ABSTRACT
Tomatoes rank fourth among the leading world vegetables. In 2001, over 100 million metric tons were produced, with the 15 leading countries being (in descending order) China, US, India, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Islamic Republic of Iran, Mexico, Greece, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Chile, and Uzbekistan (FAO 2002; Fig. 1.1). There has been a general upward trend in tomato production during the period 1992–2002 (Fig. 1.2). Interestingly, the countries that produce higher yields (Fig. 1.3) do not possess the ideal climate for the tomato crop and have less land area devoted to tomato production (Fig. 1.4). Northern European countries, as well as Canada and New Zealand, produce most of their tomatoes under controlled greenhouse conditions. Tomato consumption has also shown a general increased trend of consumption over a period of time (FAO 2002). Tomatoes supply a mean of 12.1 kg/cap/yr, and tomato consumption is higher in Mediterranean and Arab countries (usually between 40 and 60 kg/cap/yr). Tomatoes are highly popular in Egypt, Italy, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and United Arab Emirates (60–70 kg/cap/yr), whereas people from Greece and Libya have the highest preference consuming more than 100 kg of tomatoes per capita and year. Tomatoes are also a popular food in Latin and North America. Tomato production worldwide, 2001. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429063671/e7aeba4a-28c6-4fe4-992f-c8d2fb8975d8/content/fig1_1.tif"/> Tomato production worldwide, 1992–2001. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429063671/e7aeba4a-28c6-4fe4-992f-c8d2fb8975d8/content/fig1_2.tif"/> Tomato yield worldwide, 2001. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429063671/e7aeba4a-28c6-4fe4-992f-c8d2fb8975d8/content/fig1_3.tif"/> Area of tomato harvest worldwide, 2001. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429063671/e7aeba4a-28c6-4fe4-992f-c8d2fb8975d8/content/fig1_4.tif"/>
