PROCESSING TOMATO IN NAVARRA

Abstract

Processing tomatoes are one of the most important crops in the agricultural and food industry of the Ebro Valley, covering at present a total surface area of 2,500 ha. The aim of this study was to analyse the agronomic behaviour of different all flesh cultivars of processing tomato in Navarra. The trials were conducted between 2011 and 2012 at the experimental farm run by the Instituto Navarro de Tecnologías e Infraestructuras Agroalimentarias (INTIA) in Cadreita, southern Navarra. Seven cultivars of processing tomato were tested in the field, five all flesh cultivars and two cultivars employed as controls. The commercial yield and mean weight of the fruit were recorded during harvesting. The fruit quality parameters measured were pH, °Brix and Hunter-scale colour (a/b). In relation to industrial quality, no significant differences were observed between the cultivars in any of the parameters analysed. Although all flesh cultivars are less productive than the cultivars commonly used by farmers in Navarra, they generally offer better industrial quality characteristics and contribute to satisfying current consumer demands for a wider diversity of products.