Tomatoes to Play Bigger Role in African Country’s Economy

By Michelle Fabio

After a decade of civil war, the East African country of Burundi is looking to tomatoes to help get its economy back on track.

Thanks to a $3 million United States project known as J.L. Limited (John Leopold Limited), Bujumbara, Burundi’s capital city should see work begun on a brand new tomato paste company before the end of the year.

The project, made up of twenty local organizations that grow rice and tomatoes, would give the region its first opportunity to preserve the many tomatoes grown locally; each year, Burundi produces 250 tons of tomatoes, which are harvested year round.

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