FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

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This year, Washington state will likely be the latest cherry production region in North America

Return to normal start for California potato harvest

Lemon pricing expected to stay stable throughout summer

Steadier North American pineapple supply recently

Guido Doddoli joins Calavo Foods as Sales Manager, Export Division

Vertical mushroom farm and composting facility constructed in Ontario, Canada

The US Early Pride mandarin variety has started expanding in Peru and Chile

IFPA's Produce & Floral Leadership Path Programs applications open

New tariffs on Chinese goods announced by the U.S.

Biochemical company develops nontoxic protectant spray to counter citrus greening

Sector | Vegetables

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“Sea freight costs surged by 20%, intensifying competition in the export market of mushroom logs”

Vincent Elegoet, Saveurs du Bout du Monde

Tomato taste or price?

How indoor farms can strengthen the fresh produce supply of outdoor growers

Significant threat to tomato crops in Stanislaus county

Queensland market challenges major retailers with 5 cent avocados and cucumbers

Why there could be a supply gap on celery

Pop Vriend Seeds -

Dutch vegetable seed company confirms resistance to Pe. 20 for a large part of its spinach assortment

Sector | Bananas

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Mina Maged - Mimac

“We will start to export our bananas to Europe at the end of June"

Costa Rican banana and pineapple grower hits national distribution in the U.S.

Current trend adversely affects competitiveness

Exchange rate crisis strikes Costa Rican banana sector

"The situation forces us in Finland to find alternative origins for Spain and other southern producer countries"

Latam banana producers object to Italian retailer's discount pricing of €0.85 cents per kg

Banana research in North Carolina aims to combat deadly fungus

Banana movement stays steady while plantain market gains strength

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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Market and Crop Update for May 16, 2024

'Organic onion sales good, reds are still short to non-existent, whites are still tight'

Lennaert Aardse, Dutch seed supplier De Groot en Slot

“Robust varieties with sturdy root systems are most sought after”

New legislative framework for seed potatoes:

Examining the EU's proposed plant reproductive material regulation

Onion turns of Ukraine – from free to very expensive in just a couple of weeks

Onion market sees some supply relief though pricing stays strong

Movement faster on Idaho potatoes but pricing still weaker

Foodservice chipping potato heads to retail

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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"Chlorine dioxide preservative can effectively increase the shelf life of lychees"

Kiwi consumer campaign gets creative

Fresh Del Monte collaborates for release of Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” movie

Only six papaya producers left in South Africa

"It's a disaster": Third season of papaya scarcity in South Africa

Dharwad's alphonso mangoes find new market in the U.S.

Recently unveiled product was showcased at this year's Cibus exhibition

Pomegranate arils with a shelf life of up to 20 days

“Peru’s ginger production 20% lower, prices are going to be higher”

Sector | Company news

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Bostock Group sells conventional apple orchards to Scales Corporation

Dole plc reports First Quarter 2024 financial results

Revenue of $2.1 billion, an increase of 6.6%

Hapag-Lloyd with good start to 2024 in first quarter of year

Kwik Lok makes new appointment to board of directors

Practical solutions address farmworker mental health needs

HHLA result affected by weakened economy and supply chain disruptions in Q1 2024

International Primeur magazine now available online

Sector | Greenhouse

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Pepper tote bags labeled with a spice meter

New trends in the greenhouse produce industry

Greenhouse locations migrate and product innovation continues

Juan Pablo Saucedo Romero of AgroSense México

“We found an effective means to minimize labor in Mexican greenhouses”

Horti Demo Centre – Dr Estelle Kempen, Adaduma Msana, Kholosa Nakani

"All South African greenhouses should collect and recycle rainwater"

UK Salads Limited

Bankruptcy spiral UK greenhouse after client rejections

Pleun van Malkenhorst, Thanet Earth Peppers Ltd / Thanet Growers:

"Growing demand from British retailers for lit cultivation"

Celebrating success at CPMA Week

Sector | Logistics

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ICTSI to invest in new Southern Luzon gateway

Improved connectivity:

Port of Salalah highlights growing East African market potential

Suez Canal projects revenues of $9 billion for fiscal year 2024/25

Maersk speeds up supply chains in Europe with new Cross Dock facility

Market panic triggers sharp rate surge in China

Increasing total capacity to 24,500 pallet positions

Emergent Cold announces expansion of its Palín facility in Guatemala

Maersk establishes itself at SEGRO Park Amsterdam Airport in Hoofddorp

Sector | Machinery

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Introducing Scalibur: Potato slicing with Dual Rotation Technology

A fully automated cherry truss tomato harvesting robot to hit the market

Manufactured by Bulltec for Colt.Or: watch the video!

A fennel grader focused on the utmost efficiency

Italian machinery company celebrated 100 year history of sorting at Macfrut 2024

Worldwide demand for Tong’s latest Unifill big bag and box filler

Cherry packhouses experience efficiency and profitability benefits of new deep learning technology

TR Turoni (Italy)

How to assess the quality of cherries and small fruits

Sector | General fresh produce

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Charles Mwirumbi - Charic Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Exporters

Ugandan exporter sees big interest at Macfrut

Tewodros Zewdie - Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporter’s Association

"Blueberries and avocados are up and coming products for export”

Eight farmworkers lose their lives in Florida bus crash

Value of U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the world was $7.0 billion in 2023

Sunak unveils landmark £2.4B support plan to boost British farming and food security

National Retail Report - specialty crops

Great deals on Mother's Day favorites like strawberries, blueberries, asparagus, and pineapples

USMCA seasonal perishable products weekly update

Avocado demand from California and Mexico is slow

Sector | Management

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Inflation trends in the U.S., impacting the dollar

France fights shrinkflation in supermarkets

Fairtrade launches a global campaign to make farmers’ voices heard

Dollar shows stability against major currencies as market participants await U.S. inflation data

New micropropagation lab to produce up to 24 million plants a year

USDA announces new fee rates for Specialty Crops Inspection Grading, Audit Services

Manish Sirohi appointed as CEO of Decco WW

Sector | Miscellaneous

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NSF and USDA join forces in agricultural robotics research

Zespri faces potential loss due to mouse infestation in kiwifruit shipment

Finley, Washington

Lineage Logistics warehouse fire leads to mass evacuation

Birds threaten crops such as lychee, rambutan, mango, papaya, and corn

Kauai struggles with invasive parakeets

Berry fruit production and water challenges in Mangualde

“Non-negligible probability of long-term establishment in France,” according to ANSES

Reinforced surveillance of Asian fruit fly

Astronauts to study plant growth and development on the Moon

Sector | Fruit

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Stone fruits hit hard as well

Devastating frosts lead to significant blueberry losses in Ukraine

Michigan peach growers face economic strain from warm winter

Mehri Ahmadova - Berry Blue

“70% of our production goes for export as it is quite a new product in Azerbaijan"

Kölla kicks off a promising 2024 cherry season in five European countries

Turkish cherry season anticipated to be much better than the last two years

Peeling away a cause of food loss

Luciano Fiszman with Gourmet Trading Company

“High demand for blueberries is driven by strong supply and great quality”

Sector | Herbs

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Moroccan rosemary supply hit by drought

Peter Mair of Gruppo Mec:

"Italian arugula cultivation becomes more professional and sustainable with each passing year"

Belgian company sees organic as a step toward the future

"We want to be a pioneer in the organic segment"

Fresh organic herb supply expected to start picking up in February

Retailer in North of England finds supplier with fresh range of new herbs

Natalia Moranth, Green Explosion:

“We want to introduce our Colombian fresh fruit to Europe”

Andrew Smith - Butler Market Gardens

“In the Christmas week we sell up to three times more herbs than normal"

Sector | Agenda

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An evolving and expanding trade fair in Azerbaijan

Browse the photo gallery

The enthusiasm of exhibitors confirms Macfrut as an international event

B2B Meetings, Warsaw, Poland, 17-18 September 2024 -

New highlights for companies interested in Polish retail market

IFPA honors front line with Retail Produce Manager Awards

12th annual Post-Harvest Academy hosted in Washington

Trade show to be held in Izmir on 26 to 28 September

"Interfresh Eurasia trade show to become Türkiye’s showcase"

Melbourne Convention Centre, 3-5 June, 2024

Tickets selling fast for Hort Connections 2024

Sector | Citrus

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BiOrangePack Project from AIMPLAS

European project aims to enhance citrus logistics and packaging

California grapefruit trending larger this season

Source BI - Juan Winter & Dirk Odendaal

Steering a data-driven course through choppy waters

Florida Citrus Commission opts not to adjust "box" taxes

Brazil’s first forecast for the 2024–25 citrus season

2023-2024 Florida all orange forecast lowered 1 million boxes to 17.8 million boxes

Patricia Marí Minran, of Citran:

"Except for January and February, when Greece and Turkey are stronger, the grapefruit campaign is very stable"

Sector | Organic

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U.S. organic sales witnessed a market surge in 2023

Organic Produce Summit:

Panel to explore regional differences in organic produce sales

Austria: Traders and producers speak out on the organic market

"The organic selection is still much more limited, comparatively"

Organic produce industry’s access to crop inputs focus of IFPA testimony to USDA

Better outlook for the Senegalese organic mango campaign

US organic imports triple, exports are increasing

Organic share of bananas continues to exceed 30 percent

Sector | Health

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Tianjin University of Science and Technology

Exploring the potential of purple sweet potatoes in gastric ulcer treatment

Cranberry supplements enhance athletic performance in Canada

University of Queensland collaboration

Say goodbye to garlic breath with odour-free black garlic

Increasing fruit and vegetable intake among adults

Looking at vegetable intake and cancer risk reduction

Bananas facilitate quicker recovery after running

US study looks into beneficial gut microbes through whole-food dietary fiber

Sector | IT

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Optiflux introduces OptiPallet and OptiLab

"We wanted to make our storage solution accessible for smaller volumes as well"

Post-harvest digital platform plays vital role in global success of Goede Hoop Citrus

“Traders and retailers can get real-time crop insights”

Can artificial intelligence revolutionize our sector?

Producers can now do fruit counting with a free AI App

“Automated precision farming is key to fruit cultivation’s success”

Potato agronomy forecasts now available in myField App

Sector | Innovations

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Supply chain enhancements roll out

Utrecht University

Utrecht University research

Residual waste from mushroom cultivation removes pollutants from water

University of Illinois study:

Exploring sweet potato quality analysis in the U.S.

Polymer found in corn, potatoes and beans

Smart windows breakthrough in the U.S.

Post-harvest solution granted approval for use in Canada

Denise Junqueiro with Apeel Sciences

“Our technology provides shippers confidence for long haul shipments and to open up new export markets”

How more than 60 million pieces of fruit were stopped going to waste last year

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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Florida citrus juice sales continue to decline

Driscoll's Maroc is building a berry processing plant in Larache

The process of making the famous pomegranate juice in Bangkok

40th year celebration brings new product offerings

Collecting apples for juice and pulp processing

Two new flavors join salad kit line

Second biggest processing factory in Nigeria formally opened

Sector | Cooling

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Michael Panuccio, Freshxpress:

"This isn’t just another cooling machine, it’s a game-changer"

Cold chain 101: Exploring the cold chain, one link at a time

Transportation and redistribution connects supply to demand

To support food security in Lincolnshire

Magnavale Easton development approaches finish line

Launch of new refrigerated ocean transportation service utilizing electric field technology

MSC South Africa Inaugurates MEDLOG Cold Store Facility, revolutionizing trade dynamics in the region

Bangladesh looks to US investment in cold storage to curb losses

Commercial value of reefer exports through Oakland topped $7 billion:

Port of Oakland remains preferred gateway for refrigerated export cargo in 2023

Sector | Food safety

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Zeebrugge, Belgium

Over a million trays of NZ kiwis set for destruction due to mice infestation

Gibson Farms voluntarily recalls Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts

Walnut recall in the U.S. due to E. coli concerns

EU Commission first implementation report:

The relevance of combating Unfair Trading Practices and the need for further EU actions

Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil sold at Trader Joe’s stores

Organic basil: Outbreak investigation of Salmonella

Pesticide levels in imported produce are a concern in the U.S.

Industry input needed for Australian certification standards

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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Pistachios named “Official Snack” of video game festival

USDA forecasts larger almond crop

U.S. market expects April almond shipments to have been strong

Acadian Plant Health looks at Californian cultivation

Almond study shows biostimulants improved water use amid record regional temperatures

Are almond producers set for a fifth season of losses?

Labeling debate over Hawaii's macadamia nuts

Low prices weigh on investments into US almond crops

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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University of Cordoba study:

Avocado pruning residues used to produce more sustainable food packaging

Home compostable produce label launches with cost-effective advantage

Ronald Borst (Paardekooper) on paper flowpacks:

"For businesses aiming to reduce their plastic usage, we offer CartoPaper as a viable alternative"

Nico Treurnicht & Cornel Oosthuizen – Ergopak

South African scale technology finds foothold in European and Moroccan packhouses

Concerns raised over new EU packaging rules

Sysco is driving more eco-friendly products and innovative solutions to reduce plastic and packaging waste

ExxonMobil and Constantia Flexibles develop recyclable freezer film in Poland

Sector | Retail

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Kroger shared how customers can make the most of warm weather meals boasting lots of fruits and veggies

Meijer: Three new supercenters in a single day

Welch’s Fruit Snacks: Gordon Ramsay serves as the first “CFO” - or Chief Fruit Officer

Significant milestone: Publix has donated 100mln pounds of produce

CSN: First time in Canada that employees have unionized at an Amazon warehouse

HelloFresh plans to shut down distribution center in Georgia

Food Lion expands home delivery in Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia

Schnuck Markets announced it is abandoning Eatwell Market

Beyond Meat posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss

Costco: April sales results

Weis Markets: First quarter 2024 results

Instacart's Q1 report beating expectations

Instacart partners with Uber Eats

Carrefour Brasil swings to profit in Q1

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GRAPEFRUIT

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BLUEBERRIES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANGOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ORANGES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW SWEET POTATOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW STRAWBERRIES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LIMES

Sector | Climate

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MedFEL 2024 conference

What diversification is possible in the face of climate change?

New report reveals avocados are getting smashed by climate change

Frosts cause Ukrainian apple harvest to be about 10 to 20 percent lower than usual

Sustainability at core of Italian club apple production strategies

Committing to a climate-smart strategy step by step

Study looks at challenges of climate change on potato production in Canada

Drought emergency declared in Washington

Sector | Cartoons

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Proper corn on the cob etiquette revealed

Euro 2024: no fruit for fans, sausages get pricey

Viral video exposes use of chemicals on cabbage in India

Unusual culinary fusion: Durian stir-fry

Match sweetcorn eating stands at 52 ears in 12 minutes

Crucial nutrients for breastfeeding moms from broccoli

haertwarmion vodei

Cow expresses love to vegetable vendor