"Brazil: "The 1st Tomato Contest will introduce quality into the agenda of growers"

In previous articles, we often described Brazil as a promising country for greenhouse development; while most of the country's greenhouses are still dedicated to cut flowers, a small, but growing portion of greenhouse growers are producing vegetables in response to demand from retailers and supermarkets. They are asking for bigger, more uniform shipments and have put pressure on growers to consolidate their operations and to improve production and quality. Consumers are also asking for better tasting, and more safely produced vegetables.

That is why the country will now host its first Brazilian Table Tomato Contest, that will take place on 15th and 16th September 2015 during the 6th Brazilian National Table Tomato Seminar in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo. The idea behind this is to introduce the subject of tomato quality into the agenda of growers, suppliers, distributors and all others involved in the industry of table tomato production.

Brazilian tomato crops grown in bucket systems.

Brazil has, approximately, 40,000 ha of table tomatoes planted yearly, the major part in open field areas. Therefore Brazil has a huge need to improve not only yields but also the quality of table tomato produce. Moreover, the Brazilian tomato is recognized as an expensive vegetable and also a hazardous crop to health as many open field growers are extensively using agrochemicals. Greenhouses and hydroponic productions are needed to improve this situation.

So this year, in parallel to the 6th National Table Tomato Seminar, WIN Events, ABCSEM (the Brazilian Seed and Propagator Association), and EACEA (a Brazilian Greenhouse Consulting Company) are presenting the first Brazilian Table Tomato Contest 2015.

The idea of this competition is to introduce the subject of tomato quality into the agenda of growers, suppliers, distributors and all others involved in the industry of table tomato production. Physical, chemical and sensory analysis tests will be performed on up to 36 grower's samples from different areas of Brazil. The worldwide-recognized Food Technological Institute (ITAL) located in Campinas/SP is responsible for the analysis and for the Global Analysis Quality Evaluation.

Global companies as Enza Zaden, Syngenta, Paripassu, Sakata, Jacto and PMA are supporting this initiative.

For further information:
Mr. Andrés da Silva/EACEA
andresdasilva@live.ca
+55 (12) 9 96132171
Skype: EACEAltda
www.tomatedemesa.com.br/concurso.html