The stocks for the 2024 tomato harvest have been largely emptied in both northern and southern Italy. How good that the tomato fields in northern Italy have been busy again since the beginning of the week: the harvest has begun. The first yield estimates will not be possible for at least two weeks, but according to our local partner, the fields are in good condition. The harvest of cherry tomatoes and the production of small quantities of passata and diced tomatoes has also started in southern Italy. However, particular attention is being paid to Roma tomatoes: in Apulia in particular, significantly fewer of the elongated tomatoes were grown than in the previous year due to the water shortage - a reduction of around 20 percent is reported. Added to this are the extreme heat and lack of or poor irrigation in this region, which is why yields are likely to be below average. However, speculating on falling prices is considered extremely risky, as it could prove to be a boomerang in the coming year.

Unlike in Italy, growers in Portugal and Spain were only able to start planting the tender tomato plants much later than usual in spring due to the weather. This resulted in delays that (as our partners already suspected in our Food News 5/2025) could not be made up for over the course of the growing season. Depending on the region, the harvest is therefore not expected to start in either country until between August 5 and 10. Here, too, the potential yield can only be estimated a few weeks later.

Finally, let's take a look at Turkey: our local partner is already talking about smaller harvests than usual. The reason for this is the extreme heat during the tomato blossom. In our Food News in September, we will be able to report more details from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

Since the end of 2024, the European Commission has been examining whether and to what extent anti-dumping measures will be introduced for vegetable corn imports from China. Experts currently (as of July 18, 2025) expect possible punitive tariffs of between 37.5% and 55.2% - depending on the producer, these could vary. Important: No valid decision has yet been made. The figures mentioned are based on initial estimates, which we are sharing with you here. However, it is already clear that the cards are being reshuffled when it comes to sweetcorn and that low prices belong to the past.

The association "Québec Maple Syrup Producers" (QMSP for short - or "Maple Syrup from Canada") has published specific figures for the 2025 harvest season: "225 million pounds of maple syrup - equivalent to around 102,000 tons - were produced in spring 2025." This makes it the second-strongest year ever, surpassed only by the yields in the record year of 2024 (with 239 million pounds or 108,400 tons). At the same time, global demand for maple syrup is growing. Producers have already prepared for this and planted more trees, which will be put into operation in the next three years of production. And according to QMSP, new tapping points will also be added in the future: "Over the next 20 years, a "dynamic maple bank" is to be created on 50,000 hectares of public forest land. The first regions are already starting to select sites this summer."

Did you know? Paul M. Müller offers maple syrup (also in organic quality) in 250 ml bottles and 1,000 ml PET containers. If you are interested in this product group, please contact Eduard Kekel.

The harvest season for peppers and chillies has now started in Turkey (albeit late). So far, the quality looks good. Yield estimates are not possible at this stage, nor are concrete statements on prices. According to our partner, however, initial prices indicate that peppers are becoming more expensive. The extent to which this will continue remains to be seen as demand is currently low and prices could adjust accordingly, as another local partner told us. Inflation in the country is another factor. Despite the fall in the inflation rate in April/May, it remains at a high level.

In our Food News in May, we already reported on the blossoming of fruit trees in Greece, Italy, Turkey and China: leaves, buds and fruit from a wide range of crops suffered due to frost in places. The extent of this is now visible: the apricot harvest in Greece was short and scarce, and the price of raw materials rose accordingly. A similar trend can be observed for cherries from Greece and Turkey. In combination with the current high prices for pineapples from Thailand, this has led to a significant increase in prices for fruit cocktails produced in Greece.

The picture is different in China, where raw material prices for fruit cocktails are at a similar level to 2024. However, the weak dollar and favorable freight rates could cause the price of imported canned fruit to fall slightly overall. The focus is particularly on pears, whose harvest begins in mid-August. So far, it looks like the harvest volume will be slightly lower than usual. At the same time, the market is also weak - both for pears and for fruit cocktails with pears. This also explains the price level described above.

Better than expected - at least with regard to Thai pineapples in June: at 91,725 tons, supply in the first weeks of the month was 16.5 % above the original forecast, according to the Thai Food Processors Association (TFPA). The raw material price fell accordingly and averaged 10.90 Thai baht per kg. Towards the end of June, however, the supply fell so that some packers have now stopped production. Currently (as of July 21, 2025), the supply of raw materials is 2,000 tons per week (in comparison: in mid-May, it was around 3,000 tons per day) and the price of raw materials is 13.50 Thai baht per kg.

Now we have to wait and watch the rainy season to be able to make a forecast about the winter harvest. We expect the first reliable supply prices from Thailand at the end of August/beginning of September at the earliest.