Coop: Tomatoes from Sweden no longer a rarity

Solna / SE. (coop) From this summer onwards, the proportion of Swedish-grown tomatoes in Coop’s stores will increase significantly thanks to a new greenhouse cultivation in Frövi, a few kilometres north of Örebro. The initiative, which is taking place in collaboration between Coop Sweden AB and the Swedish Growers’ Association, will account for one tenth of Swedish tomato consumption annually.

(Photo: Coop Sweden AB)

This means 8000 tonnes of tomatoes per year in the ten-hectare greenhouse. In addition to more tomatoes, the initiative also means hundreds of jobs and more sustainable food production. The greenhouse in Frövi is developed by WA3RM AB, which has an ambition to develop the Swedish vegetable market by designing and building a number of greenhouses around Sweden heated with residual heat from industry.

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«I am happy that we can now offer even more Swedish tomatoes in our stores, all year round. Tomatoes that taste good, are produced with great care for the environment and are resource efficient,» says Elise Andersson, Purchasing and Assortment Manager Fruit and Vegetables at Coop Sweden.

Residual heat from a neighbouring industry with good climate impact will be used for tomato cultivation.

(Photo: Coop Sweden AB)

«The tomatoes in Frövi are heated by residual heat flows from the industry, which has a good climate impact. Today, the majority of all tomatoes consumed in Sweden are imported from countries in southern Europe and northern Africa that have huge challenges with access to water. You should also take into account that food waste is reduced by choosing Swedish-grown tomatoes, as they reach the store directly after harvest,» says Magnus Nilsson, CEO of the Swedish Growers’ Association.

Thanks to the initiative, locally grown tomatoes are possible all year round, which strengthens Swedish self-sufficiency. A report produced by HUI Research on behalf of Coop Butiker and Stormarknader (May 2023) shows that a majority of Swedish consumers believe that seasonal consumption and local production are two of the most important parts of sustainable food consumption.

The investment in more greenhouses around Sweden also creates room for other vegetables in the long term. More than 80 percent in HUI’s survey would consider buying seasonal fruit and vegetables in order to eat more Swedish-grown produce. «More greenhouses of this type will be built in Sweden and we are currently making calculations together with WA3RM on more Swedish-grown products, such as peppers, sweet peppers, salads, strawberries and other exciting crops,» says Magnus Nilsson.

This year’s first tomatoes from Frövi are expected to be in stores by mid-August (All photos: Coop Sweden).