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North America

US: American Airlines expands cargo loyalty scheme
American Airlines Cargo Division has redesigned its Business ExtrAA programme, which now allows nearly all cargo customers to earn travel awards for booking cargo shipments. For every shipment on American Airlines, regardless of the size or booking method, eligible AA Cargo customers earn points that can be..... 0 comments

US: Food safety requires cooperation
Western agriculture quakes in its boots each time a food safety breach shakes sturdy foundations built by proactive, farm-to-fork-based industry efforts.The E. coli outbreak in California-grown spinach in 2006, salmonella in California almonds in 2004, and a suspected salmonella contamination in California..... 0 comments

Mann Packing participates in NYC food event
Mann Packing Company is increasing consumer awareness nationwide for its cleaned and ready to eat fresh vegetables by participating in a food and nutrition showcase for national media outlets.The event, held Feb. 4 in New York City, brought food and nutrition writers from magazines, TV and newspapers..... 0 comments

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US: Citrus marketers squeeze out Floridians
The logo adorning Florida Citrus Commission stationery depicts a fruit tree nestled into the curve of Florida's Gulf Coast. The stylized tree is leaf green, grapefruit yellow and orange orange, and proclaims: "100% Pure Florida."But policies of the Florida Citrus Commission, which guides the Florida..... 0 comments

US (CA): State farm service committee named
The Obama Administration has announced the individuals who will serve on the California Farm Service Agency State Committee.The State Committee members will oversee the activities of the agency, including carrying out the state agricultural conservation programs, resolving appeals from the agriculture..... 0 comments

First french fry contract settled in the US
Columbia Basin growers ratified a 2010 contract with Lamb-Weston last week. The editor of North American Potato Market News, Bruce Huffaker, reported that this was to be the second year of a two-year contract, which was indexed for production costs. The settlement reportedly honored the price terms of the..... 0 comments

Spray often and on a tight schedule.
US: Controlling mildew in organic cherries
Powdery mildew is a tough disease to control for Pacific Northwest cherry growers, but it's even tougher for organic growers who have limited fungicides to use. With so few organic tools available, an integrated approach is needed, says a Washington State crop consultant.Understanding the life cycle of..... 0 comments

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US: Blueberries counteract intestinal diseases
It is already known that blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. New research from the Lund University Faculty of Engineering in Sweden shows that blueberry fibre are important and can alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis. The protective effect is even..... 0 comments

US: Fresh market muscadines finding niche
“A farmers’ market, a roadside stand or a local grocery store are often the choices for a beginning fresh market muscadine grower.”Muscadine grapes sold unprocessed on the fresh market could be the next hot item in the grape industry.At least that is what Ron Cottle of Faison,N.C., thinks. In the past year,..... 0 comments

US (FL): Warning for owners of abandoned citrus groves
The number of citrus groves abandoned in Florida has doubled in just the past two years. Right now, there are 288,000 acres of groves going to waste in Florida. That means some of that fruit, that could have fed needy families, is being wasted.Tons of it will never be picked. To make matters worse, some of..... 0 comments

Owner of Family Farm business may not try to rebuild
US: Snow destroys Soergel Orchard greenhouses
Four greenhouses at Soergel Orchards and Garden Center collapsed and were destroyed under the weight of snow from the winter storm that pounded western Pennsylvania over the weekend.Snow on the ground is still so deep that two of the greenhouses can't be reached at the family-owned business off Brandt..... 0 comments

Sun-Rype Products Ltd. says new collective agreement with its union ratified
Sun-Rype Products Ltd. says a new collective agreement with the Teamsters Union, Local 213, has been ratified.The Kelowna, B.C.-based fruit producer said the five-year agreement, which expires Aug. 31, 2015, includes both wage and benefit improvements."We are extremely pleased to have a long-term deal in..... 0 comments

US: WPVGA presents annual industry awards
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association presented several annual industry awards during its annual banquet last week in Stevens Point.WPVGA Hall of Fame inductees this year were John Landa and Robert Stodola. The award honors lifetime achievement in the development of the state's potato..... 0 comments

US: Marijuana found in avocado shipment
A traffic stop in Weslaco ended with two arrests and the seizure of 2,500 pounds of marijuana hidden in a shipment of avocados.Weslaco police told Action 4 News that an officer stopped an 18-wheeler driving east on U.S. Expressway 83 late Friday afternoon.Investigators said the driver Marciano Noriega..... 0 comments

State strawberry production decreases in 2009
Strawberry production in New York decreased 2 percent from 2008 to 4.40 million pounds, according to Stephen Ropel, U.S. Agriculture Department National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office director.The value of utilized production is estimated at $9.02 million, a 21 percent increase from..... 0 comments

US: Marijuana worth more than $9 million found in warehouse
Illinois State Police discovered more than $9 million worth of marijuana while searching a west suburban warehouse last week and arrested four people for trafficking.The ISP Narcotics Interdiction Unit was investigating possible shipments of drugs to the Chicago area and received information about a..... 0 comments

US (OR): Agriculture sales fall almost 15 percent
A new report shows that Oregon agricultural sales plunged almost 15 percent last year.That's the worst drop since at least 1976.The report by Oregon State University was released on Monday.It shows the state's farmers and ranchers grossed $4.1 billion in 2009, down 14.8 percent from 2008. Gross sales had..... 0 comments

Central America

Morrisons to donate 100% of sale proceeds from helping Haiti single
Morrisons is the first retailer to announce it will be donating 100% of sales proceeds from the Helping Haiti single straight to the Haiti fund. The remake of REM’s Everybody Hurts features 21 top celebrities such as Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. The CD hits Morrisons shelves on Monday 8th February..... 0 comments

South America

Brazilian berry açai is a health food hit
At Chamomille Natural Food Store in Danbury, there's a display selling an assortment of exotic juices -- mangosteen, goji, noni.But the one people want the most -- in juice or in supplement -- is açai, the best-selling berry from Brazil."It's been a big hit,'' said Joe Massaro, a natural health consultant at..... 0 comments

Ecuador: Banana exporter is detained for disrespecting prices
The secretary for transparency affairs, Jose Serrano informed the public of the detention of the banana exporter Dimitri Martinez, legal representative of the company Corpo Bonanza, because of his failure to pay the official price per banana box to producers.Martinez was arrested in the afternoon hours on..... 0 comments

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Oceania

AU: Nut man shells out macadamia advice
Take better care of your nuts.That's the message from a visiting South African farming consultant who visited Queensland macadamia growers last week.Dorran Bungay says Australian growers need to improve handling practices."Expenses have increased, the price of macadamias haven't gone up, so now they've got..... 0 comments

Australia: Heatwave hurts pear numbers
Growers are not the only ones concerned about a lower pear crop this year, as SPC Ardmona struggles to fill its quota for the season.An unusually hot January/February period in 2009 has been blamed for the lower pear production this season.SPC Ardmona acting managing director Steve Perkins said pears were..... 0 comments

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Africa

Zimbabwe: Moza fruit imports suspended
Government has with immediate effect suspended the importation of fruits from Mozambique following detection of fruit flies in that country.Zimbabwe normally buys bananas, mangoes, pawpaws, guavas, pineapples, litchies, tomatoes and strawberries from Mozambique.However, two types of fruit flies -- bactrocera..... 0 comments

World

World: Euro weakens as negative bets hit record highs
Lingering concerns about the fiscal health of weaker nations in the euro zone kept the common currency near an eight-month low against the dollar Monday.Pressure on the common currency showed no signs of letting up after data indicated that bets against the euro in the futures markets reached record highs. A..... 0 comments

Europe

Edwin van Leeuwen: "Ready to conquer European market"
Valstar introduce: Discovered sweet potatoes during Fruit Logistica
During theFruit Logistica Valstar Holland introduced 'Discovered sweet potato' for the European market. "We not only sell sweet potatoes, but also the packing. At the moment sweet potatoes are loose on the shelf and hardly anybody knows what to do with them" Edwin van Leeuwen of Valstar Holland says and he..... 0 comments

Seedless aubergine from France
Gautier Seeds, France, is bringing to market the seedless aubergine Shakira. Other new developments presented at FRUIT LOGISTICA included tasty Minilou and Delicassi cherry tomatoes, early-ripening Arisona and Soraya melons, and the delicious mini lettuces Ticcos and Rivale. Gautier Seeds cultivates..... 0 comments

UK: NYK Logistics wins Dobbies deal
NYK Logistics has signed a distribution contract with Dobbies Garden Centres to handle the end-to-end supply chain from the Far East to UK stores.Under the deal, NYK will ship garden furniture and plants from Asia into Grangemouth container port, destuff and warehouse the goods, and then distribute them to..... 0 comments

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The potato taste concept Pommonde rewarded second place in the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award
Last Friday the Pommonde taste concept was rewarded second place at the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award in Berlin. The Fruit Logistica is the leading international meeting place of the fresh produce trade. Last week more than 2,000 companies from across the entire fresh produce value chain showed their..... 0 comments

Russia: Magnit to open giant logistics centre
The Magnit grocery chain plans to open a new giant logistics centre in the Russian region of Tambov, investing 500m roubles (E12m) on the same. The centre will cover an area of 265,000 sq m, and is scheduled to officially open in the fourth quarter of 2010.Reports said that the centre will help Magnit to..... 0 comments

Two projects to sustain the fight against child obesity presented during the 2010 edition of the Fruit Logistica trade fair in Berlin
From Mr Fruitness to the School Fruit Scheme, europe boosts child fruit comsumption
Fruit consumption among young people, particularly in schools, is set to receive a boost with the return of a superhero and the far-reaching project financed by the European Union to the tune of 90 million euros. The news was announced on 4 February 2010 at the Fruit Logistica trade show in Berlin, during..... 0 comments

Poland: Iceberg lettuce - prices strongly increased
Last days prices of imported Iceberg lettuce increased considerably. Last week the price of this lettuce imported from Spain was 2.40 PLN (0.59 €)/pcs., while on Monday, February 8 its price increased to 5 PLN (1.22 €)/pcs.Such big price increase was a surprise even for traders. It is probably a result from..... 0 comments

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Investigation into fire could take weeks
Belgium: Serious fire at Mechlese Veilingen storehouse
Three hectares of storehouses at Mechelse Veilingen in Belgium went up in flames on Tuesday night. No one was injured, but the damage could total 16 million Euros. The Fire Service managed to save 9,000 m². The devastation at the site is enormous The fire broke out around 11 O'clock on Tuesday evening...... 0 comments

'Super spinach' that boosts immunity set to go on sale in UK
A new 'super' spinach, specially developed to be a rich source of selenium, which can bolster the body's defence system, is set to hit UK market today.The green leafy vegetable is enriched with 10 times the amount of selenium found in standard spinach, which prevent damage to cells and tissues."It's perfect..... 0 comments

UK: Birds Eye launches £5m Field Fresh ad campaign
Birds Eye is launching a £5.5m advertising campaign, starring Lisa Tarbuck, to promote its recently launched Field Fresh range of vegetables.Created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, the campaign includes a TV ad starring Tarbuck which launches today (8 February) and will run for 15 weeks.Media planning and..... 0 comments

Holland company develops machine that turns abundant crops into ethanol for farmers
Entrepreneurs at eFarms LLC believe they have an answer for farmers with crop overproduction, high fuel costs and the need for quality animal feed.The company is developing a "Renewable Fuel System," which will take crop products including corn, apples, cherries and other fruits and vegetables and turn them..... 0 comments

The International Food Forum will highlight the main attributes of brands
Alimentaria 2010 extols the value of brands
Synovate has prepared the study 'What does the consumer expect from a brand these days? The role of the manufacturer as brand manager’, which will be presented on 23 March at the showPraxis will be handled by Instituto Internacional San Telmo, which will reveal the strategies of leading firms in the food and..... 0 comments

Management changes Manor Fresh Limited and Thanet Earth
We are pleased to be able to announce today top level management changes within two of our joint venture companies. The first relates to Manor Fresh Ltd.This is the potato and vegetable specialist business in Lincolnshire established as a joint venture between Fresca and Bakkavor/QV.Ian Craig joined Fresca..... 0 comments

Asia

First certification body for GAPChina
WIT-Assessment is the fi rst Chinese certifi cation body, that has successfullycompleted the GLOBALG.A.P approval procedure for certification bodies. The company can now issue certifi cates for the ChinaGAPstandard. ChinaGAP has two levels, fi rst an entry level to encourageearly adoption of Good..... 0 comments

Japan: NYK Included in the Global 100 for Fourth Consecutive Year
For the fourth consecutive year, NYK has been selected as one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World .The 2010 Global 100 was announced on January 27, 2010, at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Of the 3,000 candidate corporations from 23 countries around..... 0 comments

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Taiwan's bell fruit makes inroads into Europe
Brand name bell fruit produced in southern Taiwan's Nanchou Township will be exported to Germany and France late this month for the first time, industry sources said Monday.The fruit, also known as wax apples, is being grown by graduates of a fruit plantation and marketing class sponsored by the Nanchou..... 0 comments

Vietnam builds international brand for cashew products
Vietnam plans to build up international brands for cashew products to match the stature of the largest cashew nut exporter in the world, said Binh Phuoc Province Chairman Bui Van Thach.“To reach the target, the country has to build brands for processing mills, producers and exporters following international..... 0 comments

Pakistan: SPS system and fruit export: GQTL to help Pakistani traders’ access to international market
Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal on Monday said establishment of Grain Quality Testing Laboratory (GQTL) at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) would help ensure access of international market to Pakistani traders.He was speaking to scientists at NARC at the inauguration of..... 0 comments

India: Assam's tribal women to take-up mushroom cultivation
In Assam's Sonapur town tribal women have taken to mushroom cultivation to become self-reliant and improve their lot.A few months ago, Anjali from Sonapur town in Kamrup district did not have work.Her family faced a financial crisis.Today, she earns enough to meet her needs from mushroom cultivation.Mushroom..... 0 comments

Retail

• Stable trading at Aldi Germany
• Russia - 200 supermarkets for Siberia
• UK Retail sales growth worst in 15 years in January, says BRC
• Morrisons to donate 100% of sale proceeds from helping Haiti single
• Netherlands: Ahold's Giant-Carlisle Division completes acquisition of Ukrop's stores
• Australia: New brand for fast-growing retail services group

Economy

• Australian dollar near 4-month low on European debt concern
• World: Euro weakens as negative bets hit record highs
• South Australia hit the hardest as exports plunge 21pc
• Spain announces 2010 debt plan
• UK: Sterling hits 8 1 / 2 - month low
• Japan: Yen weakens on speculation importers selling after recent gain
• Yuan forwards rise as China may allow gains to curb inflation

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