Tensions between the EU and Russia were increasing. Russian interference in the political turmoil in Ukraine and the alleged presence of Russian troops in the Crimea, led to the EU imposing sanctions against Russia. In June there was no official reaction from Russia. However, the EU had already announced further sanctions. And although political responses were difficult to predict, it was thoughtthe tensions would also affect the European fruit and vegetable sector. Meanwhile Russia’s phytosanitary watchdog imposed ban on Ukrainian potato
Russia was increasing fruit imports from other counties, strawberries and cherries from Turkey, Romania and Georgia and they had tripled their apple supply from Serbia.
June saw the first ever London Produce Show, at Grosvenor House Hotel. The sparkling event attracted many renowned companies from around the globe.
UK cherry season started a month earlier this year, it was expected to be a bumper crop.
New Zealand announced it has more than doubled its sales from last season to $136m, setting new records in both export and New Zealand markets. The return eclipses the previous sales record of $84.1m set in 2009-10 and is well up on the $60.4m worth of avocados sold last year.
While Chilean exports of Hass avocado had increased by 225%.
An early start to the grape harvest in California had the state's production ahead of what it was at that time in the previous year. Harvesting was to continue through December, and shipments anticipated to continue through February of 2014.
In Spain Citrus prices were down by up to 40% this season. Producers said this campaign was "very bad" due to falling prices and especially the consequences of droughts.
With pressure building from Brussels citrus growers in South Africa were looking at exporting more fruit to African countries, and Argentinian citrus was facing an estimated 50-60% drop in lemon volume
In China freak weather saw giant hailstones destroying the Chinese melon crop
Meanwhile Australia was set to send more citrus to China when Citrus Australia’s CEO Judith Damiani and the president of the Chinese Agricultural Wholesale Market Association (CAWA) Mr Zengjun Ma signed a MOU to cement the already strong trade arrangements between the two countries.
Mexico was also looking east as they negotiated tariff-free agreement to send avocados to China.
Northwest cherry growers gained airlift capacity into China with the launch of a weekly service between Seattle and Shanghai on China Eastern Airlines. The new service serving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport would carry more than 400 metric tons of cherries to China from Northwest shippers.
FOOD freshly North America, Inc. announced its expansion to the Mexican marketplace with AERSA as their distributor.
The first new vegetable in more than a decade was announced. Kalettes, a green and purple offspring of Brussels sprout and kale was due to hit the shops in the autumn.
Coca Cola's version of pomegranate juice was ruled to be not quite the real thing, when the court ruled for Pom Wonderful in its dispute with coke.
Mastronardi Produce received top honours for their newest SUNSET® product Y.E.L.O. Youth Energy Life Om™ at this year's United Fresh in Chicago. The yellow cocktail tomato took home the title for 2014's Best New Vegetable.
Windset Farms won A&W’s Award of Excellence for achieving top performance and service levels.
Nature Fresh Farms received two awards at 'Perfect Pepper' competition.
And lastly Heinz and Ford were exploring the idea of using tomato skins, a by-product in ketchup production, to make cars.