Nutrition
Consumption of tomatoes decreased significantly
Around 2.3 million tons of tomatoes have recently been consumed within one year in Germany. Only a small part of it comes from domestic production.
Tomatoes are popular in Germany, but consumption has recently decreased noticeably. Between April 2023 and the end of March 2024, each person ate an average of 27.4 kilograms, as preliminary figures from the Federal Information Center Agriculture (BZL) show. That was a good 10 percent less than in the same period in the previous year than the per capita consumption was still 30.6 kilograms. Tomatoes in processed products such as ketchup are also included in these numbers.
According to the authority, the decline goes back to normal fluctuations. These could arise if large companies produce less due to contracts and other types of vegetables are processed more. Another reason could be that fewer tomatoes were actually eaten.
Increase in accumulation area and harvest quantities
A total of almost 2.3 million tons of tomatoes were used in Germany in 2023/2024. In doing so, they made up about 26 percent of the total vegetable consumption.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 108,000 tons of tomatoes were harvested in 2024 – almost 7,000 tons more than in the previous year. The acreage increased from 374 to 385 hectares.
The crowd harvested in Germany is far from enough to cover the need. The degree of self -care was only 3.8 percent, as the BZL reports. Therefore, large quantities have to be imported. More than two thirds of the tomatoes imported come from the Netherlands and Spain. The third most important delivery country is Morocco.
dpa
Source: Stern
