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Vietnamese dragon fruit sold to Japan and Korea
Vietnamese dragon fruit is ready to go to Japan and South Korea, but only after Japan lifts its ban on the fruit and Korea agrees for a trial import.After a ten-year ban, Japanese importers have agreed to import fresh dragon fruit again. The first lot of fresh dragon fruit has already been exported to Yasaka..... 0 comments

AU: Mango growers want to boost Japan trade
Mango exporters in far north Queensland are looking at ways to increase exports to a lucrative Asian market.Single mangoes in season sell for up to $A100 in Japan as a prestige gift.Mareeba exporter Bruce Nastasi says the capacity to treat the fruit before export will have to be increased, and shipping is..... 0 comments

India: Turmeric production may improve shortly
Fundamental AnalysisSpot prices were quoted at steady rates tracking fall in the futures. Demand from the stockists ahead of winter season is present. Overseas orders have reduced due to high quotes.Prices at the futures may depend now on the crop prospects of turmeric. In short term (till November) prices..... 0 comments

Costa Rica: Pineapple is about to exceed the foreign exchange earnings of the banana
The difference in sales is only $30 million, according to inter-annual figures.Pineapple generated more income when comparing earnings in the first nine months.The pineapple could turn very quickly into the main Costa Rican agricultural export, exceeding revenues for bananas. This is demonstrated by the..... 0 comments

India: Now, SMS service for grape, pomegranate farmers
After the successful implementation of short message service (SMS) to cotton and soybean growers in the last season, the state agriculture department has decided to provide weather forecast, names of government recommended chemicals, information about pests through SMSes to grape and pomegranate growers in..... 0 comments

Swine flu causes surge of garlic sales in Serbia
Belgrade's open-air markets were a welter of busy customers on Friday, pushing and shoving to buy one item — garlic.In Serbia, garlic has long been regarded as a good luck charm and a guard against many ailments. As far as the public is concerned, that includes the swine flu pandemic, which recently has..... 0 comments

US: Valley kiwi growers hopeful about 2009
California kiwifruit farmers are bouncing back this year after struggling through a bitter frost last season and rising foreign imports.This year's crop is forecast to be about 16% larger than the 2008 crop, and a weak U.S. dollar may slow imports from the chief foreign competitor, Italy."This year we are in..... 0 comments

Vietnam: Dragonfruit flies to Japan as ban ends
The first batch of Vietnamese dragonfruit, exported by Yasaka Fruit Processing Company, arrived in Japan yesterday after a 10-year ban due to fruit fly infestation, according to officials.Le Duc Khanh, deputy head of the Plant Protection Research Institute’s Insect Research Department, said fresh fruit..... 0 comments

NZ: Kiwifruit processing giant set to expand
A kiwifruit industry behemoth has the all clear to expand adding a further 5 million trays to its production schedule.Seeka Kiwifruit Industries plans to buy Mt Maunganui-based kiwifruit and avocado packing and coolstore company Te Awanui Huka Pak in a $24 million shares and cash deal.Te Awanui Huka Pak is..... 0 comments

AU: Bowen mangoes on the way for Christmas
The mango harvest in Bowen in North Queensland is underway, with most producers around the region around a week into picking.Ben Martin grows the R2E2 mango variety just outside town, and says he'll be powering through the season, hoping to get all the fruit packed and sent off by Christmas Day.He says his..... 0 comments

India: Pomegranate exports hit all-time low
Pomegranate exports from Karnataka have hit an all-time low of 1,865 metric tonnes during 2008-09, a drop of 41 per cent compared to previous fiscal. The state, which had seen a peak export of 30,000 tonnes in 2004-05, has been witnessing drop in both production and exports since then due to the attack of..... 0 comments

Growing Interest in Garlic Varieties
Some use it to repel vampires. Some use it to alleviate everything from heart disease to high blood pressure to cancer. But most just enjoy its pungent flavor. Garlic has been celebrated in folklore, used as a medicine and added to foods for thousands of years. And, while its recent repute has been..... 0 comments

India: Heavy rainfall may dent export of major crops
The heavy and incessant rain that has hit Maharashtra and Gujarat over the last three days, is all set to dent the export of cash crops such as grapes, pomegranates, alphonso mangoes and cashewnuts. Output of other crucial crops such as rice, sugarcane and cotton is also expected to suffer in Konkan,..... 0 comments

Philippines: Low-cost water purifying system uses malunggay seeds
The Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) of the Department of Science and Technology has developed a low-cost water purifying system (WPS) that uses malunggay seeds.The WPS is composed of ITDI-developed technologies such as ceramic filters and granulated activated carbon.It costs about..... 0 comments

AU: Mango season lacks usual magic
As you read this, the North Queensland mango season harvest is moving into full swing.During the lead-up to Christmas, mangoes always seem plentiful on the supermarket shelf, but recent weather conditions may have a negative effect, farmer John Morton (pictured) said.“As long as farmers have up-to-date pest..... 0 comments

US: Maui pineapple ends operations
After suffering severe financial losses, Maui Land & Pineapple Company announces the end of pineapple production on the Valley Isle. “This is very sad news for our community.”For generations of Hawai‘i residents, pineapple has been regarded as a sweet symbol of the fruits of their labor. But for some,..... 0 comments

Multan Mango Growers Association Multan,Pakistan.
A meeting of high-powered delegation of scientists and agriculture marketing experts from the Department of Agriculture USA was convened in the office of the Multan Mango Growers at 214-215, Metro Plaza, Multan Cantt,it was chaired by Mr Farid Khakwani the senior vice president of MMG. The luminaries in the..... 0 comments

From speedcop to tropical fruit grower in Wales
Keith Selfe patrolled the busy M1 motorway in Nottinghamshire for a period of 32 years. Presently together with his wife Kathryn he pursues something completely different: establishing a nursery on the isle of Angleseyclose tothe coast of Wales, where he grows fruit, such as pineapple, bananas, lemons,..... 0 comments

Uganda: Drought, transport fares drain pineapples of juices
The prolonged drought has affected pineapple farming in Uganda leading to a sharp increase in consumer prices.A mini survey by Business Power around Kampala city markets revealed that the general supply of fresh pineapples has drastically dropped.Pineapple traders say they are experiencing an acute scarcity..... 0 comments

SA: Plums - high in vitamins and a great immune-booster
Juicy plums are a great addition to the office fruit basket, high in carbohydrates, low in calories and a great source of vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and fibre.Just as well then, that a bumper crop of succulently sweet South African plums are expected thanks to the introduction of..... 0 comments

India: Vazhakkulam pineapple all set to sail overseas
The Vazhakkulam pineapple is all set to enter the global market with the commissioning of the integrated pineapple pack house at Nadukkara Agro Processing Company Limited (NAPCL), a State Government undertaking at Vazhakkulam in Avoly Panchayat near Muvattupuzha.The pack house, scheduled to be commissioned..... 0 comments

India: Rs 2,260-cr project to boost coconut farming
It’s going to be a massive coconut chopping exercise in the state for the next few years. ‘Replanting and Rejuvenation of Coconut Gardens’ - the centrally-sponsored scheme costing around Rs 2,260.86 crore aims to eliminate all disease- affected coconut palms in eight districts of the state.The State..... 0 comments

US: Missiana charged with mislabeling sweet potatoes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed actions against two grower-shippers it says shipped sweet potatoes that were grown in one state but were labeled as coming from another.On Oct. 23, the USDA announced Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act administrative actions against Sirmon Produce Inc.,..... 0 comments

India: Lucknow farmers benefiting from papaya farming
Farmers in Lucknow have taken up papaya cultivation believing it to be a lucrative option over other crops.“Every 3-4th day, we are dispatching seven to eight quintals of papaya while rest of the fruit will give dividends by November only. It is a lucrative option,” said Ashish Mishra, a papaya farmer.“The..... 0 comments

Consumers advised to nick and peel avocados to get to the nutrient-rich outer section
New research from UCLA shows California Avocados contribute additional beneficial carotenoids
New research published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reported that University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers were able to identify four additional carotenoids in the California Hass avocado, which had not been quantified until this study. In addition, the researchers reported..... 0 comments

British market recalls mothy figs
The Asda supermarket chain, Britian's second-largest, Friday recalled its Wholefoods brand of Garland Figs because of a larvae infestation, the company said.Some customers allegedly found larvae belonging to fig moths in packs with the barcode 05050854916182, Sky News reported.In a statement, Asda said:..... 0 comments

US: Lethal fungus endangers our avocado trees
One of tropical America's oldest and most important fruit crops is being threatened by the laurel wilt fungus, causing both the commercial grower and the backyard gardener in South Florida to worry: Should I plant avocados?Here in Florida, West Indian avocados were crossed with Guatemalan types to create..... 0 comments

NZ: Apple, banana hold key to ideal kiwifruit
The "holy grail" of kiwifruit would peel like a banana or eat like an apple, says marketer Zespri.Chief executive Lain Jager says an easy-peel kiwifruit or one with a skin that could be eaten with the fruit is the industry's ultimate goal - but in the meantime it is chasing other goals to cement New..... 0 comments

India: Turmeric prices may go up on poor stocks
Fundamental AnalysisSpot prices in the previous week were quoted at higher rates due to improved demand from the domestic market. Demand from the stockists ahead of winter season is present. Overseas orders have reduced due to high quotes.Prices at the futures may depend now on the crop prospects of..... 0 comments

Investment will fast-track plant breeding research and the development of new kiwifruit cultivars
Government and ZESPRI announce $35.7 million investment in ZESPRI/Plant & Food Research Consortium
The Hon Dr Wayne Mapp, Minister of Research Science and Technology, has announced a $35.7 million dollar investment into a seven-year ZESPRI/Plant & Food Research programme to develop new kiwifruit varieties.The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology will contribute $15.2 million to the..... 0 comments

US: Consumers open up to wide varieties of garlic
Reports indicate that the demand for various varieties of garlic is growing in the world, with results of a recent study of 10 garlic cultivars touted to help farmers identify niche regional markets and offer new, in-demand garlic varieties to consumers.While most grocery stores in carry the familiar white,..... 0 comments

India: Turmeric may help offer treatments for colon cancer, psoriasis, alzheimer's
Curcumin, an ingredient commonly found in yellow curry, is being viewed as a promising disease-fighter. Scientists are working on developing nano-sized capsules containing the curry ingredient in an effort to improve its absorption and effectiveness in the body.Curcumin is a potent antioxidant found in the..... 0 comments

Canada: Garlic farmer uses compost harvested from invasive plants at Carding Mill Pond
While others are completing their harvesting, Sudbury resident Michael O’Connor is just beginning to get his crop in the ground. Fall is planting season for garlic, and O’Connor is planting his new garlic field off Dutton Road (the field runs along the northwest side of Carding Mill Pond). He expects to have..... 0 comments

Pomegranate extracts treat diseases of inflammation
Emerging research continues to strengthen the evidence that pomegranate extracts can be used to treat chronic inflammation, and the diseases that go along with it.Short-term inflammation is a normal immune response, but chronic inflammation has been linked to a number of diseases including heart disease,..... 0 comments

India: State yet to exploit cashew plantation potential
As one of the most important commercial plantation crops, cashew converts wastelands into ‘gold mines’. But Orissa is yet to realise its full potential.With more emphasis on horticultural crops and agro-based industries by the State Government after the poor employment generation by proposed industrial units..... 0 comments

US: Illinois researchers to develop gender-bending papayas
File this under the “Who Knew?” category.Turns out papayas come in three sexual varieties: male, female and hermaphrodite. And its the hermaphrodites that produce the flavorful fruit that’s often sold commercially and winds up in your fruit parfait.From the grower’s perspective, hermaphrodite plants come..... 0 comments

Starfruit now available on the European market as an exotic ready-to-eat snack
This week Hagé International, The Greenery’s importer, will be introducing an exotic ready-to-eat product: Carambola Gold. The Carambola Gold is a sweet and fresh-tasting golden-skinned variety of the well-known green starfruit.Hagé International will be the first to introduce this new Carambola variety on..... 0 comments

India: HP Kiwi farmers seek help for better marketing
Kiwi growers in Himachal Pradesh want the Central Government to help them develop a proper marketing network for their fruit.Kiwi also known as Chinese Gooseberry, is gaining popularity among farmers of the region but due to the lack of proper marketing network they are unable to fetch good returns for their..... 0 comments

US: Carotenoids found in CA avocados
Researchers at UCLA identified four previously unquantified carotenoids in the California Hass avocado. Carotenoids are a class of phytonutrients, which are thought to help prevent many chronic diseases.The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reports that the total carotenoid..... 0 comments

India: Trees laden with mangoes in November, experts say climate change a factor
Mangoes usually mean the onset of summer in Gujarat. But this year, the farmers in Saurashtra's hinterland, famous for its Kesar variety of mangoes, are a perplexed lot– the mango trees are either laden with fruits or have flowers in full bloom.Agricultural scientists have undertaken the study in the..... 0 comments

India: Now Malihabadi Dussehri would sell with authenticity stickers on them
Even before the mango trees start blossoming this season, the mango growers in the Lucknow Mango Belt are getting active to harvest advantages that the patent could give it. The globally famous variety of Dussehri from the belt got patented under Geogriphical Indication (GI) Act this summer. However, no..... 0 comments

India: Turmeric prices may only decrease on crop info
Fundamental AnalysisSpot prices were quoted at higher rates at the domestic mandis due to better arrivals and improved demand from the stockists ahead of winter season. Overseas orders are expected to be placed in the coming days.Prices at the futures may depend now on the crop prospects of turmeric. In..... 0 comments

Research offers guidelines for farmers, variety for consumers
US: Sustainably grown garlic
Consumer interest in new and diverse types of garlic is on the rise. Fueled by factors including the growth of the "local foods" movement, interest in world cuisines, and widespread reports touting its numerous health benefits, demand for high-quality, locally grown garlic is increasing throughout the..... 0 comments

Indonesia: Largest coconut production center on brink of collapse
Coconut production in Indragiri Hilir regency, Riau, the country's biggest production center for the commodity, is on the brink of collapse as hundreds of hectares of plantation are being destroyed by either pests or erosion.The Indragiri Hilir Horticulture Agency horticulture product processing and..... 0 comments

Israel: Agrexco double avocado exports
Israeli avocado exports are up almost 50% on last year. Exports reached around 32,000 tons last season, this season it will be 50 - 55,000 tons. Agrexco exports 70% of the total volume under the Carmel brand. "The harvest period for avocados in Israel from mid August for the early varieties headed for the..... 0 comments

Queen pineapple exported to S Korea
The Philippines is taking an aggressive move to market its queen pineapple as a farmers' cooperative in Labo, Camarines Norte is aiming to export it to South Korea on a regular basis while briskly selling off an "all natural" packed queen pineapple juice to the domestic market.The Labo Progressive Multi..... 0 comments

Sri Lanka: Coconut industry in serious trouble:unp
The main opposition UNP yesterday charged that the coconut industry in the country was in serious trouble with 60 percent of coconut mills in the North Western province alone having been closed down.Opposition Leader of the North Western Province Shamal Senarath told a news conference yesterday that the..... 0 comments

Top quality and good supplies expected for California Kiwifruit
Unlike last year’s frost-ravaged season, this year the California kiwifruit industry ispredicting a larger crop of excellent quality. “Last year, California produced just 5.6 million trays, but this year’s crop is more in line with normal production levels of 6.5 million seven-pound tray equivalents,”..... 0 comments

US: Great Falls students sample exotic fruits and vegetables
The Montana Office of Public Instruction announced on Thursday that it plans to help Montana kids get more fruits and vegetables in their diet.And to help pay for the menu change, OPI is distributing more than $800,000 in grant funds to schools around the state.Mountain View Elementary School in Great Falls..... 0 comments

Consumers Advised to nick and peel avocados to get to the nutrient-rich outer section
New Research from UCLA shows California Avocados contribute additional beneficial carotenoids
New research published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reported that University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers were able to identify four additional carotenoids in the California Hass avocado, which had not been quantified until this study. In addition, the researchers reported..... 0 comments

Indian mangoes can attain cost competitive edge in US: BARC
Indian mangoes can attain a cost competitive edge in the US market having successfully shipped 14.3 tonnes of the radiation processedfruit to the country by sea route, a top scientist said."For the first time India has successfully transshipped 14.3 tonnes of radiation processed mangoes to US by sea route..... 0 comments

NZ: Kiwi growers get the pip
The kiwifruit growers' organisation is to review how its $500,000 annual funding is sourced, in a sign Turners & Growers' bid to destabilise dominant exporter Zespri's hold on the $1 billion industry may be hitting home.New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc, which represents the country's 2700 growers, last..... 0 comments

US: Pineapple, apple top list of children’s favorite fruits
Sweet, succulent, sticky - what is it about pineapples?"Well, they're just really good," said Jayden Kay, a fourth-grader at McKinley Elementary School.Pineapple is by far the most popular item in a snack program that serves fresh fruits and vegetables to students at eight Billings elementary schools."It's..... 1 comments

NZ: Avocado industry declared free from costly disease
The avocado industry has been declared free from a disease that could have meant heavy costs for growers, after years of confusion over whether it was present in orchards in the first place.Avocado Sunblotch Viroid is a virus that can reduce production. It causes blotches on the fruit's skin that can make it..... 0 comments

Canada: Garlic can't compete with Aspirin
Both garlic and Aspirin have anti-platelet activity – they prevent your blood from forming clots that can clog your arteries and cause a heart attack, or travel to your brain and trigger a stroke.So if you're taking both garlic and Aspirin for their blood-thinning abilities, you could safely skip the..... 0 comments

AU: Mango charity starts fruit rush
The man touched by mango madness earlier this week has raised about $1800 for charity by giving his fruit away in exchange for a donation.Kevin Horner, 59, gave away about four tonnes of the tasty fruit this week.One tight-fisted bloke took away a trailer load - and only shelled out $20. But the rest, Mr..... 0 comments

Only a few days left to take advantage of their offer:
UGBP promotes ginger and papaya from Brazil
The ginger season has been very good in 2009, with a high quality product that has been sold to very demanding markets in several countries in Europe and the United States. There is very little time to make the sales, UGBP representatives clarifies. For papaya, the quality has also been excellent and it..... 0 comments

AU: Cold weather curbs mango madness
There has been a drop in demand for Northern Territory mangoes in southern states, the president of NT Mango Industry Association says.Murray Linton says a long dry season in the Top End has meant most farmers have had a good quality harvest.But he says people are not buying as many Territory mangoes in..... 0 comments

India: Kiwi farmers in Kullu seek help for better marketing of products
Kiwi growers in Himachal Pradesh want the Central Government to help them develop a proper marketing network for their fruit.Kiwi also known as Chinese gooseberry, is gaining popularity among farmers of the region, but due to the lack of proper marketing network they are unable to fetch good returns for..... 0 comments

Israel: Avocado exports see 50% increase
Israeli vegetable growers expect to reach 50,000 tons in exports, revenues totalling some €70 million, compared with €47 million last seasonAgrexco reported Sunday of an increase of over 50% in its export of avocados from Israel. Avocado is the top-seller among fruits in Europe, and the largest product in..... 0 comments

AU: Mangosteen could be super-healthy, as well as super-tasty
One of the world's most prized tropical fruits could soon be used to combat diabetes and heart disease.Mangosteens are revered for their taste and are known as "the queen of tropical fruits".United States researchers found obese people who consumed one litre of mangosteen juice a day reduced inflammation and..... 0 comments

Ireland: Eat turmeric to fight cancer
A study was released today about the cancer-fighting power of a turmeric, the spice that gives curry powder and most American-style mustards that characteristic bright yellow color. In an article titled Curry Spice 'Kills Cancer Cells', the BBC reports:"An extract found in the bright yellow curry spice..... 0 comments

Fiji: Sweet mango income for Shrikesh
Christmas is less than two months away and as usual, its arrival is marked by seasoned fruits and vegetable.Abundance of mangos in Fiji later in a year heralds the arrival of Christmas.Seasoned fruits are an income source for many.For 25-year-old Rajneel Shrikesh of Rakiraki, mango season is when his..... 0 comments

AU: Mango madness forces grower giveaway
A rural area mango grower is sick of being shafted by southern buyers so he's donating his crop to charity.Kevin Horner, 59, has been growing mangoes for 20 years and has decided to open his gates to everyone.He will donate all proceeds to the Leukaemia Foundation."I've got about 300 mango trees and they're..... 0 comments

Ghana: EDIF rescues mango farmers
Frustrated mango farmers in the Northern region have expressed joy after the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) purchased all their mango seedlings.The farmers could not find buyers for their nursed mango seedlings, plunging them into heavy debts and operational difficulties. EDIF, after a..... 0 comments

China: Pi Zhou Tian Garlic Co. Ltd
Pi Zhou Tian Garlic Co. Ltd., established in 1998, is located in the famous ‘home town of garlic’, Suyangshan Town. Suyangshan Town was one of the earliest to register as an industrial corporation, it is situated in the Pizhou Jiangsu Province which has convenient transportation links. The company’s premises..... 0 comments

Abigail Marin AgroLatin (Mexico)
Tropical fruits from Veracruz and Puebla are exported with a new look
AgroLatin brings together producers of Veracruz (in the Gulf of Mexico) and Puebla to create a very wide range of production. Abigail Marin an AgroLatin representative presents all of the aspects of the company.The company, which is the result of an alliance between two families who are traditionally..... 0 comments

Elimination of kiwifruit tariff welcomed for ZESPRI’s largest market in SEA
ZESPRI eyes further investment in Malaysia, following signing of NZ-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ZESPRI, the world’s largest marketer of Kiwifruit, today welcomed the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and Malaysia. Speaking from the FTA signing in Kuala Lumpur, ZESPRI CEO, Lain Jager, said Malaysia had grown to be one of the company’s most important markets..... 0 comments

India: Coconut machine hunt draws 350
The Kerala competition to put together a ground-stationed device to pluck coconuts has drawn over 350 applicants ranging from engineering students to scientists.The deadline for submitting proposals to win the Rs 10-lakh prize announced by the Kerala industries department expired yesterday.Among the..... 0 comments

Syria: Idleb produces 11.000 tones of pomegranates
Idleb city's production of pomegranates reaches this season 11274 tones, said Eng. Najeb Tabbaa, Ariculture Director in Idleb city (north Syria).Speaking to SNS today, Eng. Tabbaa said : " the number of pomegranates trees 352.000..most of them are fruitful"."Around 85% of planted area, 762h, are in Harem and..... 0 comments

India: Persimmon fruit harvest quite a treat in Himachal
Himachal Pradesh is expecting a bumper harvest of the exotic persimmon with the trees literally drooping under the weight of the luscious fruit even though unfavourable weather through the season hit other crops like apple and cherry.Locally called “Japani Phal”, or the Japanese fruit, persimmon looks like a..... 0 comments

AU: Early season mangoes a good buy
The onset of warmer weather has heralded the early arrival of the glorious mango, a seasonal favourite for many Queenslanders.Nigella Lawson says a good mango is best eaten in the bath due to the dribbles, but for many Queenslanders, the more juice, the better the mango.The Calypso and Kensington Pride (more..... 0 comments

Pakistan: Special mango trees to bear fruit throughout year
A farmer has successfully grown mango trees in Mirpurkhas that can bear fruit throughout the year. The mangoes can be seen hanging by these trees even in the winter season.Mir Ali, a farmer of Mirpuskhas, has prepared saplings of mango trees in Dehkak area which can bear fruit in all the seasons of..... 0 comments

AU: Foreign papaya seeds time bomb?
Foreign papaya seeds brought into Australia that carry the exotic plant disease bacterial crown rot (BCR) could devastate Queensland's growing $30 million papaya industry.Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) senior plant pathologist Lynton Vawdrey is urging papaya producers to avoid importing..... 0 comments

Pakistan: Mango export surpasses target by 8,000 metric tonnes
The country has the potential to increase its mango export by up to 200,000-300,000 metric tonnes, say exporters and farmersMango export surpassed all the previous export records by touching a figure of 132,000 metric tonnes at the end of the mango export season during the current month as against the set..... 0 comments

Brunei: Bumper fruit haves this sesson
According to John Keats, one of England's' greatest poets, autumn is a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.Brunei has its season of fruits and this year, we seem to have a bumper crop. The trees are laden with rambutans, taraps, longans and durians.Fruit season is also a time when mums, dads and the kids..... 0 comments

US: Garlic for reducing colds
Garlic is good for the heart and may ward off cancer, but is it good for warding off colds? The New York Times Really? Colum looks at that claim and concludes the research is limited, but shows garlic may help keep colds at bay.They mention one 2001 double blind study of 146 healthy adults who took either a..... 0 comments

Africa: Small-scale pineapple growers want more support
Karim Diabaté, looks questioningly at his vast 20 hectare pineapple plantation in Bonoua in south-eastern Côte d'Ivoire. "I'm asking myself if if I'll get the money I need for in time for the inputs I need and keep my plants going."For two months, 35-year-old Diabaté has made several trips between his..... 0 comments

AU: Big dry threatens pineapple harvest
Queensland's pineapple crop is in danger from dry weather.Endangered plantations around Yeppoon on the Central Queensland coast make up about 30 per cent of the state's harvest.Tropical Pines sales and marketing manager Joe Craggs says the crop could be severely reduced if it doesn't rain soon."It's been I..... 0 comments

India: Why JK Govt is allergic to garlic?
As if corroborating the allegations of traders, the government has not lifted the ban imposed on the import of more than six items that come from Pakistan Administered Kashmir.Interestingly the government enforced ban on items, which were gaining popularity in Kashmir. The banned items include Ginger,..... 0 comments

Baobab export coup for African farmers
The fruit of the mighty baobab is to be processed and exported to US food markets, bringing in better incomes for rural African farmers. The tree’s fruit and leaves are both edible, and the baobab fruit is particularly nourishing and rich in vitamins and antioxidants.Now, the benefits of baobab (Adansonia..... 0 comments

AU: ZESPRI Releases Stable Forecast despite Challenging Marketplace
In its latest industry forecast, ZESPRI has announced a $48 million increase in payments to growers, compared with last season, despite a challenging market.The company anticipates that final payments will be $827 million ($8.06 per tray), compared with $779 million ($7.59 per tray) last year. This is an..... 0 comments

China: Tech & Marketing help for ginger farmers
A modern-type bunker storage and a conventional-type cave storage. These types of storage have been in use in China for centuries. A cave or bunker is dug underground where ginger is stored less than 25 degree Celsius, and can last up to two years without rotting. CONA International is planning to build..... 0 comments

RI seeking revocation of Japan`s mango import ban
Indonesia will soon ask Japan to revoke its ban on mango imports from the country that has been in place for the past five years, an agriculture ministry official said here on Wednesday.The director of international marketing, Suryadi Abdul Munir, said around 88 percent of mangoes in Japan were imported.He..... 0 comments

Philippines: Coconut exports up 32% in July
Philippine exports of coconut products rose by 32 percent in July to 183,887 metric tons in copra terms compared to year-ago level, due to a surge in coconut oil shipments during the month.However, data from the United Coconut Associations of the Philippines showed that total export receipts dropped by 31.5..... 0 comments

Cuba introduces new pineapple variety that triples yield
Farmers from this central Cuban province started sowing a new variety of pineapple that triples the yield of previous ones and has higher concentrations of sugar and Vitamin C, according to experts.Known as MD-2, the species is capable of producing from 80 to 120 tons per hectare, three times more than the..... 0 comments

Hefestus, Ltd., Israel, provides multiple solutions and longer shelf life for ready-to-eat pomegranates.
Ultimate solution for ready-to-eat pomegranate
Delicious pomegranate places challenges even for the dedicated healthy consumer since peeling and picking the fruited arils takes time and effort. "pomegranate has become favorite superfruit among modern consumers, thanks to its antioxidant health benefits and exotic taste," says Shtemer Oded, President..... 0 comments

NZ: Factory puts pressure on to extend life of avocados
New Zealand avocados could be sold in prepackaged halves or as guacamole that can be stored for as long as 60 days if a company aiming to match the industry's $50 million export value achieves its goals.Fressure Foods, a new company set up mainly to help cope with an oversupply of avocados expected in about..... 0 comments

India: Ginger production seminar on Oct 21
A one-day seminar on production and post harvest management and marketing of ginger will be jointly organised by the CONA International and state government of Nagaland which will be held on October 21, from 9:00 am onwards, at Ganesh Nagar, Industrial Area, Dimapur.A press note issued by C Mozhui, Joint..... 0 comments

India: Turmeric is getting hotter and hotter
Spot prices at the domestic mandis were quoted at higher rates due to better offtakes. Overseas orders are expected to be placed in the coming days.Recent rains in turmeric growing areas of Duggiralla and Sangli and possible damage to the crops is supporting the prices to strengthen. Demand from the domestic..... 0 comments

Uganda: Farmers spice up incomes with garlic growing
Like many farmers tilling the slopes of Mt Rwenzori, 300 kilometres west of Kampala, Charles Katusabe experimented with different crops after the collapse of the coffee economy at the turn of the millennium.The vanilla and moringa crops that promised so much then didn’t do well. “We had lots of unsold..... 0 comments

US (CA): Mangosteen juice may lower inflammation
Mangosteen juice has anti-inflammatory properties which could help prevent heart disease and diabetes in obese patients, U.S. researchers said.Mangosteen is a tropical fruit, not related to the mango, and is rare in the produce sections of grocery stores in North America and Europe, but available frozen or..... 0 comments

US (CA): Market Mobile cultivating new food products
The Market Mobile program didn’t just get local food on the table, it created some new opportunities.In Little Compton, Wishing Stone Farm’s Skip Paul has been experimenting with growing ginger, including a pink variety. The chefs have tried it and love its intensity, and Paul has decided to ramp up his..... 0 comments

AU: Pineapple crop threatened by lack of rain
Dry weather is threatening Queensland's pineapple crop.Crops at Yeppoon on the Central Queensland coast make up about 30 per cent of the state's harvest.Tropical Pines sales and marketing manager Joe Craggs says the crop could be severely reduced if it doesn't rain soon."It's been I think almost 200 days..... 0 comments

Chef Curtis Stone and Former MLB All-Star Ryne Sandberg Promote Hass Avocados for Sports Get-Togethers
US (CA):HASS Avocado Board scores a big hit with game day entertaining campain
With baseball in post-season and both professional and college football in full swing, the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is implementing a game day entertaining marketing campaign that encourages consumers to further incorporate Hass avocados into their game day meals. The effort aims to increase avocado sales..... 0 comments

National Mango Board Adds Flair to Holidays with a Focus on Charity
The National Mango Board (NMB) is spearheading a unique holiday program this year to finish 2009 with an abundance of activity. The NMB and Ingrid Hoffmann have partnered with the Food and Finance High School, which teaches students about culinary arts and finance as it relates to the food industry. They’ve..... 0 comments

Afghanistan looks to squeeze new markets from pomegranates
Clogged with overloaded trucks, construction firm yards, hardware shops and police checkpoints, the Jalalabad Road on the outskirts of Kabul is an unlikely place for an agricultural revolution.But beyond the impatient traffic, a high wall topped with razor wire and heavily guarded iron gates, the Omaid Bahar..... 0 comments

AU: New exotic fruit variety from UQ research
Positive results from consumer testing and nutritional analysis indicate a bright future for a new exotic fruit variety developed by The University of Queensland.The bright to dark red attractive fruit of the Red Bayberry (Myrica rubra) have been produced in China for centuries, long and enthusiastically..... 0 comments

AU: Warning about papaya disease
The Queensland Primary Industries Department is warning the country's papaya growers that if the bacterial crown rot disease gets into Australia, it would cost millions of dollars and devastate the industry.Bacterial crown rot, or BCR, infects the fruit, discolouring it and making it unsaleable.The disease..... 0 comments

AU: Dry weather slows pineapple harvest
A North Queensland pineapple grower says the dry weather has put his harvest more than a month behind schedule.John Zelanker grows pineapples just outside Mackay in North Queensland, and he says a long wet season at the start of the year, followed by a tough dry spell, also has meant the year's crop is..... 0 comments

Fiji: Mango season is here again
Fresh mangoes went on sale in Nasinu yesterday ahead of the Christmas season.Traditionally a time for mangoes, pineapples and local nuts -- the final quarter of the year is popular with fruit lovers.A quick check yesterday showed that sellers were already on the roadside with fresh fruit. The availability of..... 0 comments

Philippines: Avocado cultivation gaining ground in South Cotabato
Commercial avocado cultivation has gained ground in South Cotabato, with 80 hectares already planted to an early maturing variety bound for export, local Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) officials said on Tuesday.Aurelio A. Banggayong, Jr., BAS South Cotabato chief, said that Standard Philippines..... 0 comments

The Chilean Kiwi Committee has a highly original strategy to make inroads into the international markets
Oscar Villegas, Product Manager for Kiwi and Avocado for the company Subsole, comments on the inroads made in the Chilean market to consolidate the kiwi industry.In October 2008, at the Kiwi Seminar organized by ASOEX that is periodically organized for different products, Oscar Villegas of Subsole and..... 0 comments

India turmeric hits upper circuit on crop damage
Indian turmeric futures hit upper circuit on Monday tracking the firm spot market, where traders betting on crop damage increased purchases, analysts said.Major turmeric producing states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra received heavy rains earlier this month.Traders were trimming production..... 0 comments

India: Good rains see spurt in garlic acreage
Good rains in Madhya Pradesh this year may bring some relief to regular users of garlic. After a production decline of 40% last year on the back of drought, garlic acreage in the country is expected to be substantially higher this year.This will lead to both, higher production and a fall in prices of the..... 0 comments

Bangladesh: Onion and garlic prices spiralling
Onion prices witnessed around 50 percent hike to sell between Tk 30 and Tk 44 per kg while the price of garlic continued to show an upward trend with around eight percent increase in a month.Importers said a fall in production of garlic in China and onion price hike in India following heavy flooding in the..... 0 comments