the war of peeled tomatoes made in Italy continues – Corriere.it

The DOP Pomodoro di Puglia in response to the Igp Peeled Tomato of Naples. The war of tomatoes between Puglia and Campania is enriched with a new episode. In fact, the disciplinary of the «Dop Tomato of Puglia»For the enhancement of the Italian food product and the relaunch of the Foggia economy. «40% of the Italian tomato comes from the Capitanata – in the Tavoliere delle Puglie in the province of Foggia – which alone produces 90% of the long tomato», underlines the regional Coldiretti. “Everyone knows Coldiretti’s position on the importance of the origin of the agricultural product for which there have been numerous battles to achieve certain PDO and PGI labeling “, explains the organization. The battle of the tomato has been going on for years and involves on the one hand Campania, which wants the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) Peeled tomato of Naples and on the other Puglia which, after opposing this denomination, decided to start the process for its PDO, precisely on the basis of the numbers listed by the Apulian Coldiretti on the production of the so-called «tomato long”.

The numbers of Puglia tomatoes

And here they are the numbers: Puglia holds almost all tomato production within a supply chain in Southern Italy, Coldiretti underlines on the basis of the study commissioned at the University of Foggia, with 15,527,500 quintals of industrial tomatoes on a surface of 17,170 hectares produced in Puglia, while in Campania 2,490,080 quintals on an area of ​​3,976 hectares. The province of Foggia is the undisputed market leader and represents the largest national production basin – insists Coldiretti Foggia – with an average annual area of ​​15,000 hectares and an industrial tomato production of around 14,250,000 quintals (1, 4 million tons). Everyone knows Coldiretti’s position on the importance of the origin of the agricultural product at the base of the processed foods that arrive on consumers’ tables, for which there have been numerous battles to arrive at the certain labeling of the origin of agri-food products. PDO and Igp are European brands that identify – explains Coldiretti Puglia – products that possess peculiar characteristics, linked by historical origins to the specific territory indicated in the denomination, and by the accurate and precise application of a production disciplinary. For Dop products, the entire production process is expected to take place in the area delimited by the production, processing and packaging regulations included, while for IGP products the same constraints do not exist – concludes Coldiretti Puglia – in particular, no obligation to use agricultural products. of the territory to which the Igp is inspired.

“Producing tomatoes costs 35% more”

The number one opponent, however, remains the increase in prices. The boom in prices for energy products and raw materials, as Coldiretti Puglia underlines, is reflected in the production costs of tomatoes which jump by 35%, with the consequent alarm of producers. “With the rise in energy costs that has been transferred to the production costs in an avalanche, this year produce a long hectare of tomatoes it cost farmers an average of € 3,500 morewhile on the shelf you pay more for the bottle than for the tomato “, denounces Pietro Piccioni, confederal delegate of Coldiretti Foggia before concluding:”It is vital that the right price is recognized for the product and the correct value given by the origin on the label to safeguard producers and consumers, with the Community trademark representing an extra plus in terms of distinctiveness ».