CASI to expand range with courgettes and more specialty tomatoes

As the weeks go by, Almeria's new tomato season, which has been delayed this year due to the intense heat of August and September, is starting to get in full swing for CASI, Europe's largest producer and distributor of this vegetable. It has also arrived filled with new additions to the range to be showcased at the next edition of Fruit Attraction.

"We are still marketing rather small volumes, targeting the domestic market," says Manuel Segura, Sales Director of CASI since August this year. "It will be from the third week of October when we will have enough to cover the tomato export markets," he adds.

"The results of the 2013/2014 campaign were not positive in terms of average prices, and our partners' profits were low, as consumption in Europe has been affected by the economic crisis and possibly also oversupply. These circumstances lead us to continue our commitment to a greater concentration of supply to achieve maximum profitability for our partners and to continue diversifying markets outside the EU," he explains.

Indeed, in this new period for Manuel Segura, CASI's auctions and marketing centres are undergoing a major transformation, "because with the purchase of CASI Airport we will concentrate all processing in one centre that is set to become the sector's most modern in Europe, with the latest equipment in all areas, from receiving and storing to calibration, packaging, etc.," he assures. 

With a 28,000 square metre warehouse and 4,000 m2 of cold chambers, CASI Airport will be 100% operational in 2015, and by then, the centre in Nijar will also become a specialised warehouse for melons and watermelons in the spring and summer campaign.

Furthermore, "this new store will allow us to expand our tomato range with varieties that CASI had never marketed, such as speciality round Cherry tomatoes, Pear Cherry, Cherry mix, and the development of other specialities, still with small volumes, such as Pink, Black and Oxheart tomatoes, etc.," continues Manuel Segura. 

Also, as demanded by its partners, this year CASI will introduce a courgette range, consolidating it next year in its product catalogue. "Courgettes will become part of CASI's product range, which already includes tomatoes, melons and watermelons. Growers are investing in this crop due to how easy they are to cultivate and the reduced economic investment they require compared to other vegetables," explains Segura. 

Fruit Attraction will be the ideal stage for the cooperative to showcase its new products. You can visit CASI at Hall 9, Stand 9C10.