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On the island of Reunion, the price of tomatoes has exploded, and this time it is not only inflation that is to blame. The passage of two consecutive cyclones last February had a direct impact on producers. Some even lost all their crops.
On the stalls of the Forain Le Chaudron market in Saint-Denis (Reunion), tomatoes at gold prices have become an exceptional dish. Their price has been multiplied by six. The kilo at 10 euros goes badly for the Reunionese. The sellers therefore justify the price, because the tomato is scarce after two months of bad weather. Tomatoes are a staple of Creole cuisine, so soaring prices are pushing Reunionese to watch their spending.
It is impossible to forget the passage of two consecutive cyclones. On February 3 and 4, Batsirai passed 150 km from the island, with gusts of wind up to 200 km/h. Less than three weeks later, another cyclone, Emnati, hits the island. Olivier Chamand, tomato producer in Sainte-Rose (Reunion) is barely recovering: he has lost a good part of his harvest. With the torrential rains, a deadly fungus even appeared on his tomato stalks. The state of natural disaster has been recognized. As long as the island’s greenhouses are not rebuilt, Reunionese will continue to pay a high price for their tomatoes.