Even though the average consumer on the high street assumes that most of the tomatoes available in supermarkets and food outlets are English-grown, mainly due to the product’s affiliation with British summertime, in reality the UK tomato industry has been in decline since the 1970s. Today, the UK imports around 80 per cent of tomatoes consumed domestically and during the UK tomato season that runs from March to October, home-grown product still fails to provide more than 50 per cent of what UK consumers eat. Speciality tomatoes have really taken the reins from the classic round offer, with more niche types proving a profitable move and better value for customers compared with imports.
But as the nation focuses on issues such as food security and the environment, British Tomato Growers’ Association (TGA) chief executive Gerry Hayman is rallying growers to increase production, especially on the back of another promising season.
“We are well into the peak of the British season now,” he says. “One or two of our growers produced winter crops and they had a very competitive offer against imports because quality has been a big challenge in southern Europe due to the cool temperatures. As we grow tomatoes in glasshouses in the winter, that was not an issue.
“The cool temperatures in January and February were not really a problem for us, but the dull light levels that came with them were. But the season has caught up with itself now and consumers have warmly received the British crop. Prices in the wholesale market have been very strong for British tomatoes and that is very good news; now, we need more glasshouses to make the most of it.”
The majority of growers are behind schedule. Crop densities have been increased and fruit has been delayed in some cases. This process allows plants to deal with lower light levels - however, as a trade-off it slows any volume increase and compounds the late start to major volumes.
“The start of the season has been very difficult; low light levels really slowed crops down so we have probably had one of the latest starts for a number of years - however, production levels are now growing and availability is improving,” says tomato supplier Cornerways Nursery’s Nigel Bartle. “British Tomato Week was chosen for this point in the year as it really heralds the start of major volumes. The summer is the really key period for us, as after a challenging start we are ever optimistic that we must have a good summer at some point.”
British tomato yields are generally down, but Bartle is quick to note that the season is far from over yet.
“Many growers pick into November now, which with the new season starting in March is a pretty impressive year,” he adds. “Producing more really depends on more glass and we have seen new developments in recent years from Cornerways itself, through to John Baarda Ltd in Billingham, North Yorkshire, Kent-based Thanet Earth and more recently the R&L Holt [in conjunction with Evesham Vale Growers (EVG)] development in Evesham. New investment is great, but we must remember we are probably only just replacing older glass that is disappearing, not really increasing the area.”
Despite this, the British tomato industry is making headway and the level of investment in the sector from growers bodes well for the future. Cornerways Nursery is applying for planning permission to extend its unique combined heat and power (CHP) venture with British Sugar and R&L Holt.
The increased production of speciality types of tomatoes and their popularity with consumers has provided the industry with a real niche in the market, both through supermarkets and wholesalers.
“It is a big investment,” says Hayman, “and the industry needs to have confidence in itself more than anything, but we are working through growers’ issues via the TGA. At the end of the day, our main focus should be eating quality. Consumers are always complaining that tomatoes do not taste as they used to and you know what they mean when you eat the tough, long shelf-life types.
“We now have a fantastic range and the nutrient level in seasonal tomatoes is very good. I have recently conducted some research looking at the level of lycopene in UK tomatoes in season, compared to imports. We found that UK tomatoes had three times as much lycopene as an imported one.”
The industry is concerned that as production of tomatoes looks to increase in the UK, quality must remain a priority. “We produce a phenomenal product in the UK and we hope that consumers appreciate it, not simply because it is British, but because it’s better,” maintains Bartle. “There are great growers in other parts of the world, but if you are eating a tomato in the UK, a home-grown one will always be fresher and as a result taste superb. It has been proven that a UK tomato eaten in its place of origin will have been grown using bio-control and with care and consideration for water and energy use. What more could you want: a great-tasting, conscientiously home-grown little bundle of red goodness? Sadly, growers have a number of challenges from access to funding and planning, but we have a passionate industry that is keen to deliver more great-tasting British tomatoes.”
Hayman agrees: “Growers have to stay in business for the industry to work and they have to be competitive and profitable. There has been a real squeeze on producer price and more than 90 per cent of the growers that were around in the 1970s are not producing today. Growers are now larger scale and have to be more effective.
“But our glasshouses are really good and even though the crop was delayed this year, the product was perfectly healthy and has made money for the growers. We just need to continue investing in the industry.”
ALL GOOD THINGS ARE WORTH WAITING FOR
The British Tomato Growers’ Association’s (TGA) British Tomato Week runs from 17-23 May and celebrates the peak of the UK tomato season.
Unusually cold weather in southern Europe has had a major effect on the volume and quality of imported tomatoes, which has made home-grown supplies even more welcome than usual.
“Four out of five tomatoes now eaten in the UK are imported,” says the TGA’s Julie Woolley. “Is it a coincidence that people complain that tomatoes don’t taste like they used to? We don’t think so.
“On the other hand, British fruit has never tasted better, with a fantastic range now available, from super sweet cherries and baby plums to buxom beefsteaks, both on and off the vine. The proof of the pudding has been in the Tastiest Tomato competitions that the TGA has organised for the past few years, with British commercial growers consistently sweeping the board for the top prizes.”
It is a challenge for the TGA to continue to raise the awareness of British-grown tomatoes every season, though statistics from the TGA’s website prove that not only does the number of hits to the site increase each year, but the huge peak in May can only be attributed to the success of British Tomato Week. “It is our job to keep the superb British product at the forefront of consumers’ minds and British Tomato Week provides us with the perfect platform,” adds Woolley.
British Tomato Week held in-store promotions, competitions and cookery demonstrations and specially arranged visits to growers for schools and the press throughout the country. More information can be found at TGA website www.britishtomatoes.co.uk and the interactive website for kids www.thetomatozone.co.uk
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: BRITISH TOMATO WEEK GETS UNDERWAY
›› Cornerways Nursery’s Andy Beeston ran the Grand East Anglia 10k Run dressed as a tomato and raised money for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice appeal. The money raised was matched by Cornerways.
The firm also conducted in-store sampling at Sainsbury’s in Norwich and Cambridge, organised a tour of its facility for the Institute of Agricultural Management and arranged sampling events at Tesco headquarters and stores from 17-20 May.
›› The Southport Food and Drink Festival, held from 13-16 May, saw Mersyside’s Flavourfresh Salads bring British Tomato Week to the North West with tomato sampling, displays and promotion. The company also carried out in-store tasting, tomato display and promotion of speciality varieties for three days at Marks & Spencer’s Gemini store in Warrington from 19-21 May.
›› Essex-based Foxash Growers conducted in-store sampling at Sainsbury’s Colchester store on 21 May and the Isle of Wight’s IVG White was in-store from 18-20 May at selected Co-op, Aldi and Budgens stores.
›› Stubbins Marketing carried out a one-week trial at Asda, Harlow, offering consumers a sample of new varieties grown at Waltham Abbey. The company also carried out sampling at two Asda stores in the Cardiff area on 15 May.
›› Rhymney Valley Nursery received schoolchildren for tours from 17-21 May.
›› Wight Salads took part in in-store sampling in Waitrose in Chichester and Lymington, as well as M&S and Sainsbury’s in Newport from 17-21 May. The company arranged school visits to Arreton Valley Nursery.
›› Wight Salads’ The Tomato Stall took part in no less than 16 farmers’ markets, including London’s Borough Market from 10-23 May.
›› Park Garden Centres held a week-long promotion of British tomatoes in its three large retail garden centres in Almondsbury, Cheddar and Lechdale.
›› The Garden Stores Ltd promoted British tomatoes in six garden centres in the Midlands from 17-23 May.
›› New Covent Garden Market’s H&B Hawkes promoted British Tomato Week.
›› British Tomato Week was celebrated across various
Co-operative Food stores during the week. As a long-term supporter of British produce, it was the ideal opportunity to highlight the wide range, freshness and great eating quality of the home-grown tomatoes being offered.
›› Carla Mills, salad category buyer for The Co-operative Group, was joined in store by suppliers Capespan International, IVG White, Stubbins and Evesham Vale Growers. Shoppers were given the chance to sample a number of varieties including Truly Irresistible Amoroso, Elegance, Piccolo and Sunstream together with classic round tomatoes. “The Co-operative remains committed to delivering ranges that fulfil our customers’ requirements and therefore continue to provide a wide range of British tomatoes through the summer,” says Mills.
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