FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

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Not many consumers know about the nutritional value of cactus products

Chile wraps up shipments of newer varietal grapes

Greater volume earlier on Michigan asparagus

Produce rescue efforts eye Western Canadian expansion

U.S. apple storage up by 34 percent compared to May 2023

Abundance of Peruvian avocados expected late spring through summer

USDA forecasts larger almond crop

2023-2024 Florida all orange forecast lowered 1 million boxes to 17.8 million boxes

Australian freshcare producers gain approval for Costco in the U.S. and Canada

International Primeur magazine now available online

Sector | Vegetables

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Fast-growing asparagus once flourished on California farms. Why is it disappearing?

Celebrating 17 years of partnership by co-branding tomato program

Brussels sprouts market could strengthen next month

Severe weather impacts Grainger County tomato farm

Asparagus harvest season underway in southern Ontario

Slower start and softer demand for California lettuces

Europe is the largest market for peas from Peru

Sector | Bananas

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Current trend adversely affects competitiveness

Exchange rate crisis strikes Costa Rican banana sector

"The situation forces us in Finland to find alternative origins for Spain and other southern producer countries"

Latam banana producers object to Italian retailer's discount pricing of €0.85 cents per kg

Banana research in North Carolina aims to combat deadly fungus

Banana movement stays steady while plantain market gains strength

Ghanaian banana exporter plans West African expansion

Helge Sparsoe - Fyffes

“We knew that putting a new consumer brand into this category would be something radically new"

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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Market and Crop Update for May 9, 2024

'Onion demand is very good this week'

Onion market sees some supply relief though pricing stays strong

Movement faster on Idaho potatoes but pricing still weaker

Foodservice chipping potato heads to retail

Senate effort keeps potato classified as a vegetable in the U.S.

Ukrainian onion growers elevate prices as season concludes

Potato bill reaches governor's desk in Colorado

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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Week 19 Fruit Wholesale Market Report

Durian prices continue their downward trend, while apples are now available in small-sized packaging

Southern Region news release

Florida utilized avocado production for 2023 totaled 10,550 tons

IFPA leads mission to grow Australia and New Zealand's fresh produce exports to South Korea

Partnership aims to achieve largest mango export from Pakistan

Al Syed Group and MG Agri Foods join hands for $15 million exports

Nakuru County officials press for crop diversification

Australian avocados enter Indian market with Brett Lee as ambassador

Striving to meet the stringent food safety standards

Kenyan avocado sector seeks improved cooperation with China to expand exports

Sector | Company news

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Golf tournament introduces posthumous $25,000 scholarship

Local Bounti wants to expand further

US (WA): New Pasco lettuce facility officially opened

Food safety is focus of leadership class seminar

Royal HZPC Group maintains expected result

Agrizone named exclusive partner for Omnivent in Australia and New Zealand

FDA issues final ag water rule, IFPA reacts

Butterfly announces separation of portfolio company Bolthouse Farms into two standalone entities

Sector | Greenhouse

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New trends in the greenhouse produce industry

Greenhouse locations migrate and product innovation continues

Juan Pablo Saucedo Romero of AgroSense México

“We found an effective means to minimize labor in Mexican greenhouses”

Horti Demo Centre – Dr Estelle Kempen, Adaduma Msana, Kholosa Nakani

"All South African greenhouses should collect and recycle rainwater"

UK Salads Limited

Bankruptcy spiral UK greenhouse after client rejections

Pleun van Malkenhorst, Thanet Earth Peppers Ltd / Thanet Growers:

"Growing demand from British retailers for lit cultivation"

Celebrating success at CPMA Week

Premier of Alberta joins official opening of Calgary facility

Sector | Logistics

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A.P. Moller - Maersk launches air freight gateway in Miami to serve U.S., Asia, and Latin America market

Onion transportation feels steady yet delicate

Fairmiles Roundtable:

'Banning airfreighted fresh produce puts millions of livelihoods at risk and does not help Net Zero'

World Container Index - 09 May

Drewry’s World Container Index increased 16% to $3,159 per 40ft container this week

Port of Salalah introduces viable alternative to Red Sea route

Improved vessel delays may release more capacity

For its Proactive ZIMonitor 24/7 Cargo Monitoring Service

ZIM Shipping Lines renews strategic partnership with ArrowSpot Systems Ltd.

Sector | Machinery

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Manufactured by Bulltec for Colt.Or: watch the video!

A fennel grader focused on the utmost efficiency

Italian machinery company celebrated 100 year history of sorting at Macfrut 2024

Worldwide demand for Tong’s latest Unifill big bag and box filler

Cherry packhouses experience efficiency and profitability benefits of new deep learning technology

TR Turoni (Italy)

How to assess the quality of cherries and small fruits

Machines help to unload trucks bringing in onions faster

"Fewer forklift movements means more peace of mind and better overview"

Using robotics to help sort onions on Georgia farms

Sector | General fresh produce

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Turkey’s fresh fruit and vegetable exports reached $211.49 million in April

National Retail Report - specialty crops

Great deals on Mother's Day favorites like strawberries, blueberries, asparagus, and pineapples

USMCA seasonal perishable products weekly update

Avocado demand from California and Mexico is slow

UGA-Tifton demonstration lab to fuel innovation in precision agriculture

Northeast region of Brazil is at the forefront of the mango market

Short-term outlook for EU agricultural markets in 2024

EU consumption of fresh apples falls as production declines

Week 18 Fruit Wholesale Market Report

Thai Durian arrivals surge, coconut prices continue to rise

Sector | Management

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New micropropagation lab to produce up to 24 million plants a year

Panama Canal Authority warns of water insecurity beyond historic drought

Final H-2A Farmworker Protection Rule announced

USDA announces new fee rates for Specialty Crops Inspection Grading, Audit Services

Manish Sirohi appointed as CEO of Decco WW

First increase in groundwater supplies in 4 years

Groundwater supplies increase in California

Improving protections for H-2A workers in the United States

Sector | Miscellaneous

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Zespri faces potential loss due to mouse infestation in kiwifruit shipment

Finley, Washington

Lineage Logistics warehouse fire leads to mass evacuation

Birds threaten crops such as lychee, rambutan, mango, papaya, and corn

Kauai struggles with invasive parakeets

Berry fruit production and water challenges in Mangualde

“Non-negligible probability of long-term establishment in France,” according to ANSES

Reinforced surveillance of Asian fruit fly

Astronauts to study plant growth and development on the Moon

CBP officers seize millions worth of methamphetamine at Otay Mesa cargo in the US

Sector | Fruit

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The latest decision on the decade-long dispute between the Wild Pink and Pink Lady brands

Eloy Buenadicha Cobos, from Sol del Valle:

"In about 15 days, we will have fruit of caliber +32 available for marketing in trays"

Herbert Widmann GmbH

Widmann launches new blueberry brand named 'Hey Berry'

"An attractive design contributes to instant recognition and attention"

“The demand for flat peaches from Spain grows every year”

Kurt Livingston - Fern Ridge Fresh

“Particularly the larger sizes have been popular as they are in high demand"

Large quantities of Greek apples could go unsold

Kissabel apples, a season of growth for the Southern Hemisphere

Sector | Herbs

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Moroccan rosemary supply hit by drought

Peter Mair of Gruppo Mec:

"Italian arugula cultivation becomes more professional and sustainable with each passing year"

Belgian company sees organic as a step toward the future

"We want to be a pioneer in the organic segment"

Fresh organic herb supply expected to start picking up in February

Retailer in North of England finds supplier with fresh range of new herbs

Natalia Moranth, Green Explosion:

“We want to introduce our Colombian fresh fruit to Europe”

Andrew Smith - Butler Market Gardens

“In the Christmas week we sell up to three times more herbs than normal"

Sector | Agenda

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B2B Meetings, Warsaw, Poland, 17-18 September 2024 -

New highlights for companies interested in Polish retail market

IFPA honors front line with Retail Produce Manager Awards

12th annual Post-Harvest Academy hosted in Washington

Trade show to be held in Izmir on 26 to 28 September

"Interfresh Eurasia trade show to become Türkiye’s showcase"

Melbourne Convention Centre, 3-5 June, 2024

Tickets selling fast for Hort Connections 2024

Jakeman Stadium, Boston United Football Club, 7 November, 2024

British Vining Pea and Bean 2024 Conference

María José Sánchez, Director of Fruit Attraction:

"This year, Fruit Attraction will surpass all previous figures"

Sector | Citrus

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Florida Citrus Commission opts not to adjust "box" taxes

Brazil’s first forecast for the 2024–25 citrus season

Patricia Marí Minran, of Citran:

"Except for January and February, when Greece and Turkey are stronger, the grapefruit campaign is very stable"

South Africa’s 2024 citrus season started slowly, maintains good spread between markets

CBS spreading and causing damage across all citrus-growing areas in Tunisia

Tommie Landman – Landman Group

South African Star Ruby export estimate down by a million cartons

Gulf Citrus Growers Association closes doors

Sector | Organic

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Organic Produce Summit:

Panel to explore regional differences in organic produce sales

Austria: Traders and producers speak out on the organic market

"The organic selection is still much more limited, comparatively"

Organic produce industry’s access to crop inputs focus of IFPA testimony to USDA

Better outlook for the Senegalese organic mango campaign

US organic imports triple, exports are increasing

Organic share of bananas continues to exceed 30 percent

Mexican organic orchards offer better psyllid control

Sector | Health

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Tianjin University of Science and Technology

Exploring the potential of purple sweet potatoes in gastric ulcer treatment

Cranberry supplements enhance athletic performance in Canada

University of Queensland collaboration

Say goodbye to garlic breath with odour-free black garlic

Increasing fruit and vegetable intake among adults

Looking at vegetable intake and cancer risk reduction

Bananas facilitate quicker recovery after running

US study looks into beneficial gut microbes through whole-food dietary fiber

Sector | IT

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Producers can now do fruit counting with a free AI App

“Automated precision farming is key to fruit cultivation’s success”

Potato agronomy forecasts now available in myField App

Free farm management app to save Italian growers time this season

Webinar helps ag industry protect itself from cyber threats

Through the digitalization of berth alignment

Ocean Network Express and Portchain ink deal to drive sustainability across the carrier’s network

© Nicoelnino | Dreamstime.com

Ransomware attacks on Ag companies:

"Attacks on the sector made up 5.5% of all ransomware operations globally"

Sector | Innovations

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Supply chain enhancements roll out

Utrecht University

Utrecht University research

Residual waste from mushroom cultivation removes pollutants from water

University of Illinois study:

Exploring sweet potato quality analysis in the U.S.

Polymer found in corn, potatoes and beans

Smart windows breakthrough in the U.S.

Post-harvest solution granted approval for use in Canada

Denise Junqueiro with Apeel Sciences

“Our technology provides shippers confidence for long haul shipments and to open up new export markets”

How more than 60 million pieces of fruit were stopped going to waste last year

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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Driscoll's Maroc is building a berry processing plant in Larache

The process of making the famous pomegranate juice in Bangkok

40th year celebration brings new product offerings

Collecting apples for juice and pulp processing

Two new flavors join salad kit line

Second biggest processing factory in Nigeria formally opened

Pomegranate fiber added to specialty ingredients lineup

Sector | Cooling

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Michael Panuccio, Freshxpress:

"This isn’t just another cooling machine, it’s a game-changer"

Cold chain 101: Exploring the cold chain, one link at a time

Transportation and redistribution connects supply to demand

To support food security in Lincolnshire

Magnavale Easton development approaches finish line

Launch of new refrigerated ocean transportation service utilizing electric field technology

MSC South Africa Inaugurates MEDLOG Cold Store Facility, revolutionizing trade dynamics in the region

Bangladesh looks to US investment in cold storage to curb losses

Commercial value of reefer exports through Oakland topped $7 billion:

Port of Oakland remains preferred gateway for refrigerated export cargo in 2023

Sector | Food safety

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Gibson Farms voluntarily recalls Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts

Walnut recall in the U.S. due to E. coli concerns

EU Commission first implementation report:

The relevance of combating Unfair Trading Practices and the need for further EU actions

Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil sold at Trader Joe’s stores

Organic basil: Outbreak investigation of Salmonella

Pesticide levels in imported produce are a concern in the U.S.

Industry input needed for Australian certification standards

Enoki Mushrooms recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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U.S. market expects April almond shipments to have been strong

Acadian Plant Health looks at Californian cultivation

Almond study shows biostimulants improved water use amid record regional temperatures

Are almond producers set for a fifth season of losses?

Labeling debate over Hawaii's macadamia nuts

Low prices weigh on investments into US almond crops

Organic farming base favorably positions Turkish dried fruits and nuts in the global market

US bearing almond acreage drops for the first time since 1995

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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Home compostable produce label launches with cost-effective advantage

Ronald Borst (Paardekooper) on paper flowpacks:

"For businesses aiming to reduce their plastic usage, we offer CartoPaper as a viable alternative"

Nico Treurnicht & Cornel Oosthuizen – Ergopak

South African scale technology finds foothold in European and Moroccan packhouses

Concerns raised over new EU packaging rules

Sysco is driving more eco-friendly products and innovative solutions to reduce plastic and packaging waste

ExxonMobil and Constantia Flexibles develop recyclable freezer film in Poland

Launch of new packaging solutions

Sector | Retail

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Food Lion expands home delivery in Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia

Schnuck Markets announced it is abandoning Eatwell Market

Beyond Meat posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss

Costco: April sales results

Weis Markets: First quarter 2024 results

Instacart's Q1 report beating expectations

Instacart partners with Uber Eats

Carrefour Brasil swings to profit in Q1

Grocery Outlet is continuing to grow its footprint in Ohio

Hasty Market has launched a fresh retail concept

Amazon reported 10.4bln dollars in profit

Kroger's Fresh Watermelon and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries making Mother's Day celebrations extra special

Albertsons' Jewel-Osco holds massive lead in Chicago grocery

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GRAPEFRUIT

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BLUEBERRIES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANGOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ORANGES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW SWEET POTATOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW STRAWBERRIES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LIMES

Sector | Climate

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MedFEL 2024 conference

What diversification is possible in the face of climate change?

New report reveals avocados are getting smashed by climate change

Frosts cause Ukrainian apple harvest to be about 10 to 20 percent lower than usual

Sustainability at core of Italian club apple production strategies

Committing to a climate-smart strategy step by step

Study looks at challenges of climate change on potato production in Canada

Drought emergency declared in Washington

Sector | Cartoons

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Unusual culinary fusion: Durian stir-fry

Match sweetcorn eating stands at 52 ears in 12 minutes

Crucial nutrients for breastfeeding moms from broccoli

haertwarmion vodei

Cow expresses love to vegetable vendor

Papaya Instead of Cake Goes Viral

Diet rich in fruits and vegetables linked to enhanced relationship satisfaction

Mathematical mango pricing: a fruit seller's viral equation