Italy: Tomato supply up, wholesale prices down year-on-year

Italian wholesale prices for red tomatoes are down 4% compared to the same period in 2025, with increased production driving the decline.

In Italy, the wholesale market for red tomatoes remains stable week-on-week but shows a 4% decrease compared to July 2025. The price for cherry tomatoes (Ciliegino) is around €2.2/kg, while Piccadilly tomatoes are trading between €1.5 and €1.7/kg. The decline in prices is attributed to an increase in production, despite ongoing hot weather accelerating ripening and causing faster deterioration in some batches. Demand is described as moderate, typical for the summer holiday period, which is also helping to keep prices stable despite supply-side pressures.

The Italian retail sector continues to expand its tomato assortment, especially in the packaged segment. In monitored stores in Parma, the average number of tomato references per store increased from 17 to 19 compared to 2025, with the most notable growth in cardboard and plastic packaging. Premium and private label (MDD) tomatoes are present, with some retail-branded packaged tomatoes reaching €12–14/kg at the top end of the market.

In the regional trade platform covering Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, the number of tomato sellers nearly doubled in week 28 of 2026 compared to the previous week, indicating increased availability from countries such as Türkiye and Iran. Tomato offers were second only to potatoes in frequency, pointing to a seasonal surge in supply. Meanwhile, fewer offers came from Iran and Egypt, while product availability from Türkiye increased.

Morocco remains a major exporter, with snack tomatoes accounting for 473,000 tonnes or 62% of total tomato exports in the 2024/25 season. Over half of Morocco’s snack tomato exports now come from B Corp-certified companies, reflecting a focus on sustainability and responsible sourcing. These exports continue to supply key European markets, including Poland, where Moroccan tomatoes compete with domestic and other imported products.

In Sicily, new tomato varieties such as the Datterino FX 3152 F1 are being introduced, offering high yields, resilience to high temperatures, and resistance to major tomato viruses. This supports stable supply from southern Italy during the peak summer season, contributing to continued availability and competitive pricing in European wholesale markets.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker