Processed-tomato prices

With reference to the letter Processed Tomato Prices (March 2), Joseph Farrugia asked me to inform the public what reductions in prices of processed tomato products they got during 2002, 2003 and 2004. I am happy to oblige with some typical prices:

Contrary to what Mr Farrugia assumes, I do not have the time at my disposal to calculate how much the consumer saved, a complex procedure involving the conversion coefficients for the various products, consumption levels etc. I will let the price reduction figures speak for themselves.

Mr Farrugia states that "They (the farmers) were getting the same price or better than they are getting now even years ago. They used to get 10c/kilo when 10c were worth 10c." The truth is that farmers were being paid 7c per kilo of round tomatoes (the bulk of production) and 9c/kilo for hybrid varieties up to 2002; in 2003 this went up to 9c/kilo of round tomatoes and 11c/kilo for hybrid varieties, prices which are still current.

Where I am in agreement with Mr Farrugia is that there is much work to be done in the sector of tomato cultivation, both for processing and for the fresh market, in order to ensure that tomato growers will continue to grow this traditional Maltese crop, which I also agree is unbeatable in taste and quality. The role to be played by Producer Organisations (POs) in this work cannot be over estimated, and in fact the POs recognised to date are already contributing to the required effort.