Spain: Monterosa tomatoes to be produced organically

The Monterosa tomato is a cross between two traditional varieties, both highly appreciated by the market and in haute cuisine: the Pera de Girona and the Costoluto Genoveso. The Monterosa project is backed by the experience of two companies: Semillas Fitó and Gavà Grup. On the one hand, Semillas Fitó obtained this tasty tomato after eight years of research; on the other, Gavà Grup has the necessary experience to handle its cultivation, the right lands and the distribution capacity in Spain and Europe.

"Gavà Grup returns two years later to Alimentaria'18 with its mission accomplished. The implementation of Monterosa tomatoes has taken place very quickly," explains Francesc Llonch, head of Gavà Grup. "In just two years, we have gone from a production of 3 million kilos per year to 11 million kilos per year, and we have entered markets as challenging as France and Italy." The Monterosa grown in Cabo de Gata is currently marketed across Spain and in most European countries, except the Nordic countries." The Monterosa has become very popular in many parts of Spain," says Francesc Llonch.

Francesc Llonch recalls that "the Monterosa tomato is a very demanding variety and is not easy to grow. The production and handling of this tomato is complex because of its thin peel, and it needs water that is very rich in salts and minerals. However, we have been betting strongly on it, because we were convinced that it was going to revolutionise the winter tomato market, where the taste quality is a pending issue." Gavà Grup grows this tomato exclusively in Spain and Portugal.

Francesc Llonch explains that "we even try to keep an eye on the post-sales period and, as far as possible, control how the product is handled upon arrival at the point of sale." Gavà Grup started the first commercial trials of the Monterosa tomato in September 2015. The reception of this premium tomato grown by Gavà Grup has been excellent from the beginning in both the national and international market.