Record heat is hampering Kraft Heinz’s efforts to climate-proof its ketchup. Photo: TNSTomatoes are important for making Heinz ketchup. But these tomatoes are in danger because of climate change.
The Heinz company is proud of the tomatoes in
its ketchup. It has spent more than 150 years evolving the fruit. Ketchup tomatoes are not the same as grocery-store tomatoes: they have less juice and are more red. They are mashed into a paste before being turned into ketchup.
One state, California, grows all of the tomatoes for Heinz ketchup that is sold in the US. But the state just experienced its hottest July ever. The harvest season will not be completed until mid-October. That is when researchers will find out how many of their tomatoes survived in the summer’s extreme heat. There are likely to be fewer tomatoes than usual.
Meanwhile, Heinz will continue research for tomato breeds that can handle heat.