DEVELOPMENT OF TOMATO PROCESSING FOR THE TROPICS: THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE

Tomato processing is still in its infancy in the Philippines in spite of the wealth of experiences we have already gained. We feel that these experience are worth sharing with other developing countries wishing to grow processing tomatoes as well.

When we first decided to start a tomato processing project, we were confronted with two questions: Can we grow processing tomatoes in the Philippines and process them? Are the ingredients of success for such a program available in our country today?

In Taiwan, the tomato processing industry was a success mainly due to the following factors:

1. Favorable climatic conditions
2. Ready markets
3. Good irrigation and drainage systems
4. Abundant and inexpensive labor
5. Appropriate production technology and postharvet practices (i.e., processable varieties and cultural management)
6. Presence of cooperatives and other organizations which provide services to the tomato growers
7. Availability of raw materials such as tomatoes, pineapple, mushrooms, asparagus, oranges, and guaves, which assures continuous operation of the factories for at least nine months a year
8. Willingness and interest of growers and others in the private sector to go into tomato industry ventures

In 1982, we felt we had most of the aforementioned ingredients already available, and so we initiated a project to produce processing tomatoes in the Philippines.

The objective of this paper then is to review the development of the tomato industry in the Philippines with emphasis on the administrative and technological considerations of the project which laid down the foundation for an agro-based industry.