Snack tomatoes: healthy, easy and delicious

No other fruit and vegetable category pays as much attention to variety selection, cultivation techniques and taste as the tomato category. Snack tomatoes are particularly popular among consumers because of their good price-quality ratio. They taste better than standard tomatoes, but remain affordable.

In addition, snack tomatoes are a healthy and convenient snack option because consumers can eat them easily without preparation. Thanks to this convenience and the focus on acceptable taste, snack tomatoes have become one of the most popular items in supermarkets, leading to a huge increase in consumption. The development of the snack tomato concept has created a fast-growing product group within the tomato category.

The consumer decides

In the supermarket, colour and consistency in quality often influence consumers' purchasing decisions. It is therefore important to continuously monitor the quality on the shelf. A tray with mouldy or split products can discourage consumers from buying. Even after purchase, consumers may be disappointed by soft fruits, for example, which is difficult to see at the time of purchase.

Good eating quality is key to increasing the consumption of snack tomatoes. The taste of tomatoes depends heavily on their sugar content, but that is not the only factor. The balance between sugar and acidity also influences the taste experience of consumers. Ideally, the sugar content of snack tomatoes should be between 7 and 8.5 degrees Brix, but it is often around 6 degrees Brix. The ideal acidity depends on the Brix value. The sweeter the tomato, the higher the acidity can be.

In addition to Brix and acidity, the firmness of tomatoes plays an important role in taste. Tomatoes that are too firm have less flavour, while tomatoes that are too soft quickly feel mealy. Mealy tomatoes in particular lead to dissatisfied consumers, which can cause them to stop buying the product again.

Last winter, we saw a decline in the volume of snack tomatoes from Morocco because fewer plants were planted due to the risk of the TRoVBF virus (Tomato brown rugose fruit virus). This led to lower quality, shorter shelf life and poorer taste. Fortunately, the seed industry is working hard to develop better, more resistant varieties so that taste and quality can quickly return to normal.

Your partner in the world of fruit and vegetables

In addition to daily fruit and vegetable inspections, new challenges are constantly emerging. These include reducing packaging materials, the growing focus on taste, the fruit and vegetable knowledge of new staff, improving specifications, optimising seasonal transitions and introducing new cultivation techniques.

In this complex world of fruit and vegetables, Normec Foodcare is your partner. We give you control over the quality of your fruit and vegetables. We do this by:

• Monitoring quality in supermarkets

• Product comparisons

• Shelf life testing

• Taste testing

• Store inspections

• Product specifications

• Secondment of inspectors & quality managers

• Fruit and vegetable quality training

• Quality monitoring through the eyes of the consumer and from the shop shelf

• Comparing different varieties in terms of quality, shelf life and taste

Our team of fruit and vegetable experts and inspectors is at your service. With many years of knowledge and experience, we know better than anyone how growers, importers and supermarket chains make a difference in the fruit and vegetable sector.

Need help?

We are happy to help you with complex quality issues. Together, we make a difference in the daily lives of consumers. See what we can do for you or contact us. Our AGF experts are ready to support you.