Bulgaria Increases Diversity of Locally Grown Tomatoes and Non-traditional Varieties
NW 19:22:01 19-08-2021
DD1924NW.108
108 ECONOMY -TOMATOES - ANALYSIS
Bulgaria Increases Diversity of
Locally Grown Tomatoes and
Non-traditional Varieties
Sofia, August 19 (Lyudmila Spasova of BTA) - The Centre for Agri-Policy Analysis (CAPA) expects growth in tomato production in 2021 compared to the previous year's harvest, but the Bulgarian markets are strongly dominated by imported tomatoes, which make up about 80-90 per cent of the supply, according to unofficial estimates.
The reason for the small production is not only the decreasing agriculture areas, but also the low and strongly varying average annual yields - between 0.17 to 0.29 tonnes/ha, which are up to 3-4 times lower than the countries with modern vegetable production.
Bulgaria now produces over 110 times less tomatoes than Turkey, dozens of times less than Greece, and significantly less than neighboring Romania and countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium.
A big problem of the industry in Bulgaria is the presence of many small producers and at the same time the lack of any market relations between them in order to be able to sell their products efficiently.
Bulgaria has strong traditions in growing tomatoes. In the years after 1989, the production of tomatoes, like all intensive crops, experienced a sharp collapse. From 1990 to 2000, production more than doubled to 409,000 tonnes. In the next 4 years until 2004 it decreased twice more to 213,000 tonnes, and then by 2011 to only 103,000 tonnes.
Prior to 1989, mainly early and mid-early tomatoes were grown, which were used for processing in canneries, for direct consumption and for export.
At that time, producers in Bulgaria grew only Bulgarian varieties of tomatoes.
They had high quality taste due to the unique microclimate - the ratio of low and high temperatures during the day in Bulgaria is optimal, as well as the average humidity, experts explain.
The Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute in Plovdiv explained that what distinguishes Bulgarian tomatoes are the high yields, the quality of the fruit, good hardness and excellent biological characteristics. As for the taste, it is determined, firstly, by the variety, secondly, by the good balance of sugars and acids and thirdly, by the climatic conditions.
Another characteristic of the Bulgarian tomato, apart from the typical taste, fleshy consistency and good appearance, are its high biological value and antioxidant effect.
Currently, 90 per cent of the varieties sown are Dutch and French. According to farmers, their advantage is that they give a higher yield, are more durable and hard, which is the requirement of traders - tomatoes with good market appearance, which can last not only a week but a month without spoil.
Today, in search of healthier solutions, consumers prefer products that affect them well and improve their quality of life. More and more people prefer locally produced and locally grown organic food. The criteria for the taste of food are also becoming higher.
When it comes to tomatoes in particular, many new shapes, colours and sizes have appeared on supermarket shelves in Bulgaria in recent years. The good news is that consumers can now choose locally produced non-traditional varieties, including cherry and Kumato tomatoes. LN/DT/DT/
//
DD1924NW.108
108 ECONOMY -TOMATOES - ANALYSIS
Bulgaria Increases Diversity of
Locally Grown Tomatoes and
Non-traditional Varieties
Sofia, August 19 (Lyudmila Spasova of BTA) - The Centre for Agri-Policy Analysis (CAPA) expects growth in tomato production in 2021 compared to the previous year's harvest, but the Bulgarian markets are strongly dominated by imported tomatoes, which make up about 80-90 per cent of the supply, according to unofficial estimates.
The reason for the small production is not only the decreasing agriculture areas, but also the low and strongly varying average annual yields - between 0.17 to 0.29 tonnes/ha, which are up to 3-4 times lower than the countries with modern vegetable production.
Bulgaria now produces over 110 times less tomatoes than Turkey, dozens of times less than Greece, and significantly less than neighboring Romania and countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium.
A big problem of the industry in Bulgaria is the presence of many small producers and at the same time the lack of any market relations between them in order to be able to sell their products efficiently.
Bulgaria has strong traditions in growing tomatoes. In the years after 1989, the production of tomatoes, like all intensive crops, experienced a sharp collapse. From 1990 to 2000, production more than doubled to 409,000 tonnes. In the next 4 years until 2004 it decreased twice more to 213,000 tonnes, and then by 2011 to only 103,000 tonnes.
Prior to 1989, mainly early and mid-early tomatoes were grown, which were used for processing in canneries, for direct consumption and for export.
At that time, producers in Bulgaria grew only Bulgarian varieties of tomatoes.
They had high quality taste due to the unique microclimate - the ratio of low and high temperatures during the day in Bulgaria is optimal, as well as the average humidity, experts explain.
The Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute in Plovdiv explained that what distinguishes Bulgarian tomatoes are the high yields, the quality of the fruit, good hardness and excellent biological characteristics. As for the taste, it is determined, firstly, by the variety, secondly, by the good balance of sugars and acids and thirdly, by the climatic conditions.
Another characteristic of the Bulgarian tomato, apart from the typical taste, fleshy consistency and good appearance, are its high biological value and antioxidant effect.
Currently, 90 per cent of the varieties sown are Dutch and French. According to farmers, their advantage is that they give a higher yield, are more durable and hard, which is the requirement of traders - tomatoes with good market appearance, which can last not only a week but a month without spoil.
Today, in search of healthier solutions, consumers prefer products that affect them well and improve their quality of life. More and more people prefer locally produced and locally grown organic food. The criteria for the taste of food are also becoming higher.
When it comes to tomatoes in particular, many new shapes, colours and sizes have appeared on supermarket shelves in Bulgaria in recent years. The good news is that consumers can now choose locally produced non-traditional varieties, including cherry and Kumato tomatoes. LN/DT/DT/
//
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