FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker).

As we provide the news for free, we are relying on revenues from our banners. So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.
Thanks!

Click here for a guide on disabling your adblocker.

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

Shifting from commodity to value-added

Organic and specialty potato categories continue to grow

A look at import citrus this spring and summer

B Corp certification in Fairtrade banana category

Gambles Group expands in Western Canada and appoints new Director of Sales

Sun World International -

Table grape breeder acts against Chinese infringement on TikTok

Marking Earth Day with a progress report on regenerative growing

California acts to halt Kings County’s groundwater overpumping

Post-harvest solution granted approval for use in Canada

Bloom Fresh appoints new chief marketing officer

CPMA responds to Federal Budget 2024

Sector | Vegetables

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Junior farmers get involved in harvesting 'Snackables'

Recent stormy weather had little effect on South Africa’s baby veg exports

Why tomatoes are considered vegetables in the US

Lively demand for green asparagus from Emilia-Romagna

Minnesota carrot program expands

SanLucar and Galbani:

Spanish and Italian companies brings mozzarella cheese and tomatoes to German plates

Is ToBRFV weakening in Morocco?

Sector | Bananas

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

New banana variety resistant to the Fusarium fungus arrives in Ecuador

Banana brand makes debut at Milan Design Week

Organic banana yields should increase again soon

Colombian banana industry aiming for 5% volume growth in 2024

US Department of Labor awards grant to enhance compliance with international labor standards in Ecuador’s banana sector

Cocaine found at Port of Beirut in banana shipment from Ecuador

Latam banana producers unhappy with German retailer's low price promotion

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

On April 1, 2024

Northwest Region potato stocks totaled 98.5 million hundredweight

Holland Onions exports turnover up 49%, shatters 1 billion euros level in 2023

Rufus Pilgrim - R.S. Cockerill

"We will predominantly grow seed for our crisping and fresh customers"

Some harvesting of California onions to begin this week

Egypt will be exporting potatoes to Morocco and strawberries to Canada

Congresswoman Pingree leads bipartisan opposition to USDA reclassification of potatoes

Senators want Biden's help to open Japanese market to the U.S. potato industry

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

"The demand for Vietnamese coconuts Is experiencing significant growth”

Canadian farmers received $22.9 million for their garlic in 2023

Pedram Panjideh from H. Ehmann Fruchthandels Ltd, at the Hamburg Wholesale Market:

"Everyone is currently looking for airfreighted mangoes"

Specialty pineapples making progress in demand

KiwiBrothers make their debut in China

"The Dutch market tends to prefer Moroccan avocados"

Clamshell presentation aims to make lychee consumption more mainstream

Sector | Company news

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

T&G appoints new Director

Greenyard acquires dairy-free ice production facility

New Citri&Co sales rumors

New COO at NatureSweet

Southern Roots’ outreach initiative sees overwhelming response

Staff changes at Markon

Allan Dodge with Pro Citrus Network

“Relationships are the biggest driver of our success”

Sector | Greenhouse

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

"60 hectares of hydroponic greenhouses by 2028"

New sweet peppers meet growing demand for fresh snack options

Aralux plastic film by Agriplast (Italy):

By controlling heat energy better agronomic results can be acheived

New Texas greenhouse in the spotlight at VIVA Fresh

Greenhouse grown Romaine lettuce back in stores this spring

Hiiros Tomatoes earn Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Best Snack Award

Prior to launching, demand for purple tomato already exceeds supply

Sector | Logistics

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Spot rates experience a steady decline over recent months

Iran's capture of the MSC Aries escalates tensions Middle East

'Potential for heightened war risk premiums and volatility in freight rates'

Panama Canal Authority to increase daily transits to 32

Multimodal Dry Canal project

Panama turns to a 'dry canal' amidst maritime challenges

World Container Index - 11 Apr

Drewry’s World Container Index decreased by 1% this week

Bringing new employment opportunities to Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Lineage announces latest automated warehouse

Economist predicts decline of large container vessels in future trade landscape

Sector | Machinery

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Video of the Calderoni inter-row tiller below

Interesting market trend also in North Africa

Autonomous robot harvester makes the cut with asparagus

Tomra food inaugurates new center in Valencia

FrostBoss launch new laydown fan tower:

The elegant solution to frost protection

Solar irrigation offering to be rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa

Ray Rotar - Intralox:

Conveyor solutions supporting fruit and vegetable handling and processing applications

TechNature's optica sorters are gaining ground in onions and seed potatoes

"Side-camera technology picks up far more product defects"

Sector | General fresh produce

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

CPMA joins Parliamentarians’ visit to Washington

Engaging market players from Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Tajikistan

The most profitable crop in 2024/25 – survey’s results

Efforts to stabilize prices for local agricultural produce in Qatar

U.S. retailers shifted to specials on springtime favorites like strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, lemons, and cantaloupes

USMCA seasonal perishable products weekly update:

'U.S. vegetable production dropped over 3% from 2017-2022'

HortNZ calls for urgent changes to RMA to protect New Zealand fruit and vegetable production

Second-anniversary gala raises over $450,000 to aid under-resourced communities

Sector | Management

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Major challenges in the future require water knowledge

Highlighting the potential of the Brazilian fruit sector

Fruit Attraction São Paulo has had a successful start

Mexfly quarantines established in Texas

Mercosur meeting concludes with new initiatives in Paraguay

Rep. Dan Newhouse focuses on Washington state agri workforce dilemma

PAYR, the Finnish Potato Sector Association, joins Europatat

AJ Griesel appointed as Managing Director for InteliGro Crop Solutions

Sector | Miscellaneous

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

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

CBP officers seize millions worth of methamphetamine at Otay Mesa cargo in the US

World Trade Bridge

CBP officers find over $8.4 million in methamphetamine in shipment of celery, broccoli, and cauliflower

Does Ramadan reduce productivity in packing houses?

Building a natural bee habitat to support bee populations

Sector | Fruit

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Egyptian watermelon season kicking off:

"We have tripled our greenhouse acreage"

Chilean stone fruit exports are expected to grow by 15%

"The market demand for disposable USB temperature and humidity loggers will further increase"

State grants awarded for cranberry bog renovation in Massachusetts

Strawberry season starts early in Arkansas

DG agri dashboard: apples

France saw highest February monthly average apple prices at €1.36 per kg

Longest and largest cherry season in the Pacific Northwest anticipated

"Ancient varieties in melons have experienced a new enthusiasm from consumers"

Sector | Herbs

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

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"

Fresh herb industry braces for Christmas as busiest week of the year while tackling challenges

Sector | Agenda

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

May 28, 29 and 30

The Citrus Forum will feature over 50 international citrus cultivation experts

IFPA opens registration for the 2024 Global Produce and Floral Show

Unido Itpo Italy

Iraqi buyers and operators will also be in attendance at the fair

Fruit attraction in São Paulo to showcase Brazil's agricultural prowess

Buyers and suppliers connect in intimate setting at IFPA Retail Conference

April 29 - May 1, 2024

Guest list announced for Consumer Connection Conference

Looking back at summit on US-Mexico and Canada trade relations

Sector | Citrus

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Opinions divided on oak leaf extracts combating citrus greening in the US

The European Commission is open to requiring cold treatment for all imported citrus fruits

Justin Chadwick, CGA:

“South Africa’s WTO call to consultation on CBS not aggressive to EU, but to clear up technical issue”

Support for citrus cultivation in California

The nightmare continues in ECJ Nadorcott decision (2019)

Worldwide challenges for lemon exporters

South Africa initiates WTO dispute against EU citrus blackspot regulations

Sector | Organic

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

US organic imports triple, exports are increasing

Organic share of bananas continues to exceed 30 percent

Mexican organic orchards offer better psyllid control

New "Inverted Natural Branding" of organic fruit and vegetables

Dole Organic Fair Trade Certified Pineapples selected as a Good Housekeeping's 2024 Sustainable Innovation Awards Winner

'Good prospects for U.S. organic product exports to the EU remain'

Pieter Declercq, organics product manager, REO Veiling:

"Organic vegetables' better-matched supply improves market prices"

Sector | Health

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

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

Harvard study links fruit and vegetable intake to longevity in the US

New research claims: Eating almonds can aid in post-exercise recovery

Avocado consumption linked to improved health in Australian survey

Is there a correlation between avocado consumption and heart health?

Sector | IT

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Webinar helps ag industry protect itself from cyber threats

Through the digitalization of berth alignment

Ocean Network Express and Portchain ink deal to drive sustainability across the carrier’s network

© Nicoelnino | Dreamstime.com

Ransomware attacks on Ag companies:

"Attacks on the sector made up 5.5% of all ransomware operations globally"

Orchard Robotics receives $3.8 mln to build robots and AI to power precision crop management

Orchard Robotics creates data-driven module for existing farm machinery

Harry Tinson - Harvest Eye:

"The possibilities to adapt the technology for other crops is almost endless"

Tech is bridging the gap between farms and politics in Spain

Sector | Innovations

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

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

Conserving two Olympic-sized swimming pools of water annually

Verdant Technologies and Sobeys partner on iceless broccoli

Using multispectral cameras to determine oranges' suitability for various products

Avocado ripeness checker debated by Australians

AgrigateOne invites industry to test-drive its market intelligence beta product

Pierneef Smit – Berda Fruit South Africa:

Electric fourwheeler: “The most cost-effective agri vehicle available in South Africa”

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Two new flavors join salad kit line

Second biggest processing factory in Nigeria formally opened

Pomegranate fiber added to specialty ingredients lineup

McDonald’s french fry perfume is real

6.7% increase from the end of 2022

Brazilian orange juice stock levels see a rise

New Florida fresh-cut facility showcased during Southern Exposure

Customer shows Birds Eye veggie mix has very little broccoli

Sector | Cooling

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

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

Maersk’s new integrated cold chain facility at Ruakura Superhub brings the Golden Triangle to life

Sector | Food safety

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Industry input needed for Australian certification standards

Enoki Mushrooms recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination

K-Fresh brand Enoki Mushroom recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

FTI urges Thailand to scrutinize fruit and vegetable imports

Jammu and Kashmir administration addresses concerns over artificially ripened fruits ahead of Ramadan

US study says refrigeration reduces E. coli contamination in leafy greens

Westfalia Fruit trials technology targeting food safety and sustainability

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Leading pecan companies announce collaboration to elevate the pecan to new heights

The Chilean prune industry must continue to focus on China, without neglecting traditional markets

U.S. almond exports to Canada came to 2.57 tons in March 2024

Increased almond export opportunities in the UK from April 11

Asia and Europe are key markets for California pistachios and almonds

Brazilian nut exporters hope to regain lost market in Europe and US

US almond orchards: Promising progress in disease management ahead of summer

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

White paper outlines new technology solution in PE cling film

IFCO expands its footprint in Mesquite, Florida

IFPA A-NZ calls for national approach to fruit sticker ban

Spanish supermarket uses Finnish technology to reduce packaging waste

Presenting premium tomatoes like sweets in a cardboard tray

Why EU packaging rules could spell disaster for health and sustainability

Comparing the savings of pooled reusables vs. single-use crates

Sector | Retail

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Acquisition of 204 Stripes stores completed by 7-Eleven

Gopuff and Misfits Market partnership will deliver more than 300 items, including fresh fruit and vegetables

Grabango has launched ALDIgo checkout-free shopping

Wegmans has announced plans to open first Charlotte, North Carolina store

Abras: Brazilian supermarkets broke the barrier of R$1trn in revenue

SpartanNash has acquired Metcalfe’s Market

Hannaford Supermarkets: New stores in Fort Kent and Madawaska, Maine

Walmart Canada has cut the ribbon on its “Store of the Future”

Giant Eagle: New headquarters in Pennsylvania

Kroger is kicking-off Cinco de Mayo with a four-week Latin flavors event

Phoenix Wholesale Foodservice acquired by What Chefs Want

Maison Solutions has agreed to buy Arizona-based three-store supermarket company

3 supercenters for Meijer

FMI welcomes updates to WIC food package increasing fruit and vegetable benefits

Sector | Global Market

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW SWEET POTATOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW STRAWBERRIES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LIMES

Global market overview peppers

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GINGER

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW CUCUMBERS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANDARINS

Sector | Climate

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Unprecedented floods in the United Arab Emirates destroy greenhouses

Berry grower focuses on reducing carbon footprint

Dutch importers climate targets approved by science based targets initiative

First public consultation -

Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for fresh produce is now open

Water reserves in Spain stand at 57.8%

Impact of La Niña on Chilean agriculture: challenges and expectations

In a month, Sinaloa’s water supply will be reduced

Sector | Cartoons

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Pineapple Passion

Man made a flute out of a carrot and it works perfectly

Why are vegetarian meals on planes so bad?

Local identity fuels fashion: Uttaradit's Durian-themed apparel attracts tourists

Students innovate with eco-friendly inks from fruit and vegetable leftovers

Banana outrage: the new focus of Delta Airlines lounge controversy

Cost-benefit analysis of banana peels and sweet potato vines in rabbit diets