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August 4, 2003 |
| Dear Grower: |
| CTGA Signs Four More Processors
for 2003 The California Tomato Growers Association is pleased to announce that it has signed Stanislaus Food Products, San Benito Foods, Pacific Coast Producers and ConAgra Food Ingredients to $50.00 per net ton contracts for 2003. All of the above contracts include late season premiums of $5.00 per net ton for all tomatoes delivered from September 16, 2003 through September 25, 2003 and $7.50 per net ton for all tomatoes delivered from September 26, 2003 through the end of the season. A summary of the contracts is as follows. Stanislaus Foods is continuing to utilize its FOB/VIP type contract for 2003. The agreement includes an additional Soluble Solids component to bring the weighted average price to $50.00 per net ton. San Benito builds from a $48.00 Base Price with incentives for clean loads (low scores for MOT and Limited Use defects). The contract has an upside potential of $53.00 per net ton. PCP and ConAgra Food Ingredients will both utilize cash contracts. Growers are hereby
released to sign the above CTGA approved contracts. |
| U.S. Tomato Exports Rebound |
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KETCHUP – Exports totaled 89.8 million pounds during the 2002/03 – marketing year, down 3% from the previous year. SAUCE – Exports for the 2002/02 marketing year were up 7% to 262.1 million pounds, due to increased shipments to Canada, which accounts for 74% of total sales. PASTE
– Paste exports for the 2002/03 marketing year were
240.1 million pounds, up 17% from last year. |
| Europe Blisters Under Heat Wave A combination of unrelenting heat and drought is playing havoc across much of Europe. Rivers reached their lowest levels in 100 years across parts of Italy, where officials imposed a 100 euro fine for watering plants. Italy also suffered power blackouts for the first time in 20 years, when citizens overloaded the system during the heat wave. Big power plants on the River Po – at its lowest level in decades – lack the water to cool their turbines. Meteorologists predicted the searing temperatures and lack of rain in the country’s north would continue into August. The drought also threatens to destroy much of this season’s crops in several countries. EU Farm lobby said the drought has cost more than $5.7 billion in losses. Hardest hit within the EU have been Italy, France, Germany, Portugal and Austria where farmers’ representatives warn of harvests up to 60 percent below normal yields for some crops. While Italy’s earliest tomato fields were destroyed by frost in April, the heat has moved the remainder of the crop forward with harvest starting July 21-25. It is anticipated that the combination of events will reduce the tomato crop by as much as 25 percent from 6.6 million metric tons to 4.8 MMT. Italian processors contracted for 12 percent rise in acreage from 76,000 hectares to 85,000 hectares in an attempt to rebuild stocks following last year’s rain shortened crop. |
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John C. Welty |
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