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Thursday, December 12, 2013

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US: Citrus growers stop packing to check freeze damage
California citrus growers have agreed to hold off packing fruit for two days to let state and county inspectors survey crop damage caused by a seven-day cold spell.California Citrus Mutual says growers will wait to pack fruit harvested on or after Wednesday to facilitate inspections at 81 packinghouses in.....

Chile export 10 to 12% less fruit this season
To mark the first shipment of table grapes and other species to the United States from the port of Coquimbo, the president of Chile's Fruit Exporters Association, AG (ASOEX), Ronald Bown, spoke about the expectations for the 2013/2014 fruit season.He noted that, according to the results of a survey conducted.....

27.8 percent of Vietnam's fruit exports go to China
According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association on Tuesday, Vietnam's fruit exports to China during the period hit nearly 262 million US dollars in value, an increase of 36.4 percent year on year.The sharp increase in fruit exports to China was attributed to rising ratio of processed fruit products.....

Due to the low harvest
Argentina: Cherry production decreases
The late frost in September and October left its mark on the fruit’s production, as has been confirmed by the cherry harvest's forecast. According to the latest estimate by the IDR, when there are only 357 tonnes left to be harvested, the 2013 harvest will be the lowest in Mendoza for the last four years; a.....

Costa Rica declares banana plant pests an emergency situation
The State Phytosanitary Service of Costa Rica has declared a state of emergency due to two pests that are affecting some 24,000 hectares of banana cultivation.The decree is due to the increased incidence of Flake “Diaspis boisduvalii” and cochineal “Pseudococcus elisae” that cause black spots on bananas,.....

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San Juan
Argentina: Garlic price drops 27% in first negotiations
European and U.S. envoys arrived in the city of San Juan, Argentina, to sign the first contracts with garlic producers and the initial outlook is grim: the value proposed for a case (10 kilos) averages U.S. $20.50, 27% less than in the last season when, according to local exporters, the price at this point.....

Santiago Zapata: "Sales in 2013 slightly up"
Special Fruit pioneer selling kiwano in Europe
Special Fruit was one of the pioneers who starting selling the kiwano (horned melon - cucumis metaliferus) in Europe about fifteen years ago. Founder of Special Fruit, François Maes, saw this special fruit at a fair and his curiosity was stimulated. The horned melon is related to the melon and the cucumber......

AU: European vegetable imports has increased substantially
New data obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that Australia’s vegetable imports from European nations have increased substantially. Imports from Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and France have collectively increased by an astounding 289 per cent or $45 million in value, since.....

Poland: One of the largest producers of berries in the world
Poland's 2013 berry production is estimated at 2.6 million metric tonnes, or a two percent increase in comparison with 2012. While strawberry producers suffered through the second straight year of unfavourable weather induced growing conditions, raspberry, currant and blueberries enjoyed higher yields.....

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Fruit Logistica 2014
"Future Lab" spotlights tomorrow’s trends– today
Fruit Logistica once again underlines its status as innovative springboard for the international fresh produce trade. "Future Lab", a new series of events, will present products, projects and solutions that can enhance the fruit and vegetable industry with innovations in the coming years, or contribute.....

North America

US (DE): University program to develop heat-tolerant lima bean varieties
Emmalea Ernest, extension agent in the University of Delaware’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences (PLSC), has received federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Speciality Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Program for a project aimed at developing heat-tolerant lima bean varieties.“Lima beans are.....

Chelan Fresh develops digital ‘toolkit’ for registered dietitians
Reaching out to thousands of registered dietitians, or RDs, across the country, Chelan Fresh has developed and released a free digital “toolkit” that provides regularly updated nutritional information on the company’s fresh apples, cherries and pears.According to Marketing Coordinator Kathryn Grandy, the.....

Fresh & Easy SVP named California Grocery Association chair
The California Grocers Association here said that Mary Kasper, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, has been elected CGA chairman for the next year. She succeeds Kevin Davis, president and chief executive officer of Bristol Farms, who will remain a.....

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Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inductees chosen for 2014
The Selection Committee for The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced three distinguished leaders will be inducted into the Hall during the 52nd Citrus Celebration Luncheon on Friday, March 7, 2014 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.From left to right: Stephen M. Caruso, of Orlando, Fla., Robert G......

US (CA): Looking back 55 years to lettuce cooling of old on the railways
Let's take a backward look 55 years, to September 1958, when a new method of cooling lettuce for shipping was being unveiled on a Carbona siding of the Western Pacific Railroad, now part of the Union Pacific.Wayne Monger of Suisan City, Calif., an active member of the Western Pacific Historical Society, was.....

Oregon's cranberry growers report mixed season
As the cranberry harvest season wraps up, it's turned out to be a mixed bag for local growers. Some call it an average to good year, while others are left wondering if it's worth it to continue in the business, making barely enough per barrel to cover the costs of maintaining the farm."The big story is a.....

available for free download
US: DMA Solutions offers 2014 planning calendar for fresh produce marketers
DMA Solutions, Inc., a leading marketing agency in the fresh produce industry, has created the 2014 Produce Marketer’s Master Calendar featuring important and helpful dates that produce marketers need to know as they plan their event and communications strategies for the New Year. The calendar provides.....

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Organics Unlimited sends contest winner to volunteer week in Mexico
Following GROW Month in September, a month-long awareness campaign for their non-profit banana label, Organics Unlimited co-hosted a giveaway with San Diego grocer Jimbo’s…Naturally. Karla “Sam” Gonzalez has been chosen as the giveaway winner and will be taking her brother along on a weeklong, all-expenses.....

Ready Pac chairman emeritus Passes
Seb Gertmenian, chairman emeritus of Ready Pac Produce and father of Ready Pac founder Dennis Gertmenian, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at the age of 101. Seb was well known in the produce industry, from his humble beginnings with a produce stand in Monrovia, CA up to his retirement from Pasadena.....

Central America

Mexico: Sonora's table grape production hits 17 million boxes
This year's production amounted to 17 million boxes. "It's a good year as in 2012 we reached 16 million and we've also had years with 11 million. This was a good year in terms of production, but not in price, as it has been slightly lower than expected due to the crisis and the high production, which has.....

Mexican plum post-harvest study outcome
Iran Alia Tejacal, from the Autonomous University of Morelos, Cuernavaca Campus and a member of the Researchers National System (SNI) level 1, presented the keynote lecture, Postharvest Studies on Mexican plum ( Spondias purpurea), in the Food Technology auditorium of the Autonomous University of Nayarit.....

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South America

January to November
Peru: Blueberry exports nearly reach 10 million dollars
Blueberry exports between January and November 2013 (fresh and frozen) totalled 8,881,822 million dollars, according to the CEO of Sierra Exportadora, Alfonso Velasquez Tuesta.He indicated that the main destination countries for this product were the United States, with $3,805,528; Hong Kong, with.....

Peru: Death threats in fruit market clash
The clash between fruit market traders and the people from the Auqui Basilio Association, which started early on Monday morning, continues.The people from the association captured one of the other leaders known as Pelagia."She is one of the leaders of this confrontation, we've waited for them to withdraw for.....

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Asia

India: California walnuts soon to hit retailer’s shelves
The California Walnut Commission, which represents over 4,600 growers in the region, is charting aggressive plans to tap the rising demand for the dry fruit in India.The Agriculture Ministry, after conducting pest risk analysis on walnuts for almost three years, has permitted imports early this year. Imports.....

South Korea eyeing Vietnam as new farm produce supplier
In September 2013, CJ Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ninh Thuan People’s Committee on the development of the chilli growing specialized area in the locality.Under the MOU, the project would be implemented in two phases. CJ would grow chilli on an area of 1 hectare for 1 year on a.....

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looking to extend to sorting for almonds, pistachios, garlic, groundnuts
India: nanoPix designs machine to grade cashew by size and colour
Food processing start-up company nanoPix has now developed nanoSorters for the cashew industry. Each of these machines has the capacity to grade 60-75kg of cashews, not only by size, but also by colour, shape and surface characteristics.The grading is applicable to every individual cashewnut and works up to.....

Armenia: Damage from potato tuber moth minimized in Ararat valley
Armenian Deputy Agriculture Minister Garnik Petrosyan told journalists today that the ministry has managed to lessen the damage inflicted to crops in Ararat Valley by the potato tuber moth, an insect pest, to a minimum this year. In 2012, the potato tuber moth badly affected crops in Ararat and Armavir.....

Europe

Spain: Lack of rains and frost threatens Artichokes
The warmth of autumn, the non-existent rains and the strong winds aren't helping Spain's artichokes, which are yielding smaller calibres than usual. The plants haven't been able to grow normally because of the weather and the farmers expect it to rain so that the harvest is balanced.Although, according to.....

German import of fresh vegetables decreased slightly
After a record value in 2012 the German import of fresh vegetables has decreased slightly over the last year, reports the GermanAgrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI) on its website. According to the German Bureau of Statistics' final import figures, Germany imported 2% less vegetables in 2012 compared.....

Persimon® brand: an exclusive of the PDO Ribera del Xúquer
The Regulatory Board of the Protected Designation of Origin Ribera del Xúquer issued a press statement reminding that they are the only ones authorised to make use of the Persimon® brand, both in the Spanish and the international market. Additionally, they inform about scenarios in which consumers may be.....

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Region of Valencia
Spain: Medlar trees threatened by fire blight
Concerns have been raised after the detection of fire blight in medlar plantations at the Spanish town of Callosa d'en Sarrià. Local growers and the 19 town councils integrated in the designation of origin are currently on tenterhooks.The illness, caused by bacteria, results in severe damage to the trees.....

Larger potato yields for French and British potato growers
Because of the increase in growing area in spring and larger harvest yields the potato harvest in France has improved in 2013 from the previous year which was weak. Also in Great Britain a better potato harvest is expected in 2013 than last year.According to the French trade union of potato producers UNPT.....

Italy: VI.P-Val Venosta apples are waiting for a peak in sales in 2014
Michael GrasserandFabio Zanesco, marketing manager and sales manager forVI.P-Val Venostarespectively, talk about the apple campaign trend."Demand at the moment is looking quite normal. Things have slowed down slightly with respect to the first few weeks, but it is nothing to worry about. We are active.....

During the winter raw vegetables supply the best nutrients
During the winter months you need to change your dietary habits. From November, until March your body particularly needs a lot of nutrients to help strengthen the immune system. "During the cold time of year it is especially important to pay attention towards eating a healthy, balanced diet," said Melanie.....

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Spain: Andalusia's Mediterranean coast to grow papayas
Cajamar Caja Rural will organise today, 12 December, a workshop analysing the "Possibilities for the cultivation of papayas in south eastern Spain". The goal is to provide information about this crop's potential for Andalusia's Mediterranean coast.The workshop will start with the presentation "Possibilities.....

960,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables
Lidl: Largest client for Spanish horticultural products
The Spanish suppliers of the German supermarket chain Lidl closed 2012 with a turnover of over 2,500 million Euro; 14% more than in 2011. Lidl has already become the largest client for Spanish horticultural products.In 2012 alone, Lidl purchased 960,000 tonnes of Spanish fruit and vegetables, generating 860.....

Freeze-dried strawberries keep nutrients, says study
A study carried out by researchers at Sheffield Hallam University, in collaboration with Chaucer Foods – which claims to be the world's largest supplier of freeze-dried fruit – has found that freeze drying strawberries had no significant impact on their nutrient content.The study showed that freeze-dried.....

Claudio Gamberini
Italy: New retail tendencies for Conad
Claudio Gamberini (in the photo), national Fresh Produce Manager forConad, explains about new tendencies of European retail."For us, the fresh fruit and vegetable section must be perceived by consumers as the Conad section i.e. we must sell a Conad product that is well distinguished from the rest and.....

Oceania

50% increase in orders from Thai importers
AU: Queensland fruits a hit in Asia
Queensland’s mandarins and mangoes are making their mark in the markets of Asia, boosting the State’s economy and helping to deliver on key election promises.Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry John McVeigh said a recent trade mission to China and Thailand, to promote our home grown produce, was.....

AU: Proposed electricity price hikes could push some horticulture growers to the wall
Yesterday, the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) released its Draft Determination on electricity prices for the 2014-2015 financial year (available at its website here).Growcom Chief Executive Officer Alex Livingstone said that the draft determination recommended that the transitional tariffs used for.....

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Africa

CMA CGM shuffles Africa services to Europe
CMA CGM has rearranged its service between Europe and Africa to better serve landlocked countries by Through Bills of Lading.Tangiers will remain the main hub for the French line's West African trades, with various routes connecting it to ports from the UK's Tilbury in the North to Namibia in the.....

World

July 2013: Nelson Mandela International day, anniversaries and international cooperation
With the death of Nelson Mandela this month, we are reminded that he would have had a birthday on the 18th of July. Last year, in honour of his 95th birthday, South Africa Summer Citrus joined with the United Nations and the South African Consulate General of New York to celebrate Nelson Mandela.....

Pasteurization inactivates salmonella on melon rind
In recent years, considering the large consumption of both whole and fresh-cut melon alone or in mixed fruit salads, melon is identified as a vehicle for pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium, thus it is considered the cause of many foodborne illnesses.Many sanitation.....

Retail

Tesco: Ugly and misshapen fruit and veg to go on special offer
Misshapen fruit and vegetables which are thrown away by supermarkets will be put on special offer and the public need to be "educated" that it is good food, Tesco has said.Matt Simister, the group food sourcing director at Tesco, said that British customers "always pick the cream of the crop" when they shop.....

Why Swiss discounters improve employment conditions
Aldi and Lidl in Switzerland, as of 2014, will pay wages of 4000 Swiss Francs (Euro 3,270.38) and higher even to untrained employees. In this way untrained, full time employees will earn at Aldi Suisse, from 1 January 2014, 4200 Swiss Francs (Euro 3,433.90) per month and after 24 months it will go up to.....

India: Future group ties up with Sunkist in FMCG push
The Future Group, India’s largest retailer, has underlined the group’s growing focus on its FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) business with a new deal with US juice giant Sunkist. The group also announced the sale of a stake in a food manufacturer, one of a string of recent such sales aimed at helping it.....

Aldi wants to build central warehouse in German municipality Wörthsee
The German Aldi concern wants to build a new logistics centre in the German municipality of Wörthsee (Bavaria). The current central warehouse in Eichenau (Bavaria) is becoming too small. The resident of the municipality of Wörthsee will decide on the construction of the central warehouse. On the 9th of.....

960,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables
Lidl: Largest client for Spanish horticultural products
The Spanish suppliers of the German supermarket chain Lidl closed 2012 with a turnover of over 2,500 million Euro; 14% more than in 2011. Lidl has already become the largest client for Spanish horticultural products.In 2012 alone, Lidl purchased 960,000 tonnes of Spanish fruit and vegetables, generating 860.....

November sales rose by 28.7% for Russian retailer Magnit
Russia's biggest food retailer Magnit said on Tuesday its sales rose by 28.7 percent in November, year-on-year, to 50.2 billion roubles ($1.5 billion) after a rise of 27 percent in the previous month.Magnit, which this year overtook rival X5 as Russia's No.1 grocery chain by revenue, said the November result.....

Claudio Gamberini
Italy: New retail tendencies for Conad
Claudio Gamberini (in the photo), national Fresh Produce Manager forConad, explains about new tendencies of European retail."For us, the fresh fruit and vegetable section must be perceived by consumers as the Conad section i.e. we must sell a Conad product that is well distinguished from the rest and.....

Netto Marken-Discount top retailer of 2013
The choice of the Germans is certain: Netto Marken-Discount is the 'most loved retailer of 2013', as announced by the German website Gabot.de. That is the result of one of the largest consumer surveys in Europe, in which about 43,000 consumers were questioned. In total 352 trading chains were assessed on.....

Sales rise of 1.3% for Ingles Markets in 4Q
Ingles Markets here on Monday said its fourth-quarter comparable-store sales rose about 1.3%, adjusted for the extra week in the preceding year and excluding gasoline.Net income for the recent 13-week quarter, which ended Sept. 28, rose 17.2%, to $15.6 million, vs. the 14-week quarter of a year ago. Sales.....

FreshPlaza Funny

Must have been the right place, but the wrong time...