The US department of agriculture’s foreign service is forecasting a record tomato harvest for Spain in the 200-05 crop year. Output - destined for both the fresh and processed markets - is forecast to reach 4.4 million tonnes compared with 3.9mt in 2003-04 and 3.8mt in 2002-03.
Improved growing conditions as well as an increase in the area under production are the main reasons for the hike. Plantings have risen in the vast southern region of Andalusia and other parts of Spain have opened up new areas for processed production. Spain’s response to growing demand from the fresh market for speciality types such as baby, plum and on-the-vine tomatoes is also playing a role in boosting volumes.
The tomato sector in Spain has been under pressure in recent seasons when adverse weather conditions and disease have hit crops. Strong competition from other sources such as near neighbours Portugal and Morocco has also made life tough for the Spanish.
Exports are forecast to bounce back in the new season due to the accession of new member states to the EU. But Germany, the UK, France and the Netherlands are still ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland as leading markets for the Spanish fruit.
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