Almerians come out in force to celebrate region’s tomato-producing heritage

More than 25,000 people gathered in Almería on Saturday for the tenth edition of ‘Almería, World Tomato Capital’. The initiative, organised by local newspaper La Voz de Almería and supported by Cadena SER, Agricultura 2000 and several other local institutions, celebrates the importance of the crop to the social and economic fabric of the region.

The social, agricultural, and gastronomic gathering celebrated the rich agricultural knowledge passed down through generations by Almerian farmers, whose tomatoes are valued both locally and across Europe.

During the event, visitors had the chance to purchase a ‘solidarity bag’ of tomatoes, as well as tomato-based breakfast, tapa or gazpacho, each for a nominal price of €1 of €0.50, with the proceeds going to several local charities.

The event also featured an exhibition of key milestones in the recent history of tomato cultivation in Almería, such as the installations of the first greenhouses 60 years ago.

In 2022 Almería produced 382,527 tonnes of tomatoes with an export value of more than €658m from 8,569ha of plantings. For the 2023/24 campaign, acreage is expected to have contracted by 5.3 per cent to 8,141ha.

Vine tomatoes account for 25.41 per cent of the total planted area. These are followed by various pear varieties on 23.80 per cent and cherry tomatoes with 19.83 per cent of the total. Beefsteak tomatoes make up 8.54 per cent of the planted area, ribbed tomatoes nearly 8.38 per cent, while other specialty varieties occupy more than 12 per cent of the total.

La Voz de Almería’s director, Pedro Manuel de la Cruz, said: “It is rewarding to mark the tenth anniversary of an initiative aimed at showcasing one of our primary assets like tomatoes.

“Almería’s agriculture leads globally, setting standards in sustainability, efficiency, quality, and innovation. La Voz de Almería plays a crucial role in highlighting the robustness of Almeria’s agricultural sector”.