Why is tomato paste so cheap? [closed]
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So, at target, Tomato Sauce is $0.84 / lb. But, tomato paste is $1.00 / lb. However, tomato paste has 4x as many calories, implying that they reduced it by 4x. This makes sense, since reducing tomato sauce to tomato paste in a pot generally reduces it by 4x. But, why is it not 4x as expensive? How is it only barely more expensive if it requires so many more tomatoes to create? Generally speaking even boiling for longer costs money. Milk powder is almost always more expensive than milk, for example (In all of the grocery stores that I've checked, at least). I can't find tomatoes for less than $1 / lb, which upsets me because I want to homemade tomato sauce and tomato paste but it's just not cost effective. Where are they getting practically free tomatoes?
Best Answer
What you are observing is that the bulk of the price of tomato products is not the tomatoes.
The price of the can and shipping far outweigh the few cents of tomatoes the can contains.
With fresh tomatoes you are still mostly not paying for tomatoes. You are paying for the gas and people to ship and stock your tomato and all the other tomatoes that were shipped with yours and thrown away damaged or unsold.
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Why is there a shortage of tomato paste?
As 2021 rolls into 2022, a tomato shortage is threatening markets in the U.S., Canada, and beyond. The 2021 tomato shortage is putting this popular crop in very short supply. Domestically, the shortage is partially due to drought conditions in California, where these juicy crops normally flourish.Where is tomato paste manufactured?
Tomato paste is traditionally made in parts of Sicily, southern Italy and Malta by spreading out a much-reduced tomato sauce on wooden boards that are set outdoors under the hot August sun to dry the paste until it is thick enough, when it is scraped up and held together in a richly colored, dark ball.How is tomato paste made commercially?
To create Hot Break (HB) paste, the new tomatoes must be warmed soon after chopping to a high temperature (ranging from 85 to 100\xb0C). Cold Break (CB) paste requires the fresh, cut tomatoes to be heated at a lesser temperature (which ranges from 65 to 75\xb0C).What can be substituted for tomato paste?
How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.Why Tomato Paste Is so Amazing for You
More answers regarding why is tomato paste so cheap? [closed]
Answer 2
It's cheap because it is easy and cheap to make/produce.
They don't need to have perfect tomatoes to make tomato paste, compared to making canned tomatoes or tomato sauce. (IMO)
Answer 3
one run at Google shows a more complex process to make tomato sauce. https://image.slidesharecdn.com/rhidimaandvasudha-150515065227-lva1-app6892/95/tomato-processing-7-638.jpg?cb=1514799842
but i guess this answer would depend on recipe for said product. So the real question should be 'Why is tomato sauce not 1/4th the price of tomato paste?'. The answer should be 'There is increased cost due to other ingredients added to the tomato sauce in processing.'
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