ENTAPACK ENTERS CALIFORNIA MARKET
For some time now Entapack has been selling flexible packaging in the United Statees for IBC applications however a patent issue has prevented us supplying FranRica aseptic paste/ dice bags to the tomato industry. This patent expired late August.

We have now formally started to service the market and can offer spouts to suit 2 and 3 inch FranRica* equipment and the 1inch and 2 inch plug fitments also used in the industry.

Trials with our new 3-inch FranRica gland were conducted late September in readiness for the next northern season.

*FranRica is trademark owned by others


WEBSITE
Check out our new website on www.entapack.com.au. In future our newsletter will available only on our website and we will send you a brief e-mail to let you know when it has been updated.

If any of your colleagues would like to be on the e-mailing list, please let us know name, company, position and e-mail address and it shall be done. Send to vincent@entapack.com.au.

As usual I have arranged industry consultant Barry Horn to write a few words on industry activities. His reflections follow.


AUSTRALIA AND TOMATOES
Australia did not have a record crop in 2002. 374,000 tonnes was processed, 1.5% below last year. Demand was down owing to closure of the Heinz Dandenong factory and the transfer of some production to New Zealand.

The average yield of tomatoes per hectare reached another peak at 82.4 tonnes per ha. By way of comparison, California's 34 tons per acre last season is equivalent to 76.3 tonnes per hectare. Australian tomato solids content, however, is significantly below California's and this is a significant issue for the industry.

The Australian industry is on a journey from furrow irrigation/direct seeding to trickle irrigation/transplants. 55% of surface was trickle irrigated this year and 43% transplanted.

Over the years the Australian industry has been improving economies of scale through consolidating. The number of major processing companies reduced from five to four this year with the merger of SPC and Ardmona and the number of growers reduced from 38 to 33. The "average" grower produced 11,200 tonnes this year, a small number by California standards but quite respectable compared with elsewhere.

Production of 387,000 tonnes is anticipated in 2003.


GLOBAL TOMATO INDUSTRY
The current forecast of 2002 global production is around 25 million tonnes, some 2.5 million tonnes behind June estimates and 1.5 million tonnes less than was produced in 2001.

The reduction is attributable to rains in Europe that affected Italian and Greek crops in particular while in China, low temperatures in April and too much rain in July resulted in a late start to processing and a hot spell in late July caused a bunching of the crop beyond what the factories could handle.

It is clear that the reduced 2002 production has taken care of the excess global inventory problem that has plagued the industry in recent years. There are now shortages of peeled tomato products and paste prices are increasing in Europe and China.

The California season is tracking well and the industry there is taking the opportunity to maximise production so it will have additional paste to export. California production should exceed 11.0 million short tons. Typical California paste specifications differ from Europe so the global market is not completely elastic and California paste prices are actually weakening.

The market will be able to accommodate increased production in 2003.


ISTANBUL TOMATO INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
Istanbul is a spectacular city and Turkey is a great country to visit. Biannual tomato industry conferences provide great opportunities for networking and for hearing some very interesting speakers.

It is clear that the tomato industry, globally, is generally in good heart. Tomato products are enjoying increased popularity, the technologies employed are becoming quite advanced and there is enough information being exchanged to underpin sound business decisions. Globalisation is a threat for some players while creating opportunities for others.

At the closing session of the conference, delegates asked that the next one be held in Melbourne in November 2004. This request caught the Australian contingent somewhat off guard. Hopefully, they will be able to make it happen.

It was good to visit the Turkish industry. Turkey is a major tomato processing country with 1.3 million tonnes being forecast this year. There are a number of quite proficient processors with modern factories focussing on industrial paste production for export. The crop is produced by a large number of small growers who harvest by hand. Large-scale mechanisation does not seem to be appropriate owing to low labour costs. The colour of Turkish tomato paste benefits from the fruit being hand picked.


WORLD TOMATO PROCESSING COUNCIL
At the June meeting, Brazil advised its resignation from the World Council as it does not have the organisation to participate at present. Hopefully, this will change and Brazil will rejoin.

On the other hand, China was accepted into membership. China is potentially the third largest tomato processing country after USA and Italy and participation of the Chinese industry is to be welcomed. It is to be hoped that industry information flowing out of China will now become more reliable.

The World Council continues to focus on three things, exchange of information, promotion of the industry (particularly the health attributes of tomatoes) and influencing the regulatory regime through Codex.

At the close of the June meeting, the Tim Dyer of Australia handed chairmanship of the organisation to Duncan Blake of Turkey.


Best regards, Vincent


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