The unique nature of the UK tomato market

The UK’s tomato market is unique and very diverse. The average consumer in the UK eats 160g of fresh tomatoes per week. While the UK produces around 92,000 tons of its own tomatoes each year (mainly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex), approximately 400,000 tons are imported, mainly from Spain and the Canary Islands, especially during winter, with cherry and plum tomatoes also imported from the Netherlands, Israel and Italy. Of the tomatoes to be found on the shelves of UK retailers, 70% are loose and 30% are vine. UK consumers are very demanding when it comes to selecting their tomatoes, with 14% of all tomatoes purchased organic and 23% premium.