Gozitan farmers and a small army of relatives and friends are currently engaged in the back-breaking harvesting of tomatoes. The Gozo tomato crop, perhaps Gozo's most important produce, will be taken to the tomato processing plants to produce tomato paste (kunserva) and other tomato products for export. This photo was taken under Ta' Gordan Hill by John Mizzi.
A 'tomato feast' is to be held at San Lawrenz today by a government-appointed committee which is promoting local produce. There will be sale of fresh tomatoes and tomato-based food, an exhibition of machinery and entertainment.
Malta and Gozo produce some 9,500 tons of tomatoes for processing every year.
This is an important year for tomato producers in Gozo, marking the 75th anniversary of Gozo's Three Hills kunserva, one of the most recognisable brands in Malta, produced by Xewkija-based Magro Bros.
A recent survey found that 65 per cent said kunserva was mainly used to be spread on crusty bread (the survey seemed to suggest that the consumption of traditional ħobż biż-żejt is actually on the rise); 88 per cent said it was used in everyday cooking.
In the 1930s, farmers' main crop was cotton for export to France - tomatoes were only grown in gardens for domestic consumption. Ġianni Magro, who started the business before the Magros' manufacturing operation was established, used to buy crops from farmers in exchange for other goods.
In the second half of the 19th century he would travel to Malta and sell the Gozitan farmers' crops in exchange for animal fodder, farmers' tools, and pots for housewives to take back to Gozo.
Cash only began to circulate in limited quantities after World War I. Magro and his three sons Emanuel, Ġuzeppi and Wiġi, persuaded farmers to switch to growing tomatoes on the agreement they would be paid in cash - the crop is called a 'cash crop' to this day.
The seeds were imported, probably from Italy. In those days, they would reap about nine to ten tonnes per hectare. Today a yield of around 65 tonnes per hectare has been achieved - farmers have around 300 hectares producing solely for the company.
In the 1950s, production ran at a rate of 13 cans a minute (the Magros also manufactured the cans) - today it runs at 400 to 500 cans a minute.