The vast majority – 85 per cent, the equivalent of 972,000t – of the Portuguese tomato crop is destined for processing, with the remainder consumed fresh.
Although this balance is unlikely to change, the pattern of production is shifting. For example, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, the industry has moved into the hands of fewer, larger scale operators. These account for 50 per cent of all tomato plantings, with most based in the Ribatejo e Oeste and Algarve areas.
