The Minister of Agriculture has reported that the start of the 2018 French tomato season has been difficult both in terms of production and demand. He explains that whilst at the start of April the range of tomatoes was slowly growing, consumption was not high enough and prices decreased. Warm weather then returned and with the volume lower than the same time the year before, the prices increased. However, despite the increase, tomato prices in April 2018 were about 21% lower than the prices in April 2017 and 10% below the 2013-2017 average.
The Minister estimates fresh French tomato production in 2018 will reach 556,320 tons, 1% less than that of 2017 and 5% below the 2013-2017 average. According to provisional figures on the 1st May 2018, national planted fresh tomato acreage remains stable since last year at 2,300 hectares for greenhouse and open air production. However, for all production regions as a whole, acreage is seen to increase by 7% compared to the five year average.