Tomato prices in the Canary Islands are plummeting, whilst potatoes are becoming more expensive

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Tomato growers in the Canary Islands received just 1.06 euros per kilo in June. That was 39.8 per cent less than a year earlier.
Potatoes, on the other hand, became 13 per cent more expensive. They most recently cost growers 78 cents per kilo.
The Canary Islands import large quantities of potatoes, which is why their price follows different patterns to that of tomatoes, which are exported in large quantities.

Tomatoes have become significantly cheaper in the Canary Islands. Compared with last year, producers were most recently paid just under 40 per cent less per kilogramme. This producer price represents the amount the farmer receives for a kilogramme. Various mark-ups are added to this price before the tomatoes are sold at the weekly market or in supermarkets.

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The Canary Islands Statistical Office (ISTAC) reports an average price of 1.06 euros per kilogramme of tomatoes. This means that tomatoes in the Canary Islands have become around two-fifths cheaper over the course of a year.

The situation is different for another staple food in the Canary Islands: the price of potatoes has risen by 13 per cent. This means they recently cost 78 cents per kilo. A look at individual islands is particularly revealing in this regard.

Canary Islands potatoes are becoming more expensive

Although the potato is one of the undisputed staple foods of the Canary Islands, the tomato is still considered the clear number two behind the banana – including in terms of exports. Consequently, the Europe-wide price also influences trends in the Canary Islands. As recently as this spring, the price of bananas in the Canary Islands had also fallen sharply.

The fact that this is influenced by exports to Europe was demonstrated by the trend in the potato market. There is a high level of imports of potatoes. Conversely, this means that the Canary Islands export comparatively few potatoes. Products that are not influenced by international price structures follow a correspondingly different trend. Potatoes have therefore been on an upward trend for weeks now. This was most noticeable in Gran Canaria.

The ISTAC data consists of rounded average prices. This helps to balance out individual outliers. The Canary Islands Statistical Institute assesses each island individually and uses this information to calculate a Canary Islands average for each product.