Over €100 a tonne for industrial tomatoes, fierce competition for raw material

The upcoming production tends to become the apple of discord and even from very early on industrial tomatoes, which this year only in Larissa, will be cultivated on at least 20% less area than last year.

The preparation for the planting of the producers is proceeding in Larissa, where the cooperative THESTO is active. As reported by the director of the cooperative, Mr. Sapounas, the product will be in demand and with quite high prices, due to competition. However, the fact that producers do not know whether they will be able to afford the costs of inputs (electricity, water, etc.), there is scepticism. According to Mr. Sapunas, last year, an average producer price closed at 88 euros a ton. This year, he estimates, it will easily exceed 100 euros, with competition increasing during the harvest period, as it is very difficult to meet demand from the processing industry. It is indicative that the tomato producers of Larissa have already been given two increases by the companies in the initially announced price, while a specific factory offered additional bonuses in case of pre-sale of the production for the 50%.

As stated by Mr. Christos Valianatos, president of the Amaliada Producers Group: «We still don't have a clear picture of the areas that will be cultivated with tomatoes in our region and this is due to the fact that the producers are buttoned up with the bitter costs. We will have a clearer picture of the areas in late May and early April. Offers from two factories give us an average producer price of 94 cents a kilo. The corresponding price last year was 84 cents a kilo, but this year the input costs are more than prohibitive and people are reluctant. The good thing is that a certain company has already offered a bonus for oil consumption, which is activated when the base price of diesel exceeds 1.39 cents per litre.».

Euphori Land requests meeting with Georgantas, letter to Mitsotakis

Meanwhile, the people of Ilia are asking to meet with the new Minister of Rural Development and Food, but the new tenant of the Vathi square has not yet accepted them. The producers are asking to meet the minister to expose the problems of their sector to him. They even sent, as stated on their behalf Mr. Valianatos, for this reason and a letter to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (see here).