Producers, who expected to harvest some 4,000 tons of tomatoes this season, would only be able to harvest about 1,800 tons because of the frosts in July. This means that the severe cold of July destroyed about 55% of tomato crops, according to preliminary data by the National Plant and Seed Health and Quality Service (Senave).

Yesterday, Senave technicians said that the entity planned to authorize the importation of some 1,200 tons of tomato from Argentina this month, and that another 500 tons would have already entered the country.

According to them, the authorization of tomato imports was established as a mechanism to lower the price of the vegetable, which a few weeks ago had reached 160,000 guaranies for an 18 kilogram box. According to the report of the Directorate of Marketing of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), last Friday the price of the same box ranged between 80,000 and 90,000 guaranies.

The officials said they wouldnt authorize the entry of tomatoes from Brazil because of poor quality and that the product was being brought from remote areas of Argentina, such as Salta. Argentina and Brazil were also affected by the extreme cold of July, which is why there is little supply of tomato in the region, according to our source.

Last Monday, producers from San Pedro, accompanied by the legislator Jose Ledesma, met with Senave authorities to request the blockade of tomato imports.

On Saturday, leaders of farmers committees from different areas of the country met with authorities of MAG and Senave at Arroyos y Esteros, as they are concerned about the reduction of tomato prices. They requested that tomato imports be stopped until producers sell the national production in its entirety, even though this would not favor consumers.