NETHERLANDS-TOMATO FIGHT Dutch throw tomatoes in fruity protest against Russian boycott

Record ID: 375779

  • Title: NETHERLANDS-TOMATO FIGHT Dutch throw tomatoes in fruity protest against Russian boycott
  • Date: 14th September 2014
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English), ORGANISER, JOEP VERBUNT, SAYING: "We organise it because of the Russian boycott, our farmers they have a big problem because they cannot deliver their products anymore to Russia and we try to help them to collect enough money, because everybody who is here they pay 15 euros, so the money goes to the farmers that have the problem now." VERBUNT IS HIT
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EOLZTHMIBII2L01I00HCK8FQ
  • Story Text: Around 2000 people gathered at the main square in Amsterdam on Sunday (September 14) to join a massive tomato fight in support of the Dutch vegetable growers who are being affected by a Russian boycott of the EU agricultural products.
    The popular Spanish La Tomatina festival in Buñol inspired a few young Dutch entrepreneurs to organize Amsterdam's version of the tomato fight, drawing attention to the situation of Dutch tomato farmers affected by Russian sanctions.
    In the fight that lasted for one hour the participants used about 10,000 kilograms of tomatoes.
    To avoid completely wasting the food, the remaining pulp will be used as a source for making biogas, according to one of the organisers, Joep Verbunt.
    "We organise it because of the Russian boycott, our farmers they have a big problem because they cannot deliver their products anymore to Russia and we try to help them to collect enough money, because everybody who is here they pay 15 euros, so the money goes to the farmers that have the problem now," Verbunt told Reuters, as he got hit by a fying tomato.
    The Netherlands is one of the world's largest agricultural exporters of tomatoes, potatoes and cucumbers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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