Moroccan unions blame adverse weather for tomato shortage exports to UK

Adverse weather and its effect on production are causing “intense pressure from consumers on both sides of the Mediterranean.” Rabat - Moroccan associations for farmers blame the shortage of tomato exports to the UK on the “unusual temperature fluctuations,” according to a report from fruitnet. Responding to the tomato shortage that the UK is currently facing, Apefel, and Amcom, two Moroccan associations of vegetable producers, exporters, and packers clarified that climate change is behind the notable drop in tomato production and exports to the UK. Since the start of the growing season, the weather in Morocco was marked by “a long period of cold,” which was followed by “abnormally high temperatures,” the two associations explained.“ As a natural consequence, the daily harvest has dropped sharply, resulting in shortening the supply capacity of packing stations and provisions of the local Moroccan market, as well as markets abroad,” the report reads. Adverse weather and its effect ...