There were some serious messages amidst the promotional work carried out across the UK to mark British Tomato Week.

Several of the leading multiples were involved in the annual British tomato showcase, but Tomato Growers’ Association (TGA) chief executive Gerry Hayman warned that the industry once again finds itself at “tipping point” as returns to growers fail to compensate for rocketing labour, fertiliser and energy costs.

He said: “The biggest problem we have is the price of the product. This time last year, the price was 79p for a six-pack. Today, it is 79p for a six-pack. Yet energy costs alone have gone up by 100 per cent. It is hard to see a bright future for this industry unless the situation changes. We have lost more than nine in 10 of our growers in the last 20 years, and more could certainly walk away.

“Imported tomatoes have been affected too - they needed a 20 per cent uplift in prices at least, and they didn’t get it.”

Hayman added: “There are undoubtedly some great opportunities out there for our products, but it is a very complex issue. The British industry has achieved some fantastic things with speciality products for instance, but the yields for those products are lower and the energy input stays the same. There are projects all over the country that are dramatically reducing energy use, but our products still have a value, and if growers cannot realise that, they can’t compete and they don’t have a future.”

He was critical of Sainsbury’s for their stance on British Tomato Week, bemoaning the fact that Sainsbury’s often claim to be the biggest supporter of home-grown product, but had failed to participate.

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