Canary Islands: Tomato cultivation decreased by 75%

At the Canary Islands the cultivation area of tomatoes decreased by 75% during the last ten years. In 2003 on about 3,000 HA tomatoes were still grown on the Canary Islands, but in 2013 this was only on about 720 HA.

"The situation of the tomato growers has been aggravated by the crisis and the consequent closure of the cooperatives La Orilla, Lupema, San Rafael de Vecindario and Valerón," as per Roberto Góiriz, chairman of the agricultural organization Asaja.

The tomato growers on the Canary Islands still want to take stronger action against the Moroccan competition and take a strong position in Madrid and Brussels. For years there have been quarrels about the observance of the allowed export volume which applies to Morocco. Morocco does not adhere to this, however, and sells its tomatoes also even far below the price required by European growers to show at least some profit.

For the past three years already Morocco exported 120,000 tonnes more tomatoes to the EU than they were allowed to supply. In the first three months of the following year the Moroccans already supplied 47,000 tonnes more than the agreed volume. This threatens the survival of the still existing tomato growers on the Canary Islands. They desire from Brussels and Madrid that stricter control will be implemented on the observance of the fixed export volumes and prices.