Vegetable producers’ unions in France are calling for government action against non other than the competition from Moroccan tomatoes in the French market.
Trade union members ask that the “France” origin be better highlighted to encourage consumers to buy their tomatoes rather than the batches from Morocco.
Tomato producers who are members of the “Vegements de France” union as well as the Fédération des Syndicats Agricoles en France, even organized last Friday, “a labelling action to denounce the over-representation of Moroccan imported tomatoes in supermarkets,” says French website Réussir.
French tomato producers printed fluorescent yellow labels saying “Moroccan origin” and glued several in the center of cherry tomato trays in supermarkets.
“Action by tomato producers to denounce massive imports of Moroccan tomatoes while the season in France is in full swing. Indication of unidentifiable origin, underpaid labor, competition is unfair,” the professionals denounced on Twitter.
They believe that when the supply of certain fruits and vegetables produced in France is available, vegetable imports from Morocco should should be limited, to limit the competition for domestic produce.
The campaign only targeted Moroccan tomatoes, and organised no actions to date against Spanish tomatoes.
Morocco has become the third largest exporter of tomatoes, while being the producer with the highest rate of increase in exports.
In France, Moroccan tomatoes account for 63% of imported volumes, according to Réussir.
In 2022, tomato exports to France experienced an “exponential increase of 19.16% over one year” from 425,552 tons compared to 357,118 in 2021, said the French union.
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