Morocco is one of the top 5 tomato producers in the world.
A long shelf life characterizes the Moroccan tomato, the taste side for certain varieties, and the possibility of producing any tomato according to the need and the market demand (caliber, coloring, bricks, rate/acidity, flesh rate, firmness).
Generally, for a good yield and to control the quality aspect of the product, the tomato intended for export must be produced in greenhouses and not in the open fields.
The supply chain for tomatoes from Morocco consists of the following:
Here are some of the top tomato exporters in Morocco:
France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Netherlands.
Morocco exports mainly to Europe, the UK, the Netherlands, and some west African countries. France is the biggest consumer of Moroccan tomatoes, with a 50.4% market share and a total value of USD 560.98M, followed by the UK with 15.5% and a value of USD 172.88M and Germany with 10.3% and USD 114.15M of exported value in 2021. Since new Brexit regulations were enacted, there has been an upward trend of fresh non-European imports into the UK. However, unlike other fresh products in the UK, tomato imports have significantly shifted suppliers in 2021, strengthening imports from non-European origins, especially Moroccan imports.
Share of Export Destinations of Morocco Tomatoes
Source: Tridge
The early tomatoes are produced in greenhouses in the regions of Souss-Massa in the south and Doukala-Abda in the center of Morocco. The production is mainly for export to the EU, Ukraine, Russia, and Canada.
In the north region of Moulouya, Temara-skirt, and Casablanca regions, tomatoes are primarily grown in the open fields and are used to supply the national and African markets.
Seasonality of Fresh Tomatoes in Morocco
Source: Tridge
Tomato Varieties in Morocco:
Round: Pristyla, Brenyla, Retyna, Gabiella, and Daniela
Cherry: Mistral, Angel, Melon, God Love, and Isis Candy
Plant health and phytosanitary regulations
The European Union has laid down rules for the Trade in plants & plant products from non-EU countries to prevent the introduction and spread of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in Europe. The competent food safety authorities manage these requirements in the importing and exporting countries. Tomatoes from Morocco may require inspections, treatments, or declarations that certain pests are absent. See Annex VII of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.
Pesticides-MRLs
When exporting fresh fruit and vegetables to Europe, you must comply with food safety and product quality requirements. The European Union (EU) has set maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides in and on food products to avoid health and environmental risks. Products containing more pesticides than allowed will be withdrawn from the European market. MRLs can become stricter with new insights from Europe’s food safety authorities.
Foreign contaminants
Contaminants are substances that have not been intentionally added to food but may be present due to the various stages of its production, packaging, transport, or holding. Like the MRLs for pesticides, the European Union has set limits for several contaminants (REGULATION (EC) No 1881/2006).
Microbiological safety criteria
When supplying fresh tomatoes to the EU, traders must consider microbiological hazards such as Salmonella and E. coli. Salmonella must be absent throughout the shelf life of a freshly cut product, and E.coli should be practically absent during the manufacturing process. European Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 provides information about testing methods, sampling plans, and measuring limits.
Required documents for Morocco tomato export:
Phytosanitary Certificate
Bill of landing
Original invoice
Packing List Certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture DCQ that the commodity has been inspected and passed the sanitary control. Certificate of Origin.
An “import commitment” is the authorization provided by the Foreign Exchange Office for the transfer of foreign currencies from Morocco to foreign suppliers abroad.
A “customs declaration” (declaration de douane) is provided by the Customs Administration and is required for import and export through a port or airport.
Generally, it is necessary to have the quality standards certificates for the farms and the packing stations: BRC certificate, Global GAP, SMETA, ONSSA, FOODEX, FSMA, COC, ISO 22 000, IFS, IGP, GRASP, Tesco Nurture, AB (Agriculture Biologique).