At Fortuna Frutos Continental, the Canary Island tomato season started slower this year. "Unlike in previous years, we experienced a relatively mild late summer. Additionally, the ripening process of new tomato varieties with high tolerance to ToBRFV has proven to be slower than that of traditional varieties. As a result, the volumes we usually expect in week 44 were delayed by two weeks. This left us slightly short on fulfilling contractual obligations at the start of the season," explains Gert-Jan Slobbe.
With nearly 45 years of experience, Fortuna Frutos has established itself as a specialist in Canary Island tomatoes, serving a broad customer base across Europe. Dutch and Scandinavian retailers and food service companies are among its most important clients.
"Now, however, we are in a good place in terms of volume and are extremely pleased with the quality. The Canary Islands haven't experienced any extreme weather, and we are even hoping for rain on the islands soon. While we can desalinate seawater, it remains a costly alternative," Gert-Jan adds. "The market for tomatoes is strong, with prices for Canary tomatoes currently ranging between 7 and 8 euros, depending on size. This week, some unexpected Dutch tomatoes appeared on the market, but I anticipate that by next week, most customers will transition fully to imports."
Based in the Canary Islands, Fortuna Frutos Continental focuses exclusively on cultivating round tomatoes (120 hectares) and cucumbers (15 hectares). "The outlook for the cucumber season is also promising. We primarily sell unwrapped cucumbers, and prices have been reasonable. The first two weeks were excellent, although prices dipped slightly last week," says Slobbe. 
When asked if there are plans to expand into other Canary Island products, Gert-Jan comments, "Canary Island banana cultivation is a completely different ballgame, and for now, these bananas remain relatively unknown to northern European consumers. However, Canary papayas might be an interesting addition in the future. We definitely see growth opportunities in the Canary Islands, although succession within farming companies is an area of concern."
In addition to its Canary Island crops, Fortuna Frutos Continental also sources vine, plum, and cocktail tomatoes from Spain. "The supply of these varieties is going well, and we are very satisfied with the quality so far. Last year, the tomato season got off to an excellent start in November and December, but January was challenging due to the arrival of replanted crops from Spain and Morocco. Looking ahead, volumes for the first quarter of next year seem more evenly distributed, though weather conditions remain an unpredictable factor," Gert-Jan concludes.
For more information:
Gert-Jan Slobbe
Fortuna Frutos
+31(0)180 751 410
[email protected]
www.fortuna-frutos.com