Over six million tons of processed tomatoes, with a growth of +17% compared to 2020, make Italy the world’s second-largest producer of canned goods. Ahead of China, which last year had exceeded the Italian production, and behind the United States which is still the global leader.
This is what emerges from the data of Anicav (the Italian association of canned vegetable industries) which, during its annual meeting held on December 2 in Naples, commented on the processing campaign that has just ended.
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ITALY’S CANNED TOMATOES PRODUCTION BY THE NUMBERS
Considering tomato derivatives destined for consumers only – and not those used in subsequent processing – Italy is the leading producer in the world. “Despite the fact that companies had to face unprecedented industrial costs peaks, which affected freight, energy, and packaging – says Anicav’s President Marco Serafini – our supply chain and products quality are still excellent. This will allow us to once again to have sufficient stocks to meet market demand, after the total zeroing of warehouses due to the health emergency”.
“Our entrepreneurs have always put on the label the origin of the tomatoes used, even if it is not yet mandatory – says Giovanni De Angelis, General Manager of Anicav – and will continue to do so as peeled tomatoes, puree, pulps, cherry tomatoes, and tubes of concentrate that people find on supermarkets shelves are obtained from 100% Italian, high-quality tomatoes”.
In the main image, the Agromonte cherry tomato sorting process.