Tomatoes continue to face a huge spike in prices and availability issues due to supply chain and production challenges.
As per reports, in the coming months, the country may face tomato shortage issues due to a basket of reasons- domestic production being hit due to soaring energy costs, tightened export supplies from key territories Spain and the Netherlands as well as Morocco and delays at the UK border due to congestion at Dover.
Tomato prices are already rising. According to Mintec analysis, the average wholesale price of cherry tomatoes in the UK rose by 58 percent year on year in March, reaching an average of £3.83/kg. Mintec forecast the tight supply situation was set to continue in the short term, resulting in potentially more price inflation over the coming weeks.
UK production is reliant on greenhouses being heated to 20 degrees celsius, therefore, it has been hit by soaring energy costs. Reports cited the British Tomato Growers’ Association (BTGA) saying that “several” key tomato farmers in the UK had reduced or delayed planting their crop this year.
Morocco, another key supplier, has restricted exports to ease a surge in local prices ahead of Ramadan as the fruit is a key ingredient of national cuisine and fast-breaking meals.
“We are seeing gaps on the shelves in retailers. Over recent years UK retailers have increased the amount imported from Morocco,” Margerison-Smith told Fresh Produce Journal weeks ago.
“What is also compounding the situation, is the haulage strike in Spain. Lorry drivers are striking and preventing lorries from leaving due to the cost of fuel.”
Morocco exports about 430,000 tonnes of tomatoes to Europe each year, making it the region’s largest outside supplier. However, unprecedented demand due to fall in production has caused the price of one of Morocco’s cheapest fresh staple foods to soar over the past few weeks, stoking domestic protests ahead of Ramadan.
