FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker).

As we provide the news for free, we are relying on revenues from our banners. So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.
Thanks!

Click here for a guide on disabling your adblocker.

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

Amanda Lyon - Prevar

New Zealand's PiqaBoo® pears arrive in China

Indonesia aims to expand mangosteen export to Australia

JD Supermarket and Goodfarmer Group embarked on their inaugural overseas direct procurement of Thai durians

Vegetable price rise on inflation in India

Kurdistan region farmers face challenges due to imports

Karnataka, India

Banana yield decline in Belagavi district due to drought and power shortages

Pesticide issue halts Chinese kiwifruit at Taiwan's border

In the Transbaikalia of Russia, citrus imports from China increased

The import of fruits, nuts, and vegetables from China to Kyrgyzstan has increased

Turkmenistan ranks last in the world in banana consumption

Sector | Vegetables

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

"Start of the season for Red Egg, Red Egg Mini, and Chica tomatoes"

Vietnam witnesses chili pepper export growth in first quarter of 2024

'China's vegetable capital'

Pakistan's ambassador visits Shouguang county

Japan: Fresh vegetable market update 2024

Japanese fresh vegetable market was estimated at 13.6 million tons in 2022

Specialty growers doing spring preparations at Illinois farms

Labour pledges to give supermarket salad growers in Harlow their future back

Kazakhstan: Jetysay farmers export first cabbage harvest

Sector | Bananas

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Ecuador's banana exports up to March 2024 decreased by 0.24%

Attilio Pagni, Alimentari Ortofrutticoli ABC:

"We should try to value bananas more"

Vietnam overtakes the Philippines as the largest banana exporter to China

New banana variety resistant to the Fusarium fungus arrives in Ecuador

Banana industry's future in the face of challenges

Vietnamese bananas gain traction in Hong Kong

Banana brand makes debut at Milan Design Week

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Ukrainian farmers give away onions, which were so precious in 2023

Potato prices surge in Dhaka during harvest season

"The onion season will probably fizzle out"

Kiko Navarro, from Askar Go Fresh:

"The importers who take much longer to bring in potatoes from Egypt are going to get their fingers burned"

Onion auction recommenced at 5 of 15 APMCs in Nashik district

Mintecglobal.com

UK potato prices at record highs

Bolstering food security in the Global South

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Manfred van der Vlag, from Sweet Fruits:

"Due to shortages of Peruvian mangoes, we were able to successfully market the Brazilian Palmer variety this year"

Manuel Baides, from Grupo Fruta de Autor:

"The European markets are responding very well to the season's first kakis from Uruguay"

Two Ecuadorian companies export red pitahaya to the US and Germany for the first time

Kenyan avocado trade with China flourishes through CIIE

Namibia witnesses uptick in avocado imports

Chinese intent on increased procurement of Thai fruits

Excessive heat dashing hopes for bumper mango harvest in Bangladesh

Sector | Company news

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Frutas de Chile turns 89

First quarter of 2024: earnings down with cost measures intensified

Fox Packaging founder Kenneth Fox passes away at 91

Olympic Fruit -

"Be part of the Olympic Journey" of Dutch importer

EDEKA acquires business units of the de Groot fresh group in Hedel

Greenyard acquires dairy-free ice production facility

New Citri&Co sales rumors

Sector | Greenhouse

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Dean Taylor with Mastronardi Produce:

“There is always a high level of excitement when we launch a new Bombs variety”

11-hectare greenhouse project officially opened in New Zealand

New sweet peppers meet growing demand for fresh snack options

Aralux plastic film by Agriplast (Italy):

By controlling heat energy better agronomic results can be acheived

Prior to launching, demand for purple tomato already exceeds supply

New greenhouse operations in New Hampshire to launch this spring

Med Group showroom dedicated to the greenhouse sector

How high-tech greenhouses are designed

Sector | Logistics

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Cape Town's private port terminal operator adds electric forklifts to operations

Container leasing dynamics in 2024: a global perspective

Shifting sands in port rankings with Dubai and Tanger Med on the rise

Persian Gulf weather disruptions impact supply chains

Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.

Performance growth for 2023 with record container throughput and preferred bidder for Pier 6

World Container Index - 18 Apr

Drewry’s World Container Index decreased by 3% this week

Spot rates experience a steady decline over recent months

Sector | Machinery

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

The future of logistics is automated

Video of the Calderoni inter-row tiller below

Interesting market trend also in North Africa

Autonomous robot harvester makes the cut with asparagus

Tomra food inaugurates new center in Valencia

FrostBoss launch new laydown fan tower:

The elegant solution to frost protection

Solar irrigation offering to be rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa

Ray Rotar - Intralox:

Conveyor solutions supporting fruit and vegetable handling and processing applications

Sector | General fresh produce

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Azpromo facilitates meetings between Azerbaijani and European companies

"Major grower in Lebanon seeks cooperation with north European fresh produce importer or processor"

Half of the local harvest does not reach Europe

Kenya is Europe's vegetable garden: "That's how the world works"

A closer look at Vancouver’s retail offerings

Farming Unions urge major retailers to back British farming

Valadao, Costa, Rouzer, and Slotkin launch bipartisan Congressional Specialty Crops Caucus

Tim O'Malley - Nationwide Produce

It’s grim out there

Sector | Management

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

MEPs approve trade support measures for Ukraine with protection for EU farmers

Pound experienced slight increase against the euro on Monday

Paddie Allen appointed as new air freight director for PML Seafrigo

USDA accepting applications for August trade mission to Colombia

Major challenges in the future require water knowledge

Highlighting the potential of the Brazilian fruit sector

Fruit Attraction São Paulo has had a successful start

Mercosur meeting concludes with new initiatives in Paraguay

Sector | Miscellaneous

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Global industry recovering amid disturbances, excess supply and trade spats

Zespri faces potential loss due to mouse infestation in kiwifruit shipment

Over 30 tons of mushrooms shipped from Stavropol Krai, Russia, to Georgia and Armenia

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

Does Ramadan reduce productivity in packing houses?

Sector | Fruit

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

California's strawberry supply increasing

Frosts damaged part of Ukraine’s harvest of early apples and stone fruits

Monitoring quarantine products at the Upper Lars checkpoint in Russia

Growing a variety of crops key to survive El Niño effects for Peruvian exporter

Cherries are top of mind this spring

Soaring temperatures affect Chennai fruit sales

Karen Morrish - New Zealand Apples and Pears

“While conditions have been great, the season's expected success is also down to sheer hard work"

Sector | Herbs

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Peter Mair of Gruppo Mec:

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

Ton Verheijke, Janyra Organics:

"With our first full-scale herb harvest, we should gain a foothold in the Netherlands"

Belgian company sees organic as a step toward the future

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

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"

After 15 years in the herb industry, Drona Pantjoe launched Kenya Fresh.

"We'll get the first Portuguese salicornia in the second week of January"

Sector | Agenda

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Moldovan ‘Fruit Day’ will take place July 12th

Over 12,000 visitors from 45 countries attended first Fruit Attraction São Paulo show

26 and 27 June 2024 Óbidos, Portugal -

Interpera 2024 to focus on technical visits in Portugal

May 28, 29 and 30

The Citrus Forum will feature over 50 international citrus cultivation experts

IFPA opens registration for the 2024 Global Produce and Floral Show

Unido Itpo Italy

Iraqi buyers and operators will also be in attendance at the fair

Fruit attraction in São Paulo to showcase Brazil's agricultural prowess

Sector | Citrus

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Exploring market opportunities:

Oranges and mandarins from Egypt and Morocco in Central Asia

How to find new markets urgently

Prices for oranges in Egypt have fallen to 15 cents per kg

The Alizza Fruit™ season 3 wins award and production expands to South Africa

Water woes force farmers to uproot orange crops in Maharashtra

FarmTogether introduces crowdfunded investment in the Great Valley Citrus Grove

Nathan Hancock - Citrus Australia

“We expect to see further growth in China over the next few years"

World Citrus Organisation forecast -

Southern Hemisphere citrus exports to grow 7.45%, production decrease of 0.77% in 2024

Sector | Organic

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Better outlook for the Senegalese organic mango campaign

Restoration of organic fruit and berry cultivation in Kyrgyzstan's regions

Hanoi's organic agriculture is still facing challenges

New "Inverted Natural Branding" of organic fruit and vegetables

Astrid Rog and Geoffrey Harreman, BIO-Center Zann:

"Our organic fruit and vegetable range goes all over Europe"

'Good prospects for U.S. organic product exports to the EU remain'

Turkey's organic product exports surpass expectations

Sector | Health

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Dispelling the myth:

Scientific research confirms the truth about nuts and weight gain

Looking at vegetable intake and cancer risk reduction

Bananas facilitate quicker recovery after running

More research into dietary patterns and brain health in Japan

Harvard study links fruit and vegetable intake to longevity in the US

New research claims: Eating almonds can aid in post-exercise recovery

Avocado consumption linked to improved health in Australian survey

Sector | IT

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Free farm management app to save Italian growers time this season

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"

Orchard Robotics creates data-driven module for existing farm machinery

Harry Tinson - Harvest Eye:

"The possibilities to adapt the technology for other crops is almost endless"

Tech is bridging the gap between farms and politics in Spain

AI will help Spanish exporting companies find new European importers more easily

Sector | Innovations

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Polymer found in corn, potatoes and beans

Smart windows breakthrough in the U.S.

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

Conserving two Olympic-sized swimming pools of water annually

Verdant Technologies and Sobeys partner on iceless broccoli

Using multispectral cameras to determine oranges' suitability for various products

Avocado ripeness checker debated by Australians

AgrigateOne invites industry to test-drive its market intelligence beta product

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Second biggest processing factory in Nigeria formally opened

McDonald’s french fry perfume is real

6.7% increase from the end of 2022

Brazilian orange juice stock levels see a rise

Customer shows Birds Eye veggie mix has very little broccoli

In Turkistan, a fruit berry processing workshop has been inaugurated

Softer sales for salad kits at retailer's deli counters

Fresh apples for processing – a new popular export product in Europe

Sector | Cooling

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

To support food security in Lincolnshire

Magnavale Easton development approaches finish line

Launch of new refrigerated ocean transportation service utilizing electric field technology

Addressing logistics and storage to mitigate inflation in the Philippines

Bangladesh looks to US investment in cold storage to curb losses

"Demand for frozen round onions remains robust in international markets."

Chongqing welcomes first ILSTC China-Laos-Thailand cold chain train in Year of the Dragon

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

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Industry input needed for Australian certification standards

China returns 30 durian shipments from Vietnam due to cadmium contamination

19.8 tons of contaminated tomatoes imported from Uzbekistan to Yekaterinburg, Russia

Taiwanese Ministry assures safety of local pineapples and mushrooms

Excessive pesticide residues found in Japanese strawberries at Taiwanese border

South Korea suspends sales of Chinese carrots due to pesticide concerns

Artificial mango ripening raises health concerns in Telangana

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Effective technical support for date palm cultivation in India

Weather impacts Goa's cashew and mango harvest and Telangana's mangoes

Leading pecan companies announce collaboration to elevate the pecan to new heights

Iranian annual date exports reached $345 mlns in the past calendar year

Pine nut export duty implemented to boost domestic processing in Russia

Pistachio export surge from Turkey in the first quarter of 2024

Hazelnut exports from Azerbaijan at $22.4 million in first two months of 2024

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

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

Vietnam introduces new regulations on product traceability

White paper outlines new technology solution in PE cling film

IFPA A-NZ calls for national approach to fruit sticker ban

Spanish supermarket uses Finnish technology to reduce packaging waste

Sector | Retail

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Groupe Casino has announced details of a new 'transformation plan'

Co-op is the first UK retailer to announce it is moving to 100% British strawberries

7-Eleven accelerating entry into Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa

An example of the Circular Economy: Mercadona's green crates for fruit and vegetables

Intermarché has teamed up with Uber Eats in an exclusive partnership across Portugal

Asda reported a 24% rise in annual earnings

Sligro growth “slightly positive”

UK supermarkets accused of misleading labeling on origins of fresh fruit and vegetables

Albert Heijn has established a Food Transition Advisory Council

Kantar: Wonky vegetables have found favour with cost-conscious consumers

Ocado Group: ISF rollout with Auchan Retail Poland

Just Eat Takeaway's total orders fell 6%

Just Eat Takeaway.com to discontinue all operations in New Zealand

HelloFresh opens its largest and most advanced European distribution centre

Sector | Global Market

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ORANGES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW SWEET POTATOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW STRAWBERRIES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LIMES

Global market overview peppers

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GINGER

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW CUCUMBERS

Sector | Climate

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

UAE: ‘How these vertical farms kept afloat during heavy floods’

Unprecedented floods in the United Arab Emirates destroy greenhouses

The impact of climate change on fruit prices in South Korea

Dutch importers climate targets approved by science based targets initiative

First public consultation -

Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for fresh produce is now open

Impact of La Niña on Chilean agriculture: challenges and expectations

Climate change may affect grape cultivation in Turkey

Sector | Cartoons

↑ Close section ↓ Open section

Record for fastest marathon in fruit costume

Pringles and Crocs unveil snack-friendly boots in limited-edition collaboration

Viral TikTok video sparks debate over 'Fake' Costco banana

Pineapple Passion

Man made a flute out of a carrot and it works perfectly

Why are vegetarian meals on planes so bad?

Local identity fuels fashion: Uttaradit's Durian-themed apparel attracts tourists