India: Kerala sets up Pineapple mission
The Kerala cabinet has decided to constitute a Pineapple Mission to encourage cultivation of the fruit in the state.The main objective of the mission, on the lines of the Coconut Development Board and Spices Board, would be to promote value added products from pineapple, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.....
India-Israel to set up centre for fruits in Haryana
Continuing their co-operation in agriculture, India and Israel have joined up to develop a Centre of Excellence for fruits in Haryana, an official announced this week. Set up under an Indo-Israel project, the new centre will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Mangeana village of.....
Taiwan: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart record rising profits in first quarter
Taiwan's two largest convenience store chain operators have reported rising profitability in the first quarter from a year earlier, supported by store renovations at home and the closing of loss-making outlets overseas.President Chain Store Corp posted NT$2.02 billion, or NT$1.94 per share, in net profit for.....
Myanmar commences mango, watermelon export to Singapore
Myanmar exported mangoes and watermelons for the fist time to Singapore last week, according to Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association.Myanmar started mango export to Singapore on May 7, said Lei Lei Oo, Vice Chairperson of Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters.....
India: High court orders centralised mango inspections
With concerns over the presence of pesticides in mangoes mounting during the season, the Delhi High Court has called on the Central Government to carry out surprise inspections at markets. A bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice Jayant Nath asked the Agriculture ministry to carry out the inspections.....
India: Standard apples boxes will not be mandatory
The State government will not compel apple growers of the state to use universally recognised cartons for packaging of apples, horticulture minister Vidya Stokes said.She said growers could arrange cartons for apple packaging from Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing, Processing Cooperation.....
Taiwan: New mushroom composting method devised
A new composting technology has been devised that can boost mushroom production by 20 percent to 30 percent while increasing revenues and reducing air pollution, the Council of Agriculture said Monday.The indoor tunnel composting method not only turns agricultural waste such as rice straw and bagasse into.....
Vietnam steps up tests on Chinese ginger
Vietnam has tightened up inspections of ginger imported from China following reports that farmers in Shandong Province were over-using a pesticide called Aldicard in growing ginger. The pesticide is currently banned in Vietnam.The head of Vietnam's Plant Protection Department, Nguyen Xuan Hong, told Viet Nam.....
India: Goverment to issue FDI clarification
The department of industry policy and promotion (DIPP) is set to issue a set of clarifications on foreign investment in multibrand retail to address concerns and provide clarity on norms ranging from investment in back-end infrastructure to sourcing from SMEs and farmers. This is the latest in a series of.....
Fresh AgroMashov 2013:
The Farmer LTD featuring lycopene rich "Yuval" cherry
At the 2013 Fresh AgroMashov Exhibition the Farmer LTD marketing company will be featuring the "Yuval" Cherry Lycopene, a new exciting variety of Cherry Tomato with a unique look and a flavor of "yesterday", combined with a high concentration of lycopene - three times more than an ordinary tomato. This.....
Photo Report (170 pictures):
Horti Asia looks set for growth
The second edition of Horti Asia closed its doors last Saturday with quite a positive feeling. With good visitor numbers and overall positive reactions from the exhibitors, the trade show looks to become an important meeting place for horticultural activities in Asia. Being organized in Thailand's capital.....
Postharvest storage of whole fruit affects fresh-cut melon
Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. reticulatus) is a climacteric fruit - it continues to ripen after harvest because of ethylene production.A Malaysian research group has conducted a study to determine the effect of postharvest (low temperature)storage on the quality of fresh-cut cantaloupe.For the study, the.....
Zespri kiwifruit arrives in India
Zespri International (Asia) has announced the arrival of Kiwifruit in India from the lush orchards of New Zealand. Ritesh Bhimani, Market Manager India, says, “In line with our campaign, ‘Healthy is Easy’ we are promoting the health benefits of the Kiwifruit that is known for its high Vitamin C and fiber.....
No Zespri comment on China court case until after appeal
Zespri stood to gain more than its China importer by understating the value of kiwifruit for customs duty purposes, a Shanghai court has heard.Zespri's former importer in China, Liu Xiongsie, has appealed a 13-year prison sentence and $7 million fine in relation to an import duty avoidance scam for which.....
Indian mango exports to US set to reach record high
Mango exports from India to the US are likely to reach 500 tonnes this year - a new record - according to the government body APEDA. Last year India shipped 209 tonnes of mango to the US.“The overall mango exports to US are expected to reach a record 400-500 tonnes this year,” a senior official said.Since.....
Philippines: Mango development agency sought
A lawmaker has filed a bill establishing the Philippine Mango Industry Development Authority (PMIDA) to adopt a comprehensive program to revitalize mango production, processing and marketing in the country.Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane (2nd District, Zambales), author of House Bill No. 6393, said mango was a.....
Burmese mangos on show in US
Myanmar will showcase its mangos at a fruit exhibition in the United States starting from July 13, according to Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association.During the three-day International Mangos Festival, Myanmar mangoes species like Sein Talone, Shwe Hinthar, Mya Kyauk, Padamya Nga.....
India: Calls for jackfruit industry investment
Though the coastal Karnataka is known for its jackfruits, growers there are watching them rot in their backyard as supply outstrips demand.In neighbouring states like Kerala and Pondicherry, jackfruit growers get the support of the state government by way of subsidized fertilizers and pesticides. There the.....
Middle East: South African lemons in big demand
The Middle East market for South African citrus is good at the moment. David Pearce from South African exporting company, GF Marketing, says lemons have been in big demand since the beginning of the season, but he admits that in the Eastern Cape, the biggest lemon producing area in South Africa has had.....
Import permits issued for onion, garlic
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has denied the claim of the Philippine Federation of Food Industries Inc. (PFFII) that it has not issued import permits for garlic since 2010 and for onions since 2011.According to BPI Director Dr. Clarito Barron, these permits, known as sanitary and phyto-sanitary import.....
New from StePac - Xtend Pallet Shrouds
StePac has recently launched Xtend pallet shrouds, a novel packaging solution characterized by sufficiently high water vapor transmission rates to reduce fresh produce dehydration and weight loss during the supply chain on the one hand and reduce the risk of carton collapse on the other.Dehydration and.....
Tickets now on sale for Asia Fruit Logistica
Visitors can now book at the online ticket shop and save 35 per cent on their tickets to Asia’s leading fresh fruit and vegetable trade show. Hong Kong, 13 May 2013 - The online ticket shop for Asia Fruit Logistica, Asia’s leading trade show for the fresh fruit and vegetable business, is open. Online.....
By Ari Goren
Israel: 2012 was year of "accelerated development in agriculture"
According to the new Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Yair Shamir, "Advancing agricultural and rural settlement and encouraging the demographic growth in peripheral settlements while keeping the environment and nature safe will remain at the top of the Ministry's priorities in the years to.....
Carrefour "going slow" in India
French retail chain Carrefour could review its plans to set up stores in India, if some of the "tough" policy riders are not relaxed. The euro 80-billion chain, the second-largest in the world after Walmart, is learnt to have sent feelers to the French government, as well as some key Indian ministries,.....
India: Tesco seeking FDI sourcing clarity
UK's leading retailer Tesco plc on Friday sought clarifications from the government regarding sourcing norms for foreign direct investment in retail before drawing up its plans for India.The company, which has a partnership with Tata group firm Trent, said its plans for India would be announced after it got.....
Zespri accused of hoodwinking Chinese Government
A Chinese man sentenced to 13 years in prison last year for smuggling kiwifruit is appealing his conviction, stating New Zealand company Zespri is to blame.Liu Xiongjie pleaded guilty to criminal smuggling in China last year and was ordered to repay an estimated $7 million in unpaid customs duties.Lawyers.....
India: Grape prices end of season rise
The prices of grapes have gone through the roof as their season nears end. The supply has dramatically reduced at this stage and, over the next week, is expected to disappear totally. Up until last week the prices were at around Rs 50- Rs 60, but are now close to double this where available.Rakesh Sahni, a.....
India: Reliance Fresh takes Bharti to court
Reliance Fresh has dragged Bharti Retail to court over what it claims are misleading price comparisons, signaling an escalation of tension between the two groups.The RIL-owned retail company has asked the Delhi High Court to stop Bharti Retail from claiming that the same products are available in the Easyday.....
India: Enhancing Punjab's potato industry
Dr Kanwaljit Singh of the Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College, says there is no reason why Punjab cannot become a large scale producer of potatoes, even with low temperature conditions, provided the right changes are made. Kanwalji conducted research and found three varieties of potato including.....
Genesis Fresh Herbs manages competition with basil
Amid increased competition, many Israeli fresh herb growers have had to find ways to deal with a tighter market. To address that, Genesis Fresh Herbs is focusing more of their business on growing and selling high-quality basil.“Almost 90 percent of what we do is growing different kinds of basil,” said.....
Figs to start shipping from Israel
Harvesting of early Summer fig varieties will begin soon in Israel, and volumes for export will soon follow.“We'll start the harvest next week for the Early Figaro fig variety,” said Agriver's Bezalel Madmon. Agriver is one of Israel's largest exporters of fresh produce, and Bezalel said they'll have good.....
Vietnam: Fruit and vegetable sector strives towards more export
Dinh Van Huong, chairman of Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said his sector was setting its export turnover target at $i billion US this year.Over the past five years the export turnover for fruits and vegetables has risen, on average, 25% per annum, rising from $305 million back in 2007 to $829.....
Extending berry shelf life with Xtend MAP
Berries are highly perishable and the limiting factors for prolonged storage are typically dehydration and decay. Decay by Botrytis and Rhizopus are by far the greatest cause of postharvest losses. Decay can be controlled by prompt cooling, but in addition, since berries tolerate elevated CO2 concentrations.....
Vietnam re-issues EU export certification
As of the end of June, Vietnamese fresh fruit and vegetables will be granted quarantine certificates permitting their export to the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced. Nguyen Van Nga, head of MARD’s Flora Quarantine Department, said he would begin to re-issue the.....
Philippines: Banana shipments to Japan and China up
Banana growers belonging to the Federation of ARB, banana co-operatives in Davao, are now exporting an additional 6,000 boxes of fruit per week to Japan and China.Fedco president Ireneo Dalayon said they started shipping out 3,000 boxes of bananas to another new buyer from Japan early this year and that is.....
Mixed bag for Israeli produce prices
This year has brought changing market situations for Israeli growers. While carrot prices started off strong, competing products from Europe cut down on prices. Grapes had an off year, but potato growers were pleased with the way this year has progressed.“Demand was good and prices were high for conventional.....
China: "Toxic" ginger crop destroyed
Farmers accused of using an illegal pesticide, Adicarb, on their crop of ginger in Shandong Province have plowed it under and switched to growing peanuts after a China Central Television report on Saturday revealed their illegal use of a restricted chemical.Farmers in more than 10 villages in Xiashan.....
Indonesia releases new import regulation details
Details are now starting to emerge of Indonesia's plans to loosen horticultural import regulations. The country had faced mounting criticism over what many saw as barriers to free trade.The country says it is moving to a less complicated, seasonal system to stabilise prices, regulate distribution and manage.....
Black garlic supplies steady as popularity grows
Increasing awareness of black garlic throughout the world has steadily increased demand for the product, even as supplies of it coming out of China remain steady. Sustained demand coupled with no increase in supplies has made for strong prices for the product.“This year, the total crop quantity for Chinese.....
Pakistan: 175,000 ton mango export target announced
All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Importers Exporters and Merchants Association (PFVA) has set a target of 175,000 tons of mango, worth $60 million, for export in 2013.The export season for mango, the Ministry of Commerce has announced, will start on May 25th. Waheed Ahmed, chairman of PFVA, said that the.....
Fresh AgroMashov
Israel: Akol to unveil advanced greenhouse growing system
At the 2013 Fresh AgroMashov Exhibition the Israeli agricultural software company AKOL, will unveil the most advanced system in the world for growing fresh produce in greenhouses. It has been ranked 5th (in 2012) in the list of innovative companies in the world by the magazine "Fast Company" - for its.....
Iran's fruit import stands at $354 million
Iran imported 481,000 tons of fruits, valued at $354 million, in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, ILNA quoted Iranian Customs Administration Director Abbas Memarnejad as saying on Sunday.The fruit imports fell by 40 percent and 36 percent in weight and value, respectively, year on.....
Philippines: Garlic and onion growers seek support
The Philippines onion and garlic growers had a successful first cropping season this year and continued to urge the Department of Agriculture (DA) to strengthen its program to promote the cultivation of two agricultural products.Arnold De Sagon, president of the Itbayat Garlic Producers and Multi-Purpose.....
Pakistan International Airlines focus on mango exports
Pakistan International Airlines, which has recently been under fire for failing to provide sufficient space for mango exports, has finally mapped out a new business strategy aimed at maximising export potential for the fruit. It is thought that the airline will now take on a 25% share of the revenue.....
Londoners get taste of Indian mango
London has been flooded with Indian mangoes as part of a Vaisakhi festival in the British capital.Some 20,000 boxes of Alphonsos have been flown to London for free distribution, either as cut fruit, or milk shakes on Trafalgar Square. “This is the first mango festival of this scale to be held in London,”.....
Taiwan gets green light for lychees to Australia
DAFF has given consent for the import of Taiwanese fresh lychees into Australia. The fruit will be subject to a range of quarantine conditions before entrance. The country has been waiting since 2003 when it first applied for entry in Australia. Australia has been importing fresh lychees from China and.....
New legislation aims to give local growers better price
Sri Lanka: Potato import tariff increased
The Sri Lankan Government has revised the special commodity tax on potato imports in a bid to ensure better prices for local growers. A special commodity levy charged on a kilo of imported potatoes has been increased from Rs15 to Rs 25 ($0.11-0.19 US), the Finance and Planning Ministry announced.Source:.....
TADECO gets PhilGAP second year in a row
Cavendish banana producer and exporter Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (TADECO), the first to obtain Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) certification in 2012, has done it again in 2013.It was joined this year by its sister company, the Anflo Banana Corporation.TADECO and Anflo.....
Migros rises to 2 year high
Migros surged to a two-year high after Carrefour's Turkish joint-venture partner said it is considering buying the grocery chain.The shares rose 2.4 percent to 23.8 liras at the close in Istanbul, the highest level since May 2011. Almost 6.2 million shares traded, more than six times the stock’s three-month.....
India: Tamil Nadu to unveil organic project
The Tamil Nadu State government will soon come out with a comprehensive organic agriculture policy, according to K. Ramasamy, Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU).Dr Ramasamy said that various components of the policy, including the formation of a Department of Sustainable Organic.....
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