"Canary tomato season started well"

The Canary tomato season season started at Fortuna Frutos on Monday and the second load arrived yesterday. "The prospects for the season are good. We haven't had any extreme weather in recent weeks on the islands, in contrast to last year when the consequences of the heat affected the entire Mediterranean production," says Gert-Jan Slobbe.

"We are very satisfied with the quality of the first arrivals and the volumes will expand weekly. For now the Canary tomatoes are arriving by truck and container and the first boat will be loaded in week 45. The tomatoes are starting on a good market with a price level around a Euro per kilo. "The expectation is that the Dutch production will end earlier than in previous years and the import trade will gradually get going. This should result in a better November than in previous years," concludes Gert-Jan. Fortuna Frutos expects 1 million colli extra from the Canary Islands compared to last season, due to expansion of existing production and another producer who has joined Fortuna.

"We have also been in the Spanish fruit & vegetable season for a few weeks now. This switch is traditionally more difficult and this results in a difficult pepper market and a tough market for aubergines and courgettes. We are expecting the first Canary cucumbers in mid November. We are hoping for a better cucumber year after two bad import seasons.

"In week 48 we will add to the selection with cherry, vine cherry and mini plum tomatoes, in various packaging, including shakers from Senegal. We have been very content with this in recent years. Senegal supplies a good quality product, which is more stable and reliable in shelf life than the Spanish and Moroccan production," concludes Gert-Jan.

For more information::
Gert-Jan Slobbe
Fortuna Frutos Continental
Oslo 17
2993 LD Barendrecht
Tel: 0180-751400
Fax: 0180-751444
www.fortuna-frutos.com