The tomato market in Uruguay is under pressure as the sector faces oversupply. Earlier this year, consumers paid high prices for tomatoes due to limited availability, but the current harvest has produced volumes that the market cannot absorb. The result is large quantities being discarded, creating instability for both producers and consumers.
A few months ago, unfavorable weather reduced supply, pushing prices up to levels that made tomatoes resemble a luxury item. In contrast, recent favorable weather conditions have led to high yields. Producers now face a situation where bringing tomatoes to market does not cover minimum production or transportation costs. "It's better to leave the tomatoes in the field than to bring them to market and lose more money," some growers say.
At present, tomatoes are being sold at very low prices, offering short-term relief to consumers. However, this comes at the expense of producers' incomes and leads to food waste. The lack of regulation or planning has created a production imbalance, with farms producing more than the market can handle.
The crisis highlights the difficulty of maintaining stability in the sector. Today's oversupply and waste could quickly be followed by shortages and higher prices in the next season, continuing a cycle of volatility. Producers are losing money on every kilo, while consumer access to affordable tomatoes is tied to market fluctuations rather than a predictable supply.
The government has been urged to consider measures to reduce these imbalances. Options include regulating planted hectares, promoting storage technologies, and supporting crop diversification. Until then, tomatoes continue to be discarded as growers attempt to minimize financial losses.
From an environmental standpoint, the waste of large volumes of tomatoes has also raised concerns. In a period when food security and waste reduction are global priorities, discarding tons of produce highlights systemic inefficiencies.
The current tomato situation in Uruguay reflects structural imbalances in agricultural production. Without measures to stabilize supply and demand, both growers and consumers remain exposed to volatility.
Source: Uruguay Al Dia