The 2024 processing tomato campaign in Northern Italy faces difficulties related to weather and reduced yields, while the aim is to strengthen the cohesion of the supply chain and prepare the 2025 Area Framework Agreement.
The members of the OI Pomodoro da Industria Nord Italia met with the Emilia-Romagna Councilor for Agriculture, Alessio Mammi, to make an initial assessment of the 2024 campaign. The tomato harvest in Northern Italy has suffered several difficulties, with spring rains that caused delays in transplants and a summer characterized by strong meteorological instability and heat waves that negatively affected crops. As of September 4, only 50% of the contracted tomatoes had been harvested, with average yields of 60 tons per hectare, lower than the 74 tons of recent years.
Despite the difficulties, the quality of the tomatoes remains excellent, with a record Brix level of 5,12. However, farmers are faced with high costs and low yields, while industries are unable to fully exploit the lines due to the scarcity of raw materials. The final outcome of the campaign will depend on the weather in September.
Tiberio Rabboni, President of the OI Pomodoro da Industria Nord Italia, stressed the importance of starting the dialogue for the Area Framework Contract 2025 immediately and the need for a new approach to insurance coverage for extreme weather events. Councilor Alessio Mammi also confirmed the support of the Region through calls for tenders and funding for the sector, proposing policies to increase the competitiveness of the tomato supply chain and its cohesion at an international level.
