Tomato imports jump 20% in 2024, 200 tons of Turkish tomatoes full of pesticides "lost"

We had an increase in tomato imports, mainly from Turkey, in 2024 in our country. As Mr. Georgios Polychronakis, Special Advisor to the Incofruit - Hellas Exporters Association, tells AgroTyp, "since the beginning of the year, tomato imports in our country have amounted to approximately 29,500 tons, an increase of 20% compared to last year's period. Of this quantity, 17,500 tons come from Turkey. For example: from 1/10 to 12/12, tomato imports increased dramatically and amounted to approximately 7,500 tons, with imports from Turkey reaching 5,000 tons, from the Netherlands 750 tons, from Belgium 450 tons, from Albania 240 tons, etc., among which we also had imports from Morocco. On the other hand, tomato exports, from 1/1/2024 to 19/12/24, are estimated at 34,000 tons, reduced by -1%, compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Mr. Polychronakis then refers to the statements of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, made last October, regarding the "destruction" of 200 tons of ...