In the 2014/2015 campaign, the average price at origin for fresh organic tomatoes was 42.88 percent higher than that paid for conventional tomatoes, according to data from the Prices and Markets Observatory of the Government of Andalusia.
The average price of organic tomatoes reached 1.043 Euro per kilo, compared with 0.73 €/kilo for the conventional.
By varieties, the price of loose organic round cherry tomatoes was 27.84 percent higher than that of the conventional. The organic round cherry on the vine was 56.52 percent more expensive than the conventional. For loose pear cherry tomatoes, there was a 33.94 percent gap in favour of the organic. For the long life, the organic was 42.55 percent more expensive, organic pear tomato prices were 63.64 percent higher, organic ribbed tomatoes cost 33.33 percent more and organic on the vine tomatoes were 58.93 percent more expensive than the conventional.
Acreage
As reported by the Observatory, tomatoes are the main organic crop in Andalusia, with 30 percent of the acreage in 2015.
Almeria is the province that accounts for the largest production, with 89 percent of the total organic tomato acreage, followed by Granada and Malaga, with 7 percent and 4 percent, respectively.
During 2015, organic tomatoes represented 3 percent of Andalusia's total tomato acreage (taking into account both the January to May and October to December cycles), with more than 385 hectares. Also, 62 hectares were reported to be in the conversion process, while about 120 hectares more are awaiting their certification.
Marketing
On the vine and cherry tomatoes account for the largest marketed volumes, with a total of around 40 percent each.
The largest export destination for organic fruit and vegetable products is the EU, more so than in the case of conventional products. Germany and France are two of the main importers.
