper beef tomatoes to add additional strings to their bow.”
Cortes agrees that the new varieties could provide opportunities. He says: “Part of the success with the early crop must be attributed to the new varieties grown. We are seeing smaller fruit with better flavour from our new varieties.”
Fortuna Frutos has started the season in determined fashion and Hernandez believes the group has a point to prove. “We firmly believe that Canary Islands tomatoes can still be the best in Europe. We know our image may have suffered in the last two seasons, as we had to go through many changes due to virus issues. We had to plant varieties which could fight the virus but we did not have enough time to trial them. This has led to two poor seasons, which has possibly cost us our reputation within Europe,” he says. Nevertheless, we have identified what we believe are very good varieties to grow in the Canary Islands, which not only produce good quality, condition and shape but also have good flavour.”
Malo believes that it is better to prevent problems and to take care to avoid the presence of viruses but states that it is not always possible. “Viruses can infiltrate the plantation in several ways, from the seed itself to propagation by proximity,” he says. “New varieties that are virus resistant have been used in the past but this is only one aspect of the problem.”
Malo is also eager to see a change in the trend of poor returns to growers, which have been seen over the past two to three seasons. “The first arrivals this season have been sold at good prices but this is only the beginning and there is a long way to go,” he says.
Foods from Spain is continuing to promote and encourage the purchase of Canary Islands tomatoes in an effort to bolster the market. This year the group has produced a collection of Canary Islands tomato recipes. These will be given away free with punnets of the produce at major supermarkets and grocery outlets. Foods from Spain, director, Maria José Sevilla, says: “With fresh fruit arriving in the UK almost every day of the week and a sustained investment in growing and logistics, we expect this winter's Canary Islands tomato season to be an exciting one.”
Giving consumers quality produce is essential to boosting the fortunes of islands and this is heavily focused upon with strong competition from Spain and Morocco.
Cortes is only too aware of the challenges ahead. “There is always potential competition from Spain and Morocco. In the past, virus issues have seen us suffer ñ so we have high expectations for this season,” he says. “The Canary Islands image is of fruit for the top-end of the market, we are looking to develop it year through our new varieties.”
Hernandez agrees that the competition is strong, but with the right quality Canary Islands growers have no reason to be scared of anyone. “We are fully aware of the tough competition we face from the Spanish mainland and Morocco,” he says. “On the other hand, finally with the right varieties and the way the crops are looking, we do not fear anyone. We recognise how important and crucial this season will be for all of us, but we are fully prepared and hopefully we won't disappoint.”
There is also competition from the Netherlands and the UK at the beginning and the end of each season, according to Malo and he is only too aware of the competition from Morocco. He says: “Morocco has advantages such as cheap water, a low-wages structure and heavy subsidies. But Canary Islands tomatoes are well appreciated by the consumer and we have the infrastructure in place to ensure we maintain the consumer's interest.”
Cornwell says that ScSmb is continuing to develop to push ahead. “Our Spania Fresh group has attracted more growers into our main co-ops to take advantage of better technical services and to help reduce their operational costs,” he says. This will mean Spania Fresh as a group will receive more volume.” Spania Fresh has also expanded and opened an office in the Netherlands. Managing director, Morna Blair-Cornwell says: “We are continuing our consolidation and service to growers and customers across Europe.”
Blair-Cornwell is aware of the problems in the past and sees technological development as an important tool for success. “We have appointed Noelia Rodriguez Hernandez as a technical manager to co-ordinate the group's strategy in technical growing issues and quality control. Rodriguez has a proven track record, is well respected by the growers and has a good understanding of the problems they experience,” she says.
Cornwell is staying positive for the upcoming season without allowing himself to get over confident. He says: “All in all we are very optimistic for the forthcoming season. It is a make or break year for the Canary Islands tomato industry. Pulling together as an industry and concentrating on supplying better fruit with slightly less volume will always win and give growers the correct prices to reinvest for the future.”
MAKE OR BREAK
SCSMB technical manager Noelia Rodriguez Hernandez believes this year is crucial. She says: “For the last few years the tomato market has undergone many changes as a result of the demands of the industry.
“Last season left a lot to be desired in terms of confidence in the tomato sector. There have been many adjustments to be made by growers in terms of new viruses and diseases, new varieties, adverse weather conditions, coupled with consumer demand.
“This coming season will be an important year for the industry. It will not tolerate another uncertain and poor season.
“Based on the experiences of last winter many growers have chosen to plant tomatoes which worked well in trials. The growers are also keen to develop speciality lines, such as vine tomatoes. In the market there is a natural decline in conventional sales and an increase in speciality.
“So far this year weather conditions for tomatoes are favourable and we are looking forward to a better season, with more staggered crops to service our customers throughout the winter.”
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