Mutti, the European leader in the tomato derivatives market, has paid its growers a price 10% higher than the market average, distributing more than €9 million across the supply chain. The initiative is part of the company’s long-term policy of recognizing and rewarding the quality and dedication of over 800 Italian farmers who supply its raw materials.
Thanks to this collaboration, Mutti successfully processed 728,000 tonnes of tomatoes during the summer season, maintaining high production standards—including the highest Brix level ever recorded across the campaign.
“Tomatoes are not for everyone. It’s a crop that requires expertise, daily attention, and a deep understanding of the land and its balance—especially in an increasingly unpredictable climate,” said Francesco Mutti (pictured), CEO of Mutti. “With these incentives, the highest ever, we celebrate the excellence of competence: the ability to read nature, adapt, and continue to deliver quality even in uncertain conditions.”
POMODORINO D’ORO 2025: CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN TOMATO FARMING
The most tangible recognition of this incentive program is the Pomodorino d’Oro Award, now in its 26th edition, recently held in Reggio Emilia with more than 350 farmers in attendance. The award honors producers who supplied Mutti with the highest-quality tomatoes throughout the season—from mid-July to late September—across four categories: round, datterino, long, and cherry tomatoes.
Round Tomato: Società Agricola Zavaroni of Luca Zavaroni (Traversetolo, Parma) – a long-time Mutti partner and previous winner in 2022, 2015, and 2002.
Datterino: Gabriele Costa from Longastrino (Ravenna).
Long Tomato: Michele Borrelli from Foggia.
Cherry Tomato: Cooperativa Bioverde from Lesina (FG), runner-up in 2024 for the datterino category.
“Receiving the Pomodorino d’Orois a great satisfaction, especially after such a challenging campaign,” said Luca Zavaroni, winner in the round tomato category. “Since June we’ve faced extreme temperatures that put our fields to the test, but we did everything possible to maintain quality—monitoring irrigation and soil humidity daily. Innovation is vital in our work, but we also need proper infrastructure. Climate change is a reality now, and institutions must step in to support the creation of new infrastructure to mitigate its impact.”
68 FARMERS RECOGNIZED FOR CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE
While only four producers took home the iconic Pomodorino d’Oro trophies, 68 top farmers across Mutti’s supply chain will receive additional financial bonuses based on their ranking and the volumes delivered.
The incentive program follows strict evaluation criteria, developed jointly with producer associations and partner farms. In 2025, the key factor was the ability to maintain consistent quality throughout the entire season, particularly at the start and end of the harvest, ensuring Mutti’s supply of premium-quality tomatoes even during the most challenging periods.
L’articolo Mutti Rewards Italian Tomato Growers with €9mn Incentive Program proviene da Italianfood.net.
