The area of French tomatoes is decreasing and the number of Moroccan imported tomatoes is increasing

AOPn Tomates et Concombres de France, the French National Association of Tomatoes and Cucumbers, denounces the lack of government investment and the increase in regulatory obstacles, which lead to an increase in the number of imported tomatoes in France every year. In 2022, the French national tomato yield was 425,552 tons, compared to 357,118 tons in 2021, an increase of 19%. On the French market, Moroccan tomatoes (mainly cherry tomatoes) represent 63% of the total number of imported tomatoes. * Source: French customs Problems within the sector lead to smaller yieldsAccording to the results of a report from the French Ministry of Agriculture dated September 1, 2023, the national tomato yield is expected to decline by 13% to 457,000 tons in 2023. This decline is said to be related to a 13% decline in greenhouse tomatoes that year. Other results from the report indicate that total tomato yields are stabilizing mainly due to diversification towards older varieties and smaller sizes ...