Spain: 38% less land for tomatoes

The Industrial Tomato Working Group, in which the Andalusian Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives and Companies (FAECA) participates, has made its predictions for the 2012-2013 campaign, which started yesterday in Andalusia, Spain. According to their data, this year only 2,070 hectares have been sown, which is 38% less than in the 2011-2012 campaign, when 93,468 tonnes were harvested.

If predictions are right, the 2012-2013 campaign will bring a 45% production drop, down to 160,000 tonnes; a very sharp decrease compared to previous seasons. From 2009 onwards, 62% of all production areas have progressively been eliminated. 75% of all growing areas currently correspond to the agricultural cooperatives Pinzón, Las Palmeras and Las Marismas de Lebrija, leaving 25% to non-cooperative entities, and thereby, not associated with FAECA. The Pinzón cooperative, with 290 hectares, is expecting a 20,000 tonne production; Las Palmeras, with 480 hectares, about 35,000 tonnes, and Las Marismas, with 800 hectares, will produce about 65,000 tonnes of tomatoes.

Despite the low figures regarding production, the harvest is expected to be really good in terms of quality. In any case, it will be necessary to wait until September, when the campaign finishes, for a definite statement, according to fyh.