Oana Timar
– 29 March 2024 08:27
The first Romanian tomatoes appeared on the market, where their price once again revolted the buyers. A kilogram of tomatoes from the new harvest, obtained in heated solariums, costs twice as much as a kilogram of meat.
The price of a kilogram of Romanian tomatoes at the beginning of the season is 50 lei per kilogram, more precisely 49.99 lei, according to a Știrile Pro TV report. The journalists bought seven tomatoes for which they paid 35 lei, so the price of one tomato was 7 lei.
The tomatoes that appeared at the end of March have an exaggerated price, considered the Romanians in the market asked by journalists. This price, however, has behind it a huge investment, say the farmers who declare that the additional subsidy they receive, of 3,000 euros per farm, is “a pittance” in addition to the expense they have with a tomato crop.
Read also: Tomato Program – major change: Farmers will receive a subsidy for each plot
The price of tomatoes directly from the producer is also high
The price of Romanian tomatoes at the producer is also high, at 38-40 lei. “On the surface of 1,000 square meters, around 10,000 euros investment with everything. With warmth, the plants, the planting. It will be until April 20, the tomato will be slightly more expensive 30-28, we hope it will be like that, after that it will drop to 25-20, below 20 lei per kg”, said a farmer for the cited source. The producer announced that prices will drop until Easter, when the price of a kilogram of local tomatoes could drop to 10-11 lei.
Vegetable growers, who receive thousands of euros in subsidies to produce tomatoes, say support is low, as it is a crop that requires large investments. Through the Tomata program alone, producers receive 3,000 euros each, with APIA subsidies added to this amount. “You realize, from December until now we are at work every day. Money, this, it’s such a waste, so no. There is too little money for the investment we are making”, said Vali Rîmaru, farmer.
So far, more than 5,700 farmers have registered for this year’s session of the “Tomato” program. For the tomato crop, a farmer can receive a maximum of 3,000 euros.
