The stocks for the 2024 tomato harvest have been largely emptied in both northern and southern Italy. How good that the tomato fields in northern Italy have been busy again since the beginning of the week: the harvest has begun. The first yield estimates will not be possible for at least two weeks, but according to our local partner, the fields are in good condition. The harvest of cherry tomatoes and the production of small quantities of passata and diced tomatoes has also started in southern Italy. However, particular attention is being paid to Roma tomatoes: in Apulia in particular, significantly fewer of the elongated tomatoes were grown than in the previous year due to the water shortage - a reduction of around 20 per cent is reported. Added to this are the extreme heat and lack of or poor irrigation in this region, which is why yields are likely to be below average. However, speculating on falling prices is considered extremely risky, as it could prove to be a boomerang in the coming year.

Unlike in Italy, growers in Portugal and Spain were only able to start planting the tender tomato plants much later than usual in spring due to the weather. This resulted in delays that (as our partners had already surmised in our Food News 5/2025) could not be made up for over the course of the growing season. Depending on the region, the harvest is therefore not expected to start in either country until between 5 and 10 August. Here, too, the potential yield can only be estimated a few weeks later.

Finally, let's take a look at Turkey: our local partner is already talking about smaller harvests than usual. The reason for this is the extreme heat during the tomato blossom. In our Food News in September, we will be able to report more details from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.