The tomato market in the UK has slumped as a number of factors combine to leave British growers selling at below the cost of production.
The main problems are on classic round tomatoes where low production costs in Poland and ample supplies from the Netherlands as well as Spain mean that senders from all sources are finding it difficult to make any money.
"I said at the beginning of the season that people did not realise just how many Polish tomatoes would come into play this year," said William Church of JPMO and vice-chairman of the British Tomato Growers Association. "But their economy is weaker than in other parts of Europe, they get grant aid and costs this year for British producers have increased."
Labour costs have increased at different rates for British growers depending on each region and energy is also 30 per cent more expensive for most of them. "And this is all at a time when prices are a lot less than last year and even below levels of the previous two seasons,’ said Church.
Supplies were tight last year due to soaring demand and the summer heat and prices are 15-20 per cent below those levels and some five per cent below levels of 2001 and 2002.
"Nor have we had a sustained spell of good summer weather," said Church. "It is not fair to blame it all on imports or on the retailers - no one will be hitting budgets this year, it is just a very depressed market and is very difficult to operate in."
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