Jordan Tries To “Ketchup” After Heat And Pests Wilt Tomatoes

Leafminers tunnel their way through Middle Eastern tomato leaves. Can Jordan’s crops “ketchup” in their wake?

It is difficult to imagine a Middle Eastern home without tomatoes. It is a crucial ingredient in virtually every popular dish, including shakshuka. But lower income families in Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Syria and Lebanon are having to acclimate to this exact reality.

Most of the Middle East is buckling under a tomato shortage as a result of the summer’s crippling heat, as well as the proliferation of a tomato pest. Roughly a month ago, Israeli farmers warned that prices will be high at the markets while Egyptian wives unable to afford escalating costs are adding ketchup and food coloring to their traditional dishes. Some Jordanians are optimistic that they will be able to stabilize prices. Others are less so. 

President of the Jordanian Farmers Union (JFU), President Ahmad Faour told The Jordan Times that “the “severe” shortage of tomatoes in the local market caused prices to rise significantly, and the situation became “desperate” because all countries in the region were affected by the heatwaves and a devastating pest which automatically limited the government’s choices.”

However, Mr. Faour also expects prices to drop since some crops were not affected by either the heat or  the Tuta absoluta, which has mined so many other crops.

“Tomato farms in Ghor Al Safi and the southern governorates, which were not affected by the destructive insect, will provide local markets with adequate quantities,” he told the paper.

Anwar Haddad, an agriculture expert and executive director of the Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruit and Vegetables was far less optimistic about the tomato crisis.

He told The Jordan Times that “tomatoes will remain in short supply in the coming days and prices of the produce will register no “significant” decrease.”

Mr. Haddad added that the Ghor Al Safi crops referred to are insufficient to meet the population’s demand.

Citrus was similarly unable to withstand the unprecedented high temperatures.

“Citrus fruit farms in the Jordan Valley, especially in the Northern Ghor, were deeply affected by the heatwaves,” which caused “profound” damage to oranges, lemons and grapefruit,” Faour told the paper, adding that “this will definitely harm the reputation of the Kingdom as an exporter of citrus fruits.”

While other Middle Eastern countries were impacted, Mr. Faour noted that Jordan cultivates its citrus crops at the lowest point on earth. Nonetheless, the citrus losses are less severe since Jordan will be possible to import from its neighbors.

Meanwhile tomatoes are in short supply and high demand in the entire region.

:: The Jordan Times

More on tomatoes:

The Tomato Has 790 Names! Scientists Have Culled A Few

Israel’s Shriveled Vegetables Will Increase Market Prices

Fresh Tomato-Coriander Salad to Spice up Your Summer

image of leafminer via Eran Finkle

Author: Tafline Laylin

As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.

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