Up to 7.45 euros in France, 1.89 euros for Moroccan tomatoes

The finding emerges from a comparison conducted by La Dépêche du Midi in Toulouse’s markets, supermarkets and organic stores. At the Carrefour Express on rue Paul-Vidal, ribbed black tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes reach 7.45 euros per kilo. Despite this price, some were damaged or infested with insects.

A few streets away, the Lidl on rue Bayard sells dark round tomatoes from Morocco for 1.89 euros per kilo. They are among the lowest prices recorded in the supermarkets visited. The chain also offers vine tomatoes for 1.49 euros, but their origin is not specified.

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The comparison is not, however, between strictly identical products. The varieties, sizes, production methods and retailers differ. Nevertheless, the survey shows the considerable gap a consumer may face when doing their shopping.

Vegetable prices soar

According to the Familles Rurales Price Observatory, the average price of conventionally grown vine tomatoes has now reached 2.91 euros per kilo, representing an annual increase of 31%. Since 2015, fresh vegetables have increased by 62%, compared with 21% for overall inflation.

Toulouse professionals particularly blame the intense heat, which reduces yields. In some greenhouses, temperatures reportedly reached 55 degrees during the heatwave, forcing sellers to pass the drop in production on to their prices.

Significant differences also appear among French products. Vine tomatoes were offered at 4.95 euros in a Carrefour Express, compared with 3.95 euros for a Spanish variety. Conversely, red ribbed tomatoes sold for 2.99 euros at Intermarché were deemed to offer good value for money.

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In Toulouse’s markets, prices even start at 0.99 euros per kilo at the Cristal market, before rising to 7.90 euros for certain varieties. The Moroccan price of 1.89 euros is therefore not the cheapest in the entire comparison, but it is among the lowest prices recorded in large-scale retail.

This competitiveness has fueled the tug-of-war between French producers and Moroccan tomatoes for several years. European farmers denounce production costs and rules they consider unbalanced, while Moroccan imports help contain the prices paid by French consumers.