Moroccan tomatoes: varieties, sizes and export season

Moroccan tomatoes are a winter origin: the export campaign runs from October to May, through the months when open-field tomatoes are out of season in Europe. For importers, wholesalers and buying centres, tomatoes from Morocco make it possible to build a weekly supply of greenhouse tomatoes across the whole cold season.

This guide covers what a buyer needs to specify before ordering: varieties, sizes, packing, calendar, food safety compliance and logistics. The information comes from our catalogue and our own shipments: vetafresh has exported fresh fruit and vegetables since 2009, from Aït Melloul in the Agadir region.

Tomato varieties exported from Morocco

Our Tomatoes range covers four types, each serving a different channel.

Vine tomatoes

The vine tomato is sold on the truss, with the fruit still attached. It is a presentation tomato, aimed mainly at retail chains and at the wholesalers who supply independent retailers. Our catalogue lists a standard vine (sizes M to L, October to May) and a premium vine (sizes L to XL, November to April).

Cherry tomatoes

The cherry tomato, round or plum-shaped, comes on the vine or loose, in 250 g sealed punnets or 3 kg loose trays. Its size is measured by diameter: 18 to 25 mm. It targets the snacking and aperitif aisles of retail, as well as food service, from October to June. Cocktail tomatoes, an intermediate size, complete the offer from December to April in 6 kg trays.

Plum tomatoes

With dense flesh and less juice, the elongated plum tomato holds up well to slicing and cooking. It suits wholesalers supplying food service, and markets where this type is traditionally eaten.

Beef tomatoes

The beef tomato is the largest of the four: a fleshy fruit made for slicing, sought after by food service — burgers, sandwiches — and by retail aisles that sell it by the piece. For both plum and beef tomatoes, sizes and packing are specified on request.

Sizes and packing

Round and vine tomatoes are graded from M to XL; cherry tomatoes by diameter. The formats in our catalogue:

• Vine: 5 kg carton or 6 kg tray, 240 cartons per 100 × 120 cm pallet;
• Cherry: 250 g punnet or 3 kg tray, 200 cartons per 100 × 120 cm pallet;
• Cocktail: 6 kg tray.

In a quotation request, packing is described in four points: tomato type, size, packaging (unit weight and type of pack) and number of packs per pallet. Add the labelling you need and, if your channel requires it, the colour stage at harvest: a tomato bound for a long journey or for storage is picked less ripe than one sold on arrival.

Season and availability

The Moroccan tomato campaign runs from October to May, with weekly departures throughout. Windows differ by type:

• standard vine: October to May;
• premium vine: November to April;
• cherry: October to June;
• cocktail: December to April.

The start of the campaign, in October and November, is the time to set up a winter programme: volumes, sizes and departure days are then fixed for the season. Late in the campaign, in April and May, availability is confirmed from one week to the next. Every quote states the current position.

Growing region and quality

Our tomatoes come from greenhouses in Souss-Massa, the Agadir region, where most of Morocco's export tomatoes are grown. Greenhouse production allows harvesting all winter long and control over ripeness at picking.

Tomatoes are harvested at controlled ripeness, then sized and packed in the station less than six hours after picking. The stations are audited to GlobalG.A.P. for good agricultural practice and GRASP for working conditions; vetafresh also holds ISO 22000 and BRCGS certification. Our approach to quality is set out on the About page.

Quality criteria to specify

Fresh tomatoes are covered by a specific EU marketing standard, which sets out the Extra, Class I and Class II categories as well as sizing tolerances. In your request, state the class you expect along with the criteria specific to your channel:

• firmness, which determines shelf life in store;
• colour, uniform within each pack;
• for vine tomatoes, the condition of the stem — green and fresh — and the number of fruits per truss;
• freedom from defects: cracks, bruises, blemishes.

Food safety and EU compliance

In the European Union, maximum residue levels for pesticides (MRLs) are set by Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. We check compliance with a residue analysis every campaign, and every shipment leaves with:

• the phytosanitary certificate required for tomatoes entering the European Union;
• the residue analysis report for the current campaign;
• the temperature record for the journey.

Traceability goes down to the lot: each pallet carries a number that links it to its plot of origin, so any inspection on arrival can be answered with documents. vetafresh is also approved by ONSSA, Morocco's food safety authority. To see how a revision of MRLs carries through to shipping documents, read our article on new EU residue limits.

Logistics to Europe

Tomatoes leave Agadir or Casablanca every week, as full reefers for regular programmes, or as refrigerated groupage for part loads and mixed assortments. Transit to Perpignan takes about four days.

Tomatoes are as sensitive to excessive cold as to heat: the temperature set point is agreed at order according to ripeness stage, and the cold chain is recorded end to end. The temperature log is handed over with the lot documents.

We work on every Incoterm from EXW to DDP: choose according to whether you arrange transport yourself or want customs-cleared delivery at your dock. Our sourcing and logistics services are described on the Services page.

How to request a quote

For a firm quote within 24 working hours, specify:

• tomato type (vine, cherry, plum, beef) and size;
• packaging and pack configuration;
• volume, per week or per shipment;
• Incoterm: EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF, DAP or DDP;
• destination and delivery window.

Send your request through our quotation form or on WhatsApp at +212 708 275 517. The 2026 catalogue (PDF) presents all our product ranges.