After a complicated start to the season, the French tomato market is on the road to recovery. Consumption is finally picking up, and production is more moderate. Guilhem Flammen, manager of Les Tomates du Mont Saint-Michel, gives an update on the current situation. "We have fewer volumes now that the production peaks have passed and the weather is milder, which has boosted consumption."
Significant price increase within a few days
This week, the evolution of prices points to the market's recovery. "Prices have risen sharply since the beginning of the week. On Monday, 10kg of cluster tomatoes were sold at 0.90 euro [0.98 USD], but reached 1.30 euro [1.42 USD] at the end of the week." This price increase came a few days later than usual, as they usually rise in the week preceding the 14th of July and drop thereafter.
High temperatures will lead to production losses
Although production has already dropped, this trend is set to continue due to the scorching temperatures forecast for Europe. "High temperatures are expected, especially around the Mediterranean. Once again, this phenomenon will generate greater demand in these countries, but it will also lead to a loss of volumes for certain crops such as tomatoes grown in tunnels, shelters or even in open fields, which can suffer considerably from the heat."
Calm approach to the second half of the season
Guilhem Flammen is optimistic about the rest of the season. "I am relatively positive about the end of the season. We are lucky to have a greenhouse production system located in Normandy, where these heat peaks are more moderate. We are also hoping that prices will stay above 1.20 euro [1.31 USD] until the end of the summer, to make up for a complicated start to the season and thus remunerate our producers as well as possible."