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Thursday, July 31, 2014

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Polish exporter on Russian ban
"We will focus on other markets, when Russia comes back there will be no more apples for them"
After a few days of rumours Russia has announced it will ban the import of Polish fruit and vegetables from 1st August, citing a breach of safety standards as the reason, said Rosselkhoznadzor, the country's agricultural watchdog on Wednesday.“The ban will apply to virtually all vegetables and fruits, such.....

US: Northwest pear season kicks off early, less production expected
Like many summer crops in Pacific Coast states, the pear season in the Pacific Northwest began earlier than usual. The alternating nature of the crop also means that this year's production will likely be less than what was harvested during last year's big season.Pears from the Pacific Northwest are usually.....

Brazilian ginger prices doubled in 2014
Brazil's ginger production was significantly reduced compared to last year, bringing with it a drop in export volumes."Brazil usually exports between 70 and 80% of its production, but this year the percentage has dropped to 40%," said a representative of UGBP, a company exporting ginger and other crops such.....

How will the embargo on European, Moldovan and Ukrainian apples influence the Russian market?
Russia is due to impose an embargo on Ukrainian and European apples, whereas the embargo on Polish, Moldovan fruit has already come into effect. According to the experts’ opinion, this is likely to influence the Russian market of apples, and inevitably affect the prices.On July 21, the federal Veterinary and.....

Moroccan blueberries gain access to US
The US are amending the regulations concerning the importation of fruits and vegetables to allow the importation of fresh blueberries from Morocco into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, the blueberries must be produced under a systems approach employing a combination of mitigation.....

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EU market for peaches and nectarines is down with 30-35%
The EU farmers and farm cooperatives NGO - Copa Cogeca alerts EU farm commissioner Dacian Ciolos on crisis in fruit sector.In a letter sent to European Farm Commissioner Dacian Ciolos, Copa-Cogeca warned of the serious crisis hitting the European market for summer fruits, especially peaches and nectarines,.....

USDA considers allowance of two Unshu orange hybrids from South Korea
USDA is proposing to amend the regulations concerning the importation of citrus fruit to allow the importation of commercial consignments of two Unshu orange hybrids from the Republic of Korea into the United States. These hybrids would be eligible for importation into the United States subject to the.....

US (OR): Early blueberry season overlaps with eastern seasons
A warm spring contributed to an early start to this year's blueberry season in Oregon. With supplies coming sooner than normal, and a prolonged season from growers in eastern states, the season started off with lower prices that firmed up as the harvest in Oregon progressed.Warm weather during spring.....

Codiagro expands range of residue-free plant protection products for grapes
Grapes are a very sensitive crop to fungal plant diseases, which usually require fungicides to prevent high losses in production volumes.After long years of research, Codiagro has created a range of products that prevent the use of fungicides and, therefore, the residues they generate. These residues can.....

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Drones could grow to $11 billion industry by 2024
Love them or hate them, drones are here to stay — at least for the foreseeable future. A new report detailing the growth of the drone industry finds that over the next 10 years, the amount of money spent annually on drones and their accompanying technologies will likely double worldwide.An estimated $6.4.....

North America

US (TN): Weather has small impact on Grainger County tomatoes
One of the largest free festivals in the state of Tennessee is just days away. Most are wondering how this year's crop will turn out for the Grainger County Tomato Festival.Anthony Carver with the UT Extension helps out with the Grainger County Tomato Festival each year. "We got all kinds of things planned......

Canada: Operation Fruit Rescue battles city’s apple maggot problem
The apple maggot doesn’t fall far from the tree.And in Edmonton, where most of the apple trees are infected, they fall a lot.“I’ve definitely had maggots raining down on me,” said Sarah McPike, who is involved in Operation Fruit Rescue and works in pest management for the City of Edmonton.Identified in.....

Record size crop for Washington grower
"This year is progressing nicely and harvest is set to start about a week early. The weather this season has been ideal for growing fruit and we have a record size crop hanging on the trees right now. The early Spring and ideal summer weather have worked together to push up harvest by about a week earlier.....

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Canada: Slow start to sweet corn harvest
Quebec's farmers say the sweet corn harvest is off to a slow start.The early crops are not very big, not very sweet and not very colourful due to the wet and cool weather we saw during the spring.Producers say ripening needs a combination of water and heat - and while this week's rain is taking care of the.....

US (OK): Peach crop lean, but fruit still available
Summer is all about peaches in Porter – especially at Livesay Orchard.The Livesay Orchard is still busy a week after Porter’s annual peach festival. The orchard’s crop this year was cut in half from what had previously been expected, according to Kent Livesay, one of the owners of the orchard.“The quality of.....

Canada: Weather delays Manitoba vegetable production
A brutally cold and long winter followed by a water-logged spring has frustrated Manitoba vegetable farmers.The growing season for produce is well behind schedule. Some vegetables are two to three weeks delayed. Crops such as corn and tomatoes are particularly behind.Doug Chorney of Keystone Agricultural.....

World Food Championships announces partnership with U.S. Potato Board
The World Food Championships announced today that the United States Potato Board (USPB) has officially signed on as a partner for the 2014 competition, which will be held in Downtown Las Vegas, November 12-18. Competitors in the World Recipe Championship event will be required to incorporate potatoes,.....

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US: Washington's organic ag production continues to grow
Production and sales of organic agricultural items have continued to grow nationally for the past decade, and Washington state is no exception.With a farmgate value of $291 million, Washington's organic production ranks second in the United States only to California, according to a news release.More than 50.....

Kristen Fritz Kubiszak honored by the White House and USDA
The White House and United States Department of Agriculture honored a select few new and beginning ranchers and farmers as “Champions of Change” during The Future of Agriculture two-day event this week. The events celebrated agriculture leaders from across the country who are taking innovative approaches to.....

Zespri Kiwifruit hosts NYC tasting event for Green Organic and Sungold
Zespri Kiwifruit, a global leader in kiwifruit marketing, hosted the “Pack Zespri Tasting Event” in New York City for influential nutritionists, bloggers, and media. The event introduced Zespri’s SunGold and while educating attendees on the nutritional value of Zespri Kiwifruit, consistent quality in all of.....

Central America

Costa Rica: Pineapple exports targeted by drug trade
Costa Rica is the leading exporter of pineapples in the world, according to the country’s Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER). In 2013, pineapple exports generated US$834.2 million, which is 1.7% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).However, the international trade in fruits and other products is.....

South America

Brazilian ginger prices doubled in 2014
Brazil's ginger production was significantly reduced compared to last year, bringing with it a drop in export volumes."Brazil usually exports between 70 and 80% of its production, but this year the percentage has dropped to 40%," said a representative of UGBP, a company exporting ginger and other crops such.....

Asia

Most efficient technology of vegetable growing invented in Japan
Less than a month ago a small greenhouse was opened in Kashiva (Japan), however, the lettuce already yields 10 000 plants per day. This is the result achieved by Shigekharu Shimamura, a physiologist who equipped an abandoned site (half a football pitch in size) with 17500 bulbs of violet colour. This.....

Saudi Arabia bans import of pepper from India
Saudi authorities have decided to impose temporary ban on import of pepper from India with effect from May 30, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.According to reports, presence of high levels of pesticides in the Indian consignment was the reason to put the import restriction in place.“Saudi authorities.....

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Malaysia: Sabah durian firm targets 100 outlets in China
Durian, the King of Fruits, is just as good as its name implies. But how do one go about making durian marketable or appealing to foreign tourists and the international market, like China?At Durian King ARW at Gaya Street, durian is being sold in various forms – durian gourmet cake, dried durian, frozen.....

Europe

Germany: growing supply of redcurrants
The supply of redcurrants from German cultivation has increased mid-July, and continues to do so. In the climatologically conveniently located areas in the south of the country, the harvest of main variety Rovada is in full swing now. But in the northern areas, considerably larger amounts are being harvested.....

Norway: Berries arrived earlier this year
In Norway, the early summer heat has made berries ripen two weeks earlier than normal. Already in April, it was over 20 degrees, and the heat remained throughout May and June. This not only advanced the harvest period for berries, but also for other vegetables and potatoes."I cannot remember anything like.....

expected production 20 tonnes
Jacco Merkens only Dutch grower with Red Love
Fruit grower Jacco Merkens from Werkhoven has a company with an acreage of 33 hectares, and grows various top fruit varieties. This year he's coming with something new: the Red Love. He is the only grower in the Netherlands who's allowed to produce this unique product. "I happened upon it five years ago. The.....

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Difficult season for early potatoes in France
“The start of the early potato season has been difficult. One can even say that the market has been butchered by speculation…” says Christian Duchemin, producer and potato negotiator near Caen. It is increasingly difficult for early potatoes due to a large stock of ‘storage’ potatoes from the winter. “This.....

French Fry Revolution by introducing Sort-to-Spec
TOMRA Sorting announces the development of a new revolutionary feature, Sort-to-Spec. Sort-to-Spec is an intelligence system that continuously and in real-time adapts the sort settings of its sorting machines in order to obtain maximum product quality and customer satisfaction at all times. Sort-to-Spec.....

Russia: Abnormal heat in Tula can eliminate potato yield
The heat in Tula is expected to last till the end of the week.Executive director of Farmers’ Association in Tula, Vyacheslav Andrianov, has explained how the heat affects the farmers: Generally speaking, the heat does not have a negative effect on grain harvesting, as hot and dry weather is favourable for.....

Russia detected Mediterranean Fruit Fly in peaches from Turkey
Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata Wied.) has been detected in the load of peaches imported from Turkey into Russian Federation, - reported the news agency of Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service. Over 19.15 tonnes of Turkish peaches contaminated with Mediterranean Fruit Fly were detained at.....

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LGV-Frischegemüse puts new PV installation into use
Austrian vegetable cooperation LGV-Frischegemüse and energy company Wien Energie have officially put into use a PV installation with a peak power of 300 kilowatts on the roof of the LGV headquarters in Vienna Simmering, German website Gabot.de reports. Together with a second installation, which will be ready.....

growth in plant protection, decrease in seeds
Syngenta sees 1% more during the first half of 2014
The Swedish agro company Syngenta has made a net profit of 1.39 billion dollars for the first half of 2014. This is 1% less than the first half of 2013. Revenue grew by 1% reaching 8.51 billion dollars. Even with constant exchange rates, sales still increased 4%. Revenue in pesticides grew by 3% to 6.21.....

EU charges threaten the future of historic watercress bed
New green charges may have killed off one of the most historic watercress beds in Hampshire.Jon Marshall has ceased cultivating the beds at Itchen Stoke, near Alresford, after the Environment Agency set a bill for £3,000 to cover the risk of pollution from his operation.As a result the beds have not been.....

Hamburg Sud opens Nanjing office
On 1 August, Hamburg Süd is opening an office in Nanjing. All tasks that were previously carried out by the Ben Line agency will in future be taken over by the new Hamburg Süd office. The office will be headed by the general manager, Steven Pu.Services to and from Nanjing will be operated using feeder ships.....

Spain: Calanda peaches could reach record harvest
Calanda peaches could reach a record production volume this year, according to the Regulatory Council's prospects. If the weather remains favourable until the end of the campaign, in October, the production could reach 6 million kilos, surpassing the record 5.5 million of 2009.The president of the Regulatory.....

Russian State Revenue Service calls on mushroom and berry pickers
Every year the State Revenue Service reminds pickers to pay income taxes from sale of forest products such as mushrooms, berries and herbs. This kind of income is taxable. As explained by the State Revenue Service, there is no need to register as an entrepreneur unless the income exceeds 2845.74 EUR per.....

Oceania

AU: Freak hail storm destroys $100k crop
A freak hail storm that ripped through Matthew Muller's Kalbar farm has left the young farmer out of pocket but determined.Despite staring down a loss of about $100,000 from his current crop of heirloom tomatoes, the 32-year-old said he would remain on the land and continue doing what his family had done for.....

CHEP Australia wins 2014 Australian Packaging Covenant High Performer Award
In recognition of its commitment to environmental sustainability, CHEP Australia has received the Australian Packaging Covenant’s High Performers Award in the Small to Medium Packaging Manufacturer category.CHEP was also named the ‘Top Collector’ for collecting the most mobile phones and accessories through.....

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NZ: Port's deal with exporter and shipping line praised
A month on from Port of Tauranga announcing its strategic deal with Kotahi - which is Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms - and shipping giant Maersk, analysts have upgraded its stock.Quite how Port of Tauranga's medium to long-term foray into the South Island plays out is unclear but short-term container growth.....

Groundbreaking study reveals innovation is driving Australian horticulture
Innovation is driving Australian horticulturists as they adopt new processes, technologies and market opportunities in response to the challenges of today’s business pressures, according to interim findings from a 12 month study funded by Horticulture Australian Limited (HAL).The study, conducted by the.....

Africa

Mozambique seeks funding for cashew production
Mozambique’s Cashew Institute (INCAJU) said it needs funding to launch commercial cashew production in Mogovolas, Nampula province.Filomena Maiopué, director of INCAJU said that a 10-hectare plot had been selected to plant cashew trees, Vietnam, the project’s partner, had provided the necessary know how, but.....

World

Extend shipping distances for perishables
The innovative XtendFRESH™ atmosphere control system, which preserves quality and extends shipping distances for perishables shipped in refrigerated containers, is now available from Carrier Transicold. In concert with the commercial release of the XtendFRESH system, the company produced a video.....

Retail

Tesco and Morrisons hit as UK grocery market falls
The British grocery market hit its lowest growth rate for a decade as discounters took another bite out of Tesco and Morrisons' business.Grocery price inflation fell to a historic low of 0.4% and the grocery market expanded by just 0.9% - the lowest figure for 10 years - in the 12 weeks to July 20, according.....

Jeronimo Martins Reports Q2 Profit Drop
Jeronimo Martins has reported lower-than-expected results for its second quarter, hurt by price competition in the Polish market.For the quarter, net sales rose by 9.3% to €3.14bn, but operating profit was down 5.1% to €115m, while net profit slid by 5.9% to €86m.Jeronimo Martins noted that profits were.....

US: Couche-Tard picks up 55 stores in mid-west
Alimentation Couche-Tard has acquired 55 outlets in the states of Illinois and Indiana, through its Mac’s Convenience subsidiary. The c-store giant bought the outlets and related assets from Tri Star Marketing for an undisclosed sum.The outlets (51 in Illinois, four in Indiana), currently operate under the.....

Publix buys shopping centers in Volusia, Flagler counties
Publix Super Markets has bought two shopping centers in the Volusia-Flagler area where it has a supermarket as the anchor tenant.The Lakeland-based grocery chain paid $16 million on July 11 for the New Smyrna Beach Regional Shopping Center in New Smyrna Beach, according to Volusia County property.....

Should there be more Aldi-style supermarkets in Australia?
International discount supermarket players, Lidl and Netto have poured cold water on speculation they may enter the Australian sharemarket in the short-term.Despite reports the two may be scouting local sites, they've told SBS World News, there are no plans to open here.In an email, Head of Netto.....

Carrefour profit tops estimates as European sales strengthen
Carrefour SA (CA), France’s largest retailer, reported first-half profit that exceeded analysts’ estimates as sales strengthened in Europe in line with the company’s turnaround plan.Recurring operating income rose 7.9 percent to 833 million Euro ($1.12 billion) in the six months through June,.....

But growers aren't happy
AU: Woolworths fresh produce sales increased after Jamie Oliver marketing campaign
Woolworths says its fresh fruit and vegetable sales have jumped by 7 per cent because of its recent six-week Jamie Oliver marketing campaign.Under the program, growers were asked to voluntarily pay an additional 40 cents per crate of food to help fund the advertising push.The marketing campaign had attracted.....

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