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Friday, August 17, 2018

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California persimmon growers waiting for cooler nights

Beginning next month, the California persimmon season will kick off, beginning with Fuyu in mid-September. Growers are reporting a good fruit stock and are just waiting for cooler nights to arrive for the fruit to be completely ready."We have three varieties of persimmon, beginning with the Fuyu in mid.....

Squash production in US and Canada affected by rain

Sporadic but heavy rain periods have affected squash production in the northeast regions of North America. A large area of the country is currently growing the yellow and zucchini squash but most regions have not escaped the rain. Production and quality have been most affected, although the situation has.....

Kingsburg, California

US: Valley growers pose tough questions to Agri Secretary Perdue

US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, who stopped in Kingsburg during a Central Valley tour, heard the concerns from representatives of dairy, fruit and nut growers. Top topics were the Trump tariffs, market access and immigration.Trying to calm grower fears on tariffs, Perdue said, “President Trump is.....

Pollen Systems launches drone-based data and analysis solution to improve vineyard and crop yields

Pollen’s drone-aided managed services and self-service portal help farms and vineyards monitor crop growth, discover irrigation issues, and investigate pests and diseases, improving crop yield and quality Today at the Auction of Washington Wines in Woodinville, WA, Pollen Systems Corporation unveiled Pollen.....

Arctic apple producer adds to management team

Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF), the developer of nonbrowning Arctic® apple varieties, has made several hires that will be key to the company’s continued growth.JF Gamelin joined OSF’s senior management team as Director of Sales and is responsible for leading sales operations for Arctic® apples and.....

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219,000 pounds of apples donated for hunger program

FirstFruits Marketing of Washington finished its eighth annual Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ program at select retailers with a collective donation of 219,640 pounds of apples to local food banks. This brings the total program donation to more than 2 million pounds of apples over eight seasons.FirstFruits created.....

US demands release of pastor

Turkish lira firms despite US warning of more sanctions

The Turkish lira strengthened against the dollar on Friday as investors weighed up a US warning that Turkey should expect more economic sanctions unless it hands over detained American pastor Andrew Brunson.The lira has lost a third of its value against the dollar this year as worsening relations between the.....

Gordon Robertson joins Apeel as Chief Revenue Officer

Gordon Robertson has joined Apeel as the company's first Chief Revenue Officer. This comes after Apeel's successful introduction of Apeel avocados with partners Del Rey and Costco, and Eco Farms and Harps/AWG last month.Gordon is joining at a pivotal moment as Apeel said it recently validated the value.....

Toronto

Canada: Potatopia Build-your-own potato kiosk opens its doors

Another American fast food chain is opening in Toronto. Joining the food court offerings at the Yonge Sheppard Centre, Potatopia, a quick service concept born out of a New Jersey mall, is set to open soon.The chain already boasts locations in New Jersey and Florida and is known for its menu revolving around.....

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The challenge of citrus greening in the US

'Saving the orange'

The American Seed Trade Association and CropLife International have launched the first video in a new series about gene editing in plants.The video focuses on the very-real challenge of citrus greening—a devastating disease which has led to a nearly 80-percent decrease in Florida citrus production over the.....

Latest photo reports

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Driscoll's field tour 2018

Driscoll's field tour 2018

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OZblu grower’s conference 2018

OZblu grower’s conference 2018

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Organic Produce Summit 2018

Organic Produce Summit 2018

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West Pak tour

West Pak tour

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United Fresh 2018

United Fresh 2018

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GLOBAL FOCUS

Soft / Stonefruit

Chinese consumers will soon be eating Turkish cherries

China has been so far importing cherries from the US, Chile, Canada and Australia. However Turkish growers have been focused on entering this market recently and their efforts have started to bare fruits.The cherry season finishes in April in Chile whereas it starts in May in Turkey, thus Chile is not a direct.....

"It'll be difficult to talk about the future of the Chilean blueberry, if we don't adapt"

Chile is currently the largest exporter of fresh blueberries in the world, with volumes exceeding 100 thousand tons. However, maintaining this position, continuing to increase production, and having a bigger presence in international markets requires more than increasing the volume of fruit, it also requires.....

Production of stone fruit gradually gaining ground in apple production stronghold

“As of this season peaches and nectarines from Bodensee region”

The German Bodensee region has been one of the most important production areas for the German apple branch for years. Annually, tonnes of top fruit are grown here, which is sold using the sales cooperatives located in this region. However, for some years now an interesting development has been taking place:.....

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North Americamore »

Squash production in US and Canada affected by rain

Sporadic but heavy rain periods have affected squash production in the northeast regions of North America. A large area of the country is currently growing the yellow and zucchini squash but most regions have not escaped the rain. Production and quality have been most affected, although the situation has.....

California persimmon growers waiting for cooler nights

Beginning next month, the California persimmon season will kick off, beginning with Fuyu in mid-September. Growers are reporting a good fruit stock and are just waiting for cooler nights to arrive for the fruit to be completely ready."We have three varieties of persimmon, beginning with the Fuyu in mid.....

Dole Fruit Bowls campaign focuses on ‘family traditions’

With its new campaign, Dole Fruit Bowls is flipping from benefits-oriented to emotional and nostalgic. The brand’s previous TV campaign drove home the brand’s “packed in 100% fruit juice” benefit by showing Dole Fruit Bowl consumers drinking the liquid in their products, while friends felt compelled to drain.....

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Pollen Systems launches drone-based data and analysis solution to improve vineyard and crop yields

Pollen’s drone-aided managed services and self-service portal help farms and vineyards monitor crop growth, discover irrigation issues, and investigate pests and diseases, improving crop yield and quality Today at the Auction of Washington Wines in Woodinville, WA, Pollen Systems Corporation unveiled Pollen.....

Industry collaboration the focus at recent PTI leadership council

The Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) Leadership Council convened recently to reinvigorate industry discussions as current events have put a new spotlight on traceability, including recent foodborne illness outbreak investigations, release in Canada of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and projects.....

Gordon Robertson joins Apeel as Chief Revenue Officer

Gordon Robertson has joined Apeel as the company's first Chief Revenue Officer. This comes after Apeel's successful introduction of Apeel avocados with partners Del Rey and Costco, and Eco Farms and Harps/AWG last month.Gordon is joining at a pivotal moment as Apeel said it recently validated the value.....

219,000 pounds of apples donated for hunger program

FirstFruits Marketing of Washington finished its eighth annual Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ program at select retailers with a collective donation of 219,640 pounds of apples to local food banks. This brings the total program donation to more than 2 million pounds of apples over eight seasons.FirstFruits created.....

Click here to receive this news directly in your inbox

Arctic apple producer adds to management team

Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF), the developer of nonbrowning Arctic® apple varieties, has made several hires that will be key to the company’s continued growth.JF Gamelin joined OSF’s senior management team as Director of Sales and is responsible for leading sales operations for Arctic® apples and.....

Toronto

Canada: Potatopia Build-your-own potato kiosk opens its doors

Another American fast food chain is opening in Toronto. Joining the food court offerings at the Yonge Sheppard Centre, Potatopia, a quick service concept born out of a New Jersey mall, is set to open soon.The chain already boasts locations in New Jersey and Florida and is known for its menu revolving around.....

PURE Bioscience closes on $1.5 Million financing and gives business update

PURE Bioscience, Inc., creator of the patented non-toxic silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, announced today that it has closed on an approximately $1.5 million private placement with existing shareholders. The $1.5 million the company raised includes cancelled indebtedness held by the Company’s.....

The challenge of citrus greening in the US

'Saving the orange'

The American Seed Trade Association and CropLife International have launched the first video in a new series about gene editing in plants.The video focuses on the very-real challenge of citrus greening—a devastating disease which has led to a nearly 80-percent decrease in Florida citrus production over the.....

Findings suggest rootstock choice may be key to optimizing yields and tree health

UF/IFAS research shows rootstock influences metabolism in Sugar Belle® citrus

Florida citrus growers recognize the Sugar Belle® mandarin hybrid for its tolerance of citrus greening disease, and new findings from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences suggest that rootstock selection may play a role in keeping Sugar Belle® trees productive even if they.....

Kingsburg, California

US: Valley growers pose tough questions to Agri Secretary Perdue

US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, who stopped in Kingsburg during a Central Valley tour, heard the concerns from representatives of dairy, fruit and nut growers. Top topics were the Trump tariffs, market access and immigration.Trying to calm grower fears on tariffs, Perdue said, “President Trump is.....

USDA:

New planting options for citrus growers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service citrus breeding program has a long history of releasing successful scion and rootstock cultivars. There had been a 15-year lapse in creating new hybrids, and the recently released cultivars largely reflect breeding efforts that preceded.....

Man grows 10-foot tall tomato plants

A local man’s tomato garden has gained a lot of attention from community members recently - that’s because it has several 10 feet tall tomato plants. The average tomato plant ranges from 3 to 5 feet tall. David Guyle said he’s been gardening almost all his life and has never seen anything quite like this......

Latin Americamore »

"It'll be difficult to talk about the future of the Chilean blueberry, if we don't adapt"

Chile is currently the largest exporter of fresh blueberries in the world, with volumes exceeding 100 thousand tons. However, maintaining this position, continuing to increase production, and having a bigger presence in international markets requires more than increasing the volume of fruit, it also requires.....

One in five Mexicans identifies as vegan or vegetarian

According to recent data, 20 percent of Mexicans have reduced or completely eliminated meat consumption or animal-derived foods and have joined the vegetarian or vegan eating regime. This data shows that in the country, veganism is growing at an accelerated rate, especially among the youngest members of the.....

Mexico: Agriculture should report on avocado producers

The National Institute of Transparency, Access to Information and Protection of Personal Data (INAI), ordered the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) to publicize a list of the companies operating in the country that are dedicated to the production,.....

Colombia: Processed avocado for Australia and Spain

The SME Productos del Campo San Gregorio, which has a production plant in Bogota, wants to gain worldwide market share with its flagship product, avocado pulp. Last week the company shipped its first container of this product, which undergoes a high-pressure technological process, to Australia.According to.....

Argentina: First shipment of mandarins to China in a decade

The Minister of Agribusiness, Luis Miguel Etchevehere, will be in Concordia this Thursday to celebrate the reopening of the Chinese market for sweet Argentine citrus.According to official sources, Etchevehere will arrive at the Argencitrus packing facility, which is located at kilometer 5 of Route 22 near the.....

BanaBay (Ceinconsa) present at Asia Fruit Logistica

“We are planning to increase our own banana production significantly”

“Our company started trading in the Asian market in 2014, starting with some trial containers. Now it has become a major market for us. We have grown significantly due to the large needs of bananas from this region. It’s definitely a market we are focusing on a lot to continue exploring it. Customers from.....

Asiamore »

Latest estimates

"China's apple production down by 20%-30% this year."

According to a Polish news report: "China is the world's largest apple producer. Nearly 40-50 million tons of the world's total annual production of 80-90 million tons of apples come from China. This year, China's apple production will decrease by 20% to 30%. It is expected that in many markets, there will be.....

China International Fruit & Vegetable Fair takes place in November

Xinfadi + 81 Major Fruit & Vegetables Suppliers at China FVF

This November, Xinfadi Wholesale Market is going to be a host again at the China International Fruit & Vegetable Fair in Beijing. Exhibition Hall No. 9 will be dedicated to the theme of “The World’s Xinfadi, China’s Fruit Basket” where Xinfadi will showcase the freshest fruits and vegetables from 81 major.....

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South Korea to help farmers struck by heat wave

Last Thursday, the South Korean government stated it will provide financial support and disaster relief for local farmers and livestock breeders as an unprecedented heat wave has taken a toll on crops and animals.The latest measure comes as about 5.72 million livestock, including chicken and ducks, have been.....

Government only acknowledges ‘External Factors’

Indian Rupee hits new low

Thursday's markets opened with another low for the rupee at 70.24 against the US dollar. On Tuesday, the rupee crossed the ‘70 mark’ for the first time in the history of an independent India.The fall was triggered by the financial crises in Turkey, which led to a strong demand for US dollars. The sharp drop of.....

Africamore »

George Liu from Frutacloud gives an overview of Chinese marketing channels, underscores the need for brand imagination and mentions current cold protocols as impediment to trade

What is the story of South African fruit?

Where would you like your produce to be sold in China? That’s the first question exporters and producers, wishing to enter that market, should ask themselves, George Liu of Frutacloud advises delegates at the PMA Fresh Connections conference in Pretoria, South Africa. Frutacloud is a company that sources,.....

Kenya wants to take advantage of the avocado fad in Europe

More and more Kenyans are planting avocados in their fields, even at the cost of abandoning their traditional coffee or tea crops, as European demand for this product is strong."When the avocado market skyrocketed, we thought it was more interesting to plant these trees. That's how I started," stated Sumon.....

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Share of population without electricity in Africa, 2016

Okay, this was 2016. We don't know the current situation.Click here for a larger image.

SPECIAL

Asia Fruit Logistica

BanaBay (Ceinconsa) present at Asia Fruit Logistica

“We are planning to increase our own banana production significantly”

“Our company started trading in the Asian market in 2014, starting with some trial containers. Now it has become a major market for us. We have grown significantly due to the large needs of bananas from this region. It’s definitely a market we are focusing on a lot to continue exploring it. Customers from.....

Sebastián Bustamante, of Ecuaexotics, Ecuador:

Growing demand for pitahaya motivates boost in production

In recent years, the international demand for this exotic product of Ecuadorian origin has been growing constantly. Recently, producers across the country have gone from suffering low prices due to a high yield to a regularization of those prices, which they expect to remain stable throughout the year.Despite.....

Peruvian Association of Producers and Exporters of Mango (APEM)

Peru is the third biggest exporter of mangoes in the world

In the last few years, there has been a progressive growth of the area cultivated with mango in the north of Peru. Production also increased and amounted to 350 thousand tons in the 2017-2018 season, 207,000 of which were destined for export. The forecasts for the next season are considered very.....

More news in this special >>

Click here for more information about our specials

Europemore »

Swiss season started some two weeks earlier than usual

Large yields of mirabelles expected

Fruit growers throughout Europe have started harvesting much earlier than usual, including those growing mirabelle plums. In the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen -close to the German border- growers are currently in the harvest phase and the local market is flooded with local produce.Large falling yield"We have.....

German 'Turgidus' variety now available in 30g cups

'Organic German goji berry season started successfully'

The season of regional organic goji berries is currently underway. Grower Klaus Umbach from Heilbronn and his Bio-Goji colleagues have cultivated several hectares of "Turgidus" organic goji in the last three years and are now committed to harvesting. Their product is marketed nationwide in 30g cups with 6 cups.....

Murcian pomegranates will reach good calibres

Delay of Spanish grapes and early end of Egyptian season led to shortage in the UK

The red and black table grape campaign started a week later for the earliest Murcian producers. The delay, which has coincided with an early end of the Egyptian campaign, has led to a shortage of grapes in the British market, as well as in other countries in Europe."We have started the grape harvest one week.....

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Event is held between 25 and 27 September in Birmingham, UK

Packaging Automation to present fully electric machine at PPMA 2018

For 55 years Packaging Automation has driven the tray sealing market with its unrivalled expertise and innovation providing not only the fastest but the most environmentally friendly machines on the market today that can reduce your carbon footprint. At PPMA 2018, PA will present the only fully electric tray.....

US demands release of pastor

Turkish lira firms despite US warning of more sanctions

The Turkish lira strengthened against the dollar on Friday as investors weighed up a US warning that Turkey should expect more economic sanctions unless it hands over detained American pastor Andrew Brunson.The lira has lost a third of its value against the dollar this year as worsening relations between the.....

Seven most commonly wasted fruits and vegetables

Enter a grocery store and it's not uncommon to see an employee removing not-so-good produce from the boxes and pyramids of gleaming fruits and vegetables. But have you ever stopped to think about which are the most commonly wasted fruits and veggies? A study from Sweden set out to discover this, as well as.....

Oceaniamore »

New Zealand judicial review into MPI directive begins

A judicial review into a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) directive to destroy or contain imported plantings at the centre of a national biosecurity scare is being held in Wellington.The review will challenge MPI's July 31 order to destroy or contain apple and stone fruit plant material imported from a.....

Worldmore »

California heading for record year; sunshine accelerating European season

OVERVIEW GLOBAL STRAWBERRY MARKET

There has been a long hot summer in Europe and the consequences for the strawberry market are very clear. The fruit ripens quickly, the sizes are small and the shelf life is limited. There has also been limited demand due to the summer holidays, so the situation for growers and traders has not been ideal. The.....

Hapag-Lloyd increases reefer fleet by 11,100 containers

Hapag-Lloyd is investing in its container fleet and has ordered 11,100 state-of-the-art reefer containers. The new containers will be integrated to the company’s existing fleet of 91,000 reefer containers, with delivery gradually starting in August and to be finally completed by December 2018.Already today,.....

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American triplets inside gigantic watermelon

There are adorable baby photos and then there is this. Martin Davis of Lumberton, North Carolina recently snapped photos of his triplets Michael, Macie and Mathieu while they were sitting inside a 175-pound watermelon.The triplets’ mother, Vickie Jones, helped them with the photo shoot.Davis said he used to.....

Grape exports by country

International fresh grape exports by country totaled to $8.3 billion in 2017.Overall, the value of grapes exports rose by an average 6.8% for all exporting countries since 2013, when shipments of fresh grapes were valued at $7.8 billion. The value of globally exported grapes appreciated by 4.5% from 2016 to.....

Posting a 2.1% drop in H1 net profit

DP World cautions on trade

DP World, one of the world's biggest port operators, posted a 2.1 percent drop in first-half net profit on Thursday, and cautioned about geopolitical risks and recent changes to trade policies. Among other things it pointed to US president Trump, taking a more aggressive, protectionist posture on trade than.....

What's the nearest urban area for the average Aussie?

Map of Australia, divided by the closest urban area (with at least 100,000 people).Click here for a larger image.

Chinese consumers will soon be eating Turkish cherries

China has been so far importing cherries from the US, Chile, Canada and Australia. However Turkish growers have been focused on entering this market recently and their efforts have started to bare fruits.The cherry season finishes in April in Chile whereas it starts in May in Turkey, thus Chile is not a direct.....

Retail

Kroger: first driverless delivery location unveiled

Walmart: best sales growth in a decade

CAN: Metro reports third-quarter profit down on Jean Coutu acquisition costsGrocer Metro Inc. earned $167.5mln in its latest quarter as it completed its acquisition of the Jean Coutu Group. The retailer says its profit amounted to 69 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended July 7 compared with a profit.....

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