TOMATOES
A number of factors are now combining to impact the supply and price of tomatoes to the UK’s Italian food sector, tomatoes being the most essential - if not quintessential - ingredient to be used in Italian food. Pizza Pasta & Italian Food spoke with Casa Julia’s Enzo Santomauro to find out more… FUEL SUPPLIES AND CROP YIELD Having spoken with a number of tomato producers in the south of Italy, as Enzo Santomauro habitually does, the situation of the gas that goes to Germany (and then also to Italy), but at only around 20% of its usual level in recent times, is one thing that is having a major impact because much of the machinery involved in the tomato canning process runs on gas. “Apart from the cost – that it’s gone up – 100/200%, whatever, that is not critical… What is critical is it not arriving at all. Because there is no alternative for them but to use gas. So these businesses don’t know if they are going to have to close down, or what is going to happen,” explains Enzo Santomauro. “The other thing that is a bit more worrying is that we assume – everyone assumes – that the farmers are only getting 80% of what they usually get because it has been very dry in Italy. However, many of the farmers have been saying ‘no way, we’re not getting 80%, we’ve been running the factory now for a week and we’re getting 69 to 70% (yield)…’
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“So there is a significant shortfall in production, and they can’t say what is going to happen, monetary-wise, this year compared to last. Last year, we paid 8.50 euros per case of tomatoes, today we are paying 15.50 euros… So it’s almost gone up by 100%, but they are not taking orders at that price. “The producers have been saying no way are they taking any orders now until they know what’s going on... In turn, this is leaving the market over here (UK) literally in chaos because no wholesaler has got any tomatoes, because last year’s supply was a bit short as well, and many ran out. And so many, particularly in London, are now coming in my direction… We always buy more than we need – sometimes it works - so we feel that we have enough to meet our customers’ needs until the end of September.” PRICE INCREASES “Our first seven containers are leaving Italy for us this month, and then you have to allow about 18-20 days to be shipped to our warehouse,” Enzo Santomauro
Enzo Santomauro (pictured right) with Carmine Carnevale at the recent European Pizza & Pasta Show held in London.
continues when it comes to the topic of this year’s crop. “To be honest with you, the price is going to be very dear… In my recent communications with my customers, I have been saying to them that it’s going to cheaper to buy Peroni beer than tinned tomato… A beer is going to be cheaper! Tomatoes have always been a cheap product. It’s an important ingredient, but it
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