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Monday, June 26, 2017

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Test location allows for 24/7 pickup from online orders

Walmart testing large kiosks to house fresh produce

Will customers enjoy picking their produce from their devices? Walmart aims to find out. The big box store is testing 24 Hour Online Grocery Pickup. It’s self-service pickup ‘kiosk’ which is about 20’ x 80’, located in the outer parking lot of its Warr Acres, Oklahoma location.Quick fulfillmentCustomers make.....

Job Offers:

Crop Production Services, Outside Technical Sales Position, Horticulture - Canada

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Overview of product innovations United Fresh trade show

PHOTO REPORTFreshPlaza put together a photo report of the finalists of the United Fresh 2017 Innovation Awards in the fruit, vegetable and packaging categories. Innovations within the fruit category were limited compared to the number of new products in the vegetable space.Vegetable noodles and produce kitsThere were many.....

Goldenberries imported to US marketed differently than in Europe

Goldenberries from Colombia have been popular over in Europe for many years. They were accepted as imports into the US 15 years ago but the fruit had to be treated for 14 days at two degrees Celsius. However, the cold treatment created quality issues and impacted the flow of steady supply for the market. Once.....

US mushroom consumption and sales are very regional

As the weather warms up, domestic mushroom supply is starting to cool down.“Supply of mushrooms is always a little better in the springtime,” says Michael Basciani of Basciani Foods Inc. in Avondale, Pa. “But as it gets hotter, the supply will tighten up and that’s what we’re starting to see right now. It will.....

California

Automatic lettuce thinners reduce labour costs

Over the past few years, Californian agriculture has been affected by the lack of labour, so much so that finding new solutions for thinning, weeding, irrigation and harvesting operations became imperative for lettuce producers in the Salinas Valley. Thinning is an especially demanding operation, as it is.....

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Southeast US peach crop devestated by low chill hours

People shopping for summer fruits may notice peaches are selling for higher prices in certain states this season. Farmers are blaming a strange winter with low chill hours which have taken a huge toll on peach crops in the Southeast.Alabama was one of the states hit the hardest. Cooperative Extension System.....

Scottish scientists identify gene to create more heat tolerant potatoes

Potatoes are the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat. More than a billion people worldwide eat potatoes, and global crop production exceeds 300m tonnes each year.Despite this, the crop is particularly vulnerable to increased temperature, which is considered to be the most important.....

Mexico: Avocado exports to close at $ 1.8 billion

Mexican avocado is a product with a high demand and exports are expected to amount to $1.7 to 1.8 billion dollars by the end of the agricultural year, said Benjamin Grayeb, vice president of the National Agriculture and Livestock Council (CNA).In an interview, Grayeb said avocado exports were far from.....

Mexico: Valencia orange volumes increase thanks to phytosanitary improvements

In recent years there's been a widespread implementation of the controls and improvements in citrus plantations in the north of the country. As a result, there has been a greater volume of production which is finally rewarding producers, such as the Citrimon company, among others. "This has contributed to the.....

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Endless demand for frozen edamame in the West

Popular in the Asian market for as long as anyone can remember, edamame has become one of the 'rising stars' on the vegetable market in the West as well, especially for frozen. The popularity of sushi has brought it to the Western tables, but the health benefits has made the soybean a firm favourite in the.....

Latest photo reports

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United Fresh 2017 Innovations

United Fresh 2017 Innovations

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Banana Congress Sydney 2017

Banana Congress Sydney 2017

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United Fresh 2017

United Fresh 2017

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London Produce Show 2017

London Produce Show 2017

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Visit to Southern Belle Orchard 2017

Visit to Southern Belle Orchard 2017

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GLOBAL FOCUS

Soft/Stonefruit

Opportunities for retailers to extend the season

Late cherry season puts British Columbia in unique position

The last cherry region in North America to come into production is British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and the cherry crop in this area is coming along well. “We had fairly warm weather during blossom, which made for a good crop set,” says Julie McLachlan with Jealous Fruits. Harvest of the early varieties such.....

Rise in demand for stonefruit, but prices are low

Spain: "We will make the first fruit shipment to China in September, with less competition"

The stonefruit campaign started a few weeks ago in the production area of Fraga, in Huesca, where they have been harvesting and marketing cherries since April."The season kicked off between 8 and 10 days early, and we have had to compete against the same varieties from other producing areas, which has.....

July 18, Faversham

Latest trial results showcased at Fruit Science Live UK

Fruit growers are invited to an exclusive tour of the latest FAST trials, covering top, soft and stone fruit, this July at the FAST headquarters in Faversham, Kent.Co-hosted by FAST and ICL, Fruit Science Live takes place on 18 July 2017 – the eve of Fruit Focus, and is an event for all fruit growers wanting.....

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Click here for more information about our global focus

North Americamore »

Test location allows for 24/7 pickup from online orders

Walmart testing large kiosks to house fresh produce

Will customers enjoy picking their produce from their devices? Walmart aims to find out. The big box store is testing 24 Hour Online Grocery Pickup. It’s self-service pickup ‘kiosk’ which is about 20’ x 80’, located in the outer parking lot of its Warr Acres, Oklahoma location.Quick fulfillmentCustomers make.....

Overview of product innovations United Fresh trade show

PHOTO REPORTFreshPlaza put together a photo report of the finalists of the United Fresh 2017 Innovation Awards in the fruit, vegetable and packaging categories. Innovations within the fruit category were limited compared to the number of new products in the vegetable space.Vegetable noodles and produce kitsThere were many.....

California

Automatic lettuce thinners reduce labour costs

Over the past few years, Californian agriculture has been affected by the lack of labour, so much so that finding new solutions for thinning, weeding, irrigation and harvesting operations became imperative for lettuce producers in the Salinas Valley. Thinning is an especially demanding operation, as it is.....

Click here to receive this news directly in your inbox

US mushroom consumption and sales are very regional

As the weather warms up, domestic mushroom supply is starting to cool down.“Supply of mushrooms is always a little better in the springtime,” says Michael Basciani of Basciani Foods Inc. in Avondale, Pa. “But as it gets hotter, the supply will tighten up and that’s what we’re starting to see right now. It will.....

Goldenberries imported to US marketed differently than in Europe

Goldenberries from Colombia have been popular over in Europe for many years. They were accepted as imports into the US 15 years ago but the fruit had to be treated for 14 days at two degrees Celsius. However, the cold treatment created quality issues and impacted the flow of steady supply for the market. Once.....

Southeast US peach crop devestated by low chill hours

People shopping for summer fruits may notice peaches are selling for higher prices in certain states this season. Farmers are blaming a strange winter with low chill hours which have taken a huge toll on peach crops in the Southeast.Alabama was one of the states hit the hardest. Cooperative Extension System.....

Scottish scientists identify gene to create more heat tolerant potatoes

Potatoes are the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat. More than a billion people worldwide eat potatoes, and global crop production exceeds 300m tonnes each year.Despite this, the crop is particularly vulnerable to increased temperature, which is considered to be the most important.....

Click here to receive this news directly in your inbox

June Washington orchard update

Dave Gleason, Chief Horticulturist, reports from high elevation orchards in the upper Yakima Valley. Cherry season started a few weeks prior, and the fruit is looking great: sweet, juicy, firm and delicious.Gleason explains that the diverse growing areas of Washington State help to extend the harvest. Low.....

Produce Pay launches Marketplace featuring Blue Book scores

Produce Pay, a financing solution for growers and distributors of fresh produce, is pleased to announce the launch of the Produce Pay Marketplace. Buyers and sellers, for the first time, can now complete real-time trades of perishable agricultural products through an online marketplace. “We listened to our.....

New York horticulture student named Empire State Potato Growers Scholar

Karen Luong of Rushville, NY, has been named the 2017 Empire State Potato Growers Scholarship winner and will receive a $500 scholarship per academic year for up to four consecutive years of agricultural education at a college in New York State. She will be recognized at the Ag Leadership Luncheon at Empire.....

Sakata celebrates 40th anniversary with Founder's Day Luncheon

June 21st marks the exact date of Sakata Seed America’s 40th Anniversary and the opening of its doors in a little office in downtown San Francisco in 1977. Since, Sakata has grown exponentially. To recognize this achievement, a Japanese-inspired ‘Founder’s Day’ luncheon was held at the Morgan Hill headquarters.....

Latin Americamore »

Mexican dates gain importance in the European market

Mexican producers of dates focused their attention on the Canadian, North American, and Australian markets. They were not keen on sending their product to Europe due to the large production volumes in the Mediterranean and, above all, the Arab countries. "They considered that Europe was an area in which they.....

Mexico: Valencia orange volumes increase thanks to phytosanitary improvements

In recent years there's been a widespread implementation of the controls and improvements in citrus plantations in the north of the country. As a result, there has been a greater volume of production which is finally rewarding producers, such as the Citrimon company, among others. "This has contributed to the.....

Markets open in Europe

Mexico: Morelos avocado is recognized internationally

The president of Avocados of Morelos, Jesus Arenas Cano, said that they expected to export at least 10 thousand tons of avocado to Europe, the Middle East, Canada, and Japan this year.He also said that Morelos produced about 35 thousand tons of avocado each year.They began working to export avocados three.....

Costa Rica reduces agrochemicals use

Costa Rica managed to reduce the number of agrochemicals used per area in agricultural activities, from 10.7 kilos of active ingredient per hectare in 2015 to 9.6 kilos per hectare in 2016, according to a report released by the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE).The entity noted that the decrease is even.....

Banana export service prices to be reviewed at Puerto Bolivar in Ecuador

The fare of 28 port services for banana exports at Puerto Bolivar in Ecuador will be reviewed, according to Hugo Rodas, the new undersecretary of Maritime and River Transport.Rodas asked the Port Authority of Puerto Bolivar to review the new tariff that was applied by the concessionaire Yilportecu S. A. The.....

Mexico: Avocado exports to close at $ 1.8 billion

Mexican avocado is a product with a high demand and exports are expected to amount to $1.7 to 1.8 billion dollars by the end of the agricultural year, said Benjamin Grayeb, vice president of the National Agriculture and Livestock Council (CNA).In an interview, Grayeb said avocado exports were far from.....

Asiamore »

China: Price is determined by fruit quality

"We purchase all kinds of fruits from excellent domestic and international production sites. We have our own brands, such as 23 degrees north Hami melons, and Jiu Tai durian, and products under the brands of their own suppliers. We mainly use traditional sales channels to sell our products to distribution.....

Vietnam: Less rambutan production due to bad weather

The volume of Vietnamese rambutan in the international market will be affected in the coming months due to the bad weather conditions there have been in the production areas. The high salinity of the soil has affected the volume of fruit in the trees. As a result, the price of the Java and Thai varieties are.....

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China: Red grapes from Yunnan enter the market at high prices

The harvest season of Red Globe grapes from Yunnan Province started at the beginning of June, two weeks earlier than normal. The supply will last till the middle or end of August and the supply of Red Globes from Xinjiang Province will follow shortly. Affected by the climate, the yields of the Red Globes in.....

Africamore »

Higher volumes vital to create critical mass for macadamias' growth as tree nut segment

South Africa: Record prices for macadamias as demand exceeds supply

The macadamia market is very strong – so strong, in fact, that some exporters are referring to record prices received for in-shell nuts on the Chinese market, with kernel prices following the lead, and a shortage of nuts worldwide.Volume can’t meet growing demand, as yield is still affected due to the drought,.....

SPECIAL

Greece

Greek peaches experiencing difficulties spreading across Europe

The peach industry is not doing very well. Some say it is in crisis. But Greek suppliers are resilient and hopeful that the industry will be favorable to them.ASEPOP NaoussaAccording to Vasilios Bougas of ASEPOP Naoussa, “The oversupply of peaches in the market has caused very low prices of the fruit across.....

Tsakiris Iraklis & Co. - Central Market of Thessaloniki

Lack of Greek export leads to lower domestic prices

The Greek wholesale market for stonefruit is currently suffering from a lack of produce of sufficient quality for export. As this produce remains on the domestic market, the supply on the Greek market becomes larger than usual, causing lower prices and diminished profit margins. “The volume of fruits and.....

Zafirakis Fruit

Change in mentality for organic produce in Greece

Greek growers have undergone a change in mentality. They’ve implemented organic methods in their production and work on obtaining GlobalGAP certification, according to Nasos Zafirakis of the Greek export company Zafirakis Fruit. “Supermarket chains are increasing their focus on GlobalGAP certified organic.....

More news in this special >>

Click here for more information about our specials

Europemore »

Maersk sharing data with its customers

“Customers help optimise business operations”

The data collected by Maersk Line with the Remote Container Management System (RCM) also serves to make the firm more transparent to its customers. The shipping company has been working for a long time to set up the system and use the data. "It's a unique project that gives our customers full transparency and.....

Summer leek season starts at Van den Elzen Vegetable Processing

"Cutting in water extends leeks' shelf life"

After the necessary tests were done last season, Van den Elzen Vegetable Processors have this year, started cutting all their leeks in water. "The results in the preservation of leeks is encouraging. There is less spoilage on the cut surfaces. If supermarkets can keep their leeks in the shop for a day longer.....

Mist by Contronics can now be used throughout the fruit and vegetable supply chain

Significant savings possible due to mist blanket

The fruit and vegetable sector can save on quality and storage by keeping the air humidity around fruit and vegetables high. This saves both money and the quality of the products. These are the two main conclusions in the recently published Fresh Demo Project. In it ten fruits or vegetables were followed after.....

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Time to bin your curling pins

Curl your hair using cucumbers

Do you know that feeling: you want to go to a party, you’re all dressed up, make-up’s on, the only thing left to do is curling your hair and you’re ready to go… but you’ve lost your curling tongs. It could happen to the best of us, but Sonja Bakker has a golden tip, so that you can still go to the party with.....

BayWa opens new office in Milton Keynes, UK

BayWa has opened new offices in Milton Keynes as part of ongoing investment plans in the UK.The move follows the acquisition of Green Hedge Operational Services in December 2016, and complements investment in recruitment, internal systems and software, the company said.The Milton Keynes office will be the main.....

Greek peaches experiencing difficulties spreading across Europe

The peach industry is not doing very well. Some say it is in crisis. But Greek suppliers are resilient and hopeful that the industry will be favorable to them.ASEPOP NaoussaAccording to Vasilios Bougas of ASEPOP Naoussa, “The oversupply of peaches in the market has caused very low prices of the fruit across.....

Oceaniamore »

AU: International advice on containing Panama disease in Australia

One of the world's leading tropical plant experts has stressed the importance of ongoing research into Panama disease, at the biennial Australian Banana Industry Congress in Sydney.Professor Randy Ploetz initially worked on race 1 involving Gros Michel bananas, and first discovered the tropical race 4 (TR4) in.....

NZ kiwi growers take government to court over psa losses

Psa cost Craig Jeffries his orchard, and it almost cost him his home. Six years after the disease was discovered on the orchard he'd proudly bought from his father, Jeffries still gets emotional talking about it.The 16ha orchard near Te Puke used to produce 209,000 trays a year of the green, Hayward variety of.....

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AU trial looks to boost chill hours in cherries, apples and almonds

Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford announced a $49,000 grant in Parliament today that will allow InSense to trial calcium carbonate spray at leaf fall to increase winter chill accumulation in cherries, apples and almonds.Climate change is a serious concern to deciduous fruit and nut crops in Australia as.....

Worldmore »

Endless demand for frozen edamame in the West

Popular in the Asian market for as long as anyone can remember, edamame has become one of the 'rising stars' on the vegetable market in the West as well, especially for frozen. The popularity of sushi has brought it to the Western tables, but the health benefits has made the soybean a firm favourite in the.....

European Commission and Chile agree on free trade of organic products

The European Commission has reached an agreement with the Chilean government for the free trade of products processed or cultivated under organic standards. The signing of this agreement confirms the good development of the negotiations that started in 2014, when the European Council authorised the Community.....

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Opportunities for retailers to extend the season

Late cherry season puts British Columbia in unique position

The last cherry region in North America to come into production is British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and the cherry crop in this area is coming along well. “We had fairly warm weather during blossom, which made for a good crop set,” says Julie McLachlan with Jealous Fruits. Harvest of the early varieties such.....

Retail

Aldi US invests $40m in PA | Costco opens first store in France

Walmart not considering bid for Whole Foods

Costco opens first store in FranceAmerican retailer Costco has opened its first French store this week in Villebon-sur-Yvette, northern France, reports Le Monde. The new warehouse store features around 3,800 wholesale products, 500 of which are devoted to luxury brands. Customers pay an annual fee to become a.....

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