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COVID-19 has imposed unprecedented challenges to society. As the pandemic evolves, the social distancing measures that have been globally enforced, while essential, are having undesirable socioeconomic side effects particularly among vulnerable populations. In Mexico, families who depend upon informal employment face increased threats to their wellbeing, and households who in addition have young children may face long-term consequences. The Mexican government has not yet taken actions, but a coalition of non-governmental organizations is advocating in partnership with academic institutions for social protection actions such as a cash transfer and basic services subsidies for families with young children, subsisting from the informal sector economy. To facilitate governmental action, we estimated the costs for implementation of these recommendations. The methodology used could be replicated in other countries facing similar challenges.

Nowadays, tomato breeders are trying to associate high fruit firmness, long shelf life, high disease resistance, and good flavor; however, breeding for sensory quality has been severely restricted up to date. In this study, a system specifically designed for the analysis of low amounts of material has been set up and tested to quantify the volatile aroma constituents of tomatoes. Ten volatile compounds with a major contribution to tomato aroma have been quantitatively determined in two traditional tomato types (Muchamiel and De la Pera) and one hybrid type (Odissea). Both traditional types presented higher intensities of tomato odor and aroma according to a trained panel and they were more accepted by a consumer panel than the hybrid tomatoes. The traditional tomatoes showed significantly higher contents of most of the volatiles studied. Significant differences among traditional and hybrid types were found and a mathematical model that successfully discriminated among tomato types was developed using only the concentrations of six volatile compounds: 3-methylbutanal, 1-penten-3-one, hexanal, trans-2-hexenal, 1-hexanol, and 2-isobutylthiazole. This mathematical model could help in using volatile determination as a possible tool in tomato breeding programs and in maintaining and improving traditional Spanish tomato cultivars.

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