South Australian potato company collapses
A South Australia-based potato company has collapsed, with its assets now up for sale, following debts in excess of $40 million after a widespread drop in value for potato prices during 2011-12.Corporate advisory firm McGrathNicol has been appointed as receivers and managers to Mondello Farms Group, a.....

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.....

Costa Rica: Free Trade Agreement with Canada pending
Apart from some tricky negotiation issues, such as the inclusion of onions and potatoes, the modernization of the free trade agreement between Canada and Costa Rica is on the go. The FTA is effective since November 7, 2002, but due to recent changes in commercial agreements, both countries started.....

Rosanna sales in the pink for Cancer Research UK
Stour Valley based onion specialist ‘Stourgarden’ this week presented Cancer Research UK with a cheque for over £12,000 made up from donations received from the sales of their exclusive Rosanna Pink Onion pack.Cancer Research UK was the Tesco charity of the year for 2012.Tesco onion buyer, Natasha Beagley.....

Germany launches potato price fix probe
Germany has launched a probe into suspected potato price fixing over the past decade which may have cost consumers and farmers hundreds of millions of Euro, local media reported Saturday.The national competition regulator is investigating allegations that at least nine production and distribution plants.....

Colombia: Potato growers strike as negotiations continue
While negotiations continue between the Santos government and the FARC, potato farmers in the countryside went on strike. This comes in the wake of a widespread protest movement started by small coffee growers some weeks ago. The underlying cause for the 120,000 potato-growers’ protests in the areas of.....

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.....

Piet de Bruijne (Farm Frites):
"Building personal relationship results in success in foreign markets"
Of course. Your product must be correct. There must be a need in the export market, which you have been looking at. Also you need to satisfy all requirements in all kinds of areas, from documentationto and includingphytosanitary. But without going there and building a personal relationship one will not be.....

It's potato planting time on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island potato growers are in the middle of one of the busiest times of their year...planting season. Just like many home gardeners look forward to working in their gardens and anticipate the growth that spring and summer brings, so too are Island potato growers excited to get on the land and.....

Northern Ireland:
"There's no potatoes left in the country"
The price of the humble spud has soared recently with a tonne of produce costing £440 - almost three times more than the price of the same weight a year ago.It means fish 'n' chip lovers could face a bit of a shock at their local chippie.Limavady farmer, James Wray, said the changing weather in recent.....

Panama: Drought hits potatoes and onions
The president of the Association of Producers of Chiriquí Highlands, Virgilio Saldaña, has said the lack of rain has caused a widespread drought in the country. "This has been a long and atypical summer, five months, from December 2012 to April 2013.""There may be supply problems because the products that.....

Spain: Garlic harvest postponed until late May
Fungal diseases on garlic, which have delayed the development process, are already under control.The harvest, which has been postponed until late May, is expected to be smaller than last season's, with similar prices of around 1.20 Euro per kilo for growers and 2.10 at wholesalers.

F.lli Romagnoli
Customer retention for potatoes is possible, our tests prove it
The Romagnoli company wasestablishedas a commercial farm in 1928 however, from 1960, it developed processing, sale and service activities and nowadays Romagnoli Fratelli Spa is an international group coordinating and selling a complete range of seed, fresh, and processed fresh-cut and already-cooked.....

Ernst Arn, KWS Potato: strategy to produce locally for the Russian market
"Import boycott on seeding goods isn't about potatoes, it's politics"
At the beginning of this year Russia announced an import boycott again European seeding goods. It was orginally planned for the 1st of April, but it's now set to start on the 1st of June. "At the moment the export is continuing. Certain Russian provinces are always supplied late. I do expect the Russian.....

Spain expects 5% increase in acreage for garlic plantations
The upcoming garlic campaign, which will start in about a month with the harvest of the early varieties, promises stability and a similar acreage to last year, both in Spain, as well as in France and Italy.According to data from Mesa Nacional del Ajo, the acreage for garlic plantations this year is.....

AU: Dry Summer takes toll on crops
Potato growers near Ballarat say they might not have enough water to grow crops next year after a hot, dry summer.Norm Suckling is a potato farmer near Ballarat, who is nearly finished this year's harvest.He says the current harvest is producing yields that are down 10 to 15 per cent on last year.Mr Suckling.....

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.....

US: Seed potato producers harmoize for export
Wisconsin is one of 12 states participating in a new state/federal initiative, the State National Harmonization Program (SNHP). The program should make it easier for seed potato growers in the state to sell their produce internationally, assuring trading partners of a disease free status. The harmonization.....

Simplot call for GM potato approval
Idaho based Simplot has called on the federal government to approve genetically modified potatoes. The news has been announced by the USDA. If the go ahead is given the potato would be the only GM potato in the market. Simplot has branded them Innate potatoes. The company figured out how to use existing.....

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:.....

Researchers uncover onions’ sulfurous secrets
Plants are a rich resource of bioactive compounds, many of which have inspired therapeutic drugs. Yet countless plant compounds, potentially with medical uses, still remain to be identified. Kazuki Saito, Ryo Nakabayashi and colleagues from the RIKEN Plant Science Center have now developed a technique for.....

Italy: New potato variety will supercede Sieglinde
"This year, we have sided the classic Sieglinde new potato from Galatina (a variety in crisis on international markets) with the new Musica cultivar, of which we have exclusive rights in the Salento area in Puglia. 'La Musica Terra Rossa Salento' brand name was created exclusively for such variety, which is.....

Piet Blankendaal:
"With Alpha's the potato season really starts at Malta"
Due of the cold weather sales of new potatoes from Malta were somewhat careful, but according to Piet Blankendaal of Blankendaal Trade, The Netherlands, the lights are green for the coming weeks. "With sunny weather the housewives will againthink of new potatoes. What a nice coincidence, because this week we.....

Belgian potato processing industry continues growth in 2012
The Belgian potato processing industry has known a spectacular growth during the last decades. The companies active in this sector (most of them family owned enterprises) have succeeded – together with primary producers and traders – to grow from 500.000 tons of processed potatoes in 1990 till 3.65 million.....

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.....

Europatat on import ban of seed potatoes:
"Russia isn't only showing Europe its teeth"
At the end of 2012 the European Potato Trade Organisation celebrated its 60th anniversary. The federation has been located in a modern office in the middle of Brussels for three years. Frédéric Rosseneu, secretary in general of Europatat, says that they collaborate with a number of other organisations here......

US (ID): Good onion season wraps up
The dry onion season is wrapping up for shippers out of the Pacific Northwest, and as the last shipments are heading out, volumes have been light this year. Less product has made for good prices for onions coming out of the region.“There will be shipments of onions for a few more weeks,” explained Sherise.....

Vega Baja
Spain: Cold weather prevents potato growth
Potatoes are one of the crops that may have received the most damage from hailstorms, as they are currently in a development stage, and hailstorms and cold weather prevent their growth. In any case, the earliest varieties will start being harvested in around 15 days and any potential damage will be then.....

Walid Arafah: "Good orange season, garlic ridiculously expensive at the moment"
Fruit Avenue prepares for Egyptian Spring onion season
Fruit Avenue, originally an Egyptian cultivation company, has specialized in the import and export of Egyptian fruit and vegetables. For the past few years, the company has astore on Fresh Park Venlo. Around the 15th of May the company expects the first grapes from Egypt. Walid Arafah does not expect too.....

Idaho onions to be exported to Taiwan
As a result of meetings during a trade mission to Asia, two fresh produce importers in Taipei, Taiwan, now plan to import onions from the Idaho-Eastern Oregon region this fall.The Idaho Eastern Oregon Onion Committee took part in the trade mission with Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.Otter on Wednesday.....

Texan onions survive rainfall
Rainfall on the 28th April is unlikely to have had an effect on the South Texas onion harvest according to an expert at the Texas T & M Agrilife Research and Extension Center. “Onions are a dry weather crop,” said Dr. Juan Anciso, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service vegetable specialist in.....

Shortage especially for organic potatoes
Switzerland imports 6,000 tonnes of extra potatoes
Due to failing vegetation as a result of the wet and cold weather in Switzerland, it has become apparent that the potato stores will not be enough to supply the market until the time that the new harvest arrives. This is why import has become necessary, especially when it comes to organic potatoes.Despite.....

US: Wisconsin two weeks late in potato planting
Duane Maatz, executive director of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, said the State had a strong potato crop in 2012 despite a dry and hot season that at times produced drought conditions. State growers produced 63,500 harvested acres and a total crop of 29 million hundredweight. A.....

Indonesia lifts import restriction on Thai red onions
Indonesia has finally lifted its import restriction on red onions from Thailand, boosting demand and market price of the commodity, Indonesia's Antara reported.Thailand's Agricultural Economics Office said the price of red onions stood at 22 baht (RM2.29) per kilogramme on average in April, rising by 40.4.....

Potato planting underway across North-Western Europe
GB new season planting progress and crop development have been affected by several, significant, weather events including cold, dry conditions, spells of rain and substantial late season snowfalls. By the end of March (week 13) it was estimated that progress was 28,000ha behind last season (figure 1).Figure.....

US: New mild onions with flavor and long shelf life
Cornell researchers have new mild onions. Twelve years in development and with a couple years of testing to go, researchers say it will be just a few years before the mild locally grown onions are available to the public.“These onions have a longer shelf life and still produce huge flavors; I see them as.....

Red Moon F1, an appealing onion variety
Intersemillas’ RED MOON F1, is a pear-shaped, slightly flattened, variety of red onion. The red color is present in all layers, making dishes in which it’s used very attractive.Due to its medium taste, it is considered fit for use fresh and also for cooking.It is a short-day onion with an average maturation.....

Spain: Asaja demands a quality label for potatoes in the Region of Murcia
The professional agricultural organization ASAJA Murcia has claimed today for a quality label for the native potato cultivation in the Region of Murcia, production areas of which are located in the Campo de Cartagena and Guadalentin Valley.Potatoes are a historical crop in the fields of Murcia. Based on.....

Spain: Potato prices likely to increase due to low production
This year is again being complicated for the European potato market as a result of shortages caused by adverse weather conditions, which affected many producing countries. The situation is consequently leading to an increase in prices, as supply has become greater than demand. In Spain's case, a low.....

New techniques to improve yields of garlic and onion
Nowadays, products that have phytohormone, amino acids, organic acids and nutrients to induce the emission of vigorous roots and bulbs are being used.Garlic is native to central Asia, its edible portion or bulb consists of cloves, called garlic seed, which are also used to propagate it.These garlic seed.....

Spain: In search for illegal fields of early clementines
The owners of the production rights of four patented varieties of early clementines have taken action to force illegal growers of said products to uproot or legalize their clandestine plantations by paying the appropriate royalties. The four varieties are: Clemenrubi or PRI-23 (from Avasa nurseries),.....

New harvest of organic onions from Egypt in stock at Gourmet
Shallot and onion grower Gourmet BV has a real scoop. The first yellow and red organic onions from Egypt are available this week!Cultivation knowledgeAs an innovative and progressive cultivation company, Gourmet now has over 12 years of experience in own cultivation & import from Egypt. Through a joint.....

Canada: Potato growers unhappy with McCain offer
Manitoba’s potato growers usually know in a normal April how much they will be paid for a hundred pounds of potatoes.However, this year they still don’t have a price because McCain Foods has offered a contract price five percent lower than 2012.“We normally have our contracts in place and producers know the.....

It’s good to talk…and listen
UK: Potato summit improves understanding of supply chain challenges
Oversupply in 2011 followed by a short season in 2012, on a scale unheard of in over 35 years have created numerous trade tensions along the supply chain. The combination of two difficult seasons brought some long-standing industry issues home to roost. By Christmas the Potato Council Board decided that a.....

New harvest, lower prices on Cameroon onion market
The onion market in Cameroon has recovered again. At the end of 2012 a bale of 110 kg was sold for 99.15Euro. This price has now decreased by almost 50% to53.54Euro. The price of a bucket of 15 litres is 5.95 Euro at the moment against 15.86 Euro four months ago. According to traders this decrease in.....

Canada: The Annabelle potato in microwaveable packaging
(Home) cooks like an attractive potato with good taste, versatile cooking properties and preferably full of good nutrients. Retailers want all these characteristics for their clients, plus a nice product on the shelf that does not germinate or green quickly. Growers want a potato which is easy to grow, gives.....

HZPC wants to ditch dull image of potato
Dutch company HZPC is a world leader in the marketing of seed potatoes for various applications. It has more than 10 branch offices abroad and employs well over 230 workers, 800 growers, 55 breeders and in collaboration with foreign branch offices it keeps working on the introduction and commercialisation of.....

UK: Potato prices will continue to be high through 2013 season
There is no real change in the UK potato market, according to Colin Galbraith from Moorhouse and Mohan, "The market is still short and the prices in the EU are crazy with no signs of coming down any time soon. It is a peculiar situation as some of last season's potatoes are fetching higher prices than new.....

Spain: Heat wave spoils 90% of potato crops in Canary Islands
The strong heatwave that has hit the Canary Islands over the past few days will spoil more than 90% of their potato crops. The growers' optimism has been crushed by these high temperatures, as after all the rain these past months, a good harvest was expected this year.But nothing could be further from the.....

New Zealand onions expensive this year
Even though the export of Dutch onions went very well in the first few months of the season, oversees sales are now grinding to a halt. Both Russia and Senegal are no longer buying, and New Zealand onions are expensive due to increased production, transport costs and an unfavourable exchange rate.According.....

Retail a hurdle for UAE potato expansion
It has recently been reported that potato growers in the UAE are looking to expand production. However, they face a challenge from major retailers in the region, who tend to prefer imported stocks, which are lower in cost. Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre (FSC) this year aims to triple the amount of local.....

New potato varieties for European climate
The Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Neiker-Tecnalia, has created four new potato varieties which are characterized by their high antioxidant content, their good production both in size and number of tubers, as well as by their resistance to the usual diseases. The varieties were.....

Punjab announces 50% subsidy on planters for potato cultivation
In a bid to boost potato cultivation in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has announced an enhancement of the subsidy on diggers, graders and planters from 10% to 50%.A decision to this effect was taken by Badal during a meeting with a deputation of potato growers from the state.The Chief.....

UK: Grower risk means potential switch from potatoes
Returns from competing crops are threatening grower commitment to potatoes.After a year in which prices went from £60/t to £400/t, grower risk is a bigger issue than ever, warn advisers.Potential returns from competing and less risky crops was the big change this season, said Bidwells partner Neil Cameron......

Potato consumption linked to increased potassium
A new study has shown that white potato consumption is linked to increased potassium intake. For each additional kilocalorie of white potatoes consumed, there was a 1.6 mg increase in potassium intake among adults 19-years-old and older, and a 1.7 mg increase among children and teens from 2 to 18 years of.....

US: Syngenta adds local text alert to potato-disease hotlines
Syngenta continues partnerships with key universities in Idaho, Michigan, North Dakota, Oregon and Washington to bring late blight hotlines to potato growers in 2013. The annual potato blight hotlines are sponsored by Revus Top fungicide and provide growers with access to disease information that allows them.....

AU: Potato growers insulted by McCain offer
Several Tasmanian potato growers whose contracts were cancelled by McCain last year have rejected renewed offers from the company.Grower Brett Neil says he was contacted and asked to grow again, but told the company prices are simply too low.He said with what he understood to be a $30 per tonne drop last.....

Italy: Garlic contact group composed of Italy, France and Spain met in Voghiera
The first 2013 meeting of the European garlic contact group between Italy, France and Spain took place on 18th-19th April 2013 at Delizia di Belriguardo, in the Voghiera area (Emilia-Romagna), famous for its "Voghiera PDO Garlic", in the presence of Neda Barbiere, chairman of the Consortium for its.....

Potato Farmers are planning to increase production in the UAE
Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre (FSC) aims to triple the quantity of locally produced potatoes to nearly 2,500 tonnes this year from less than 900 tonnes last year, on 45 farms in the Western Region, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi."We harvested 1,200 tonnes of potatoes so far this year, and for next year we plan to.....

US (CO): Former potato region struggling with water issues
Weld County is still home to potato festivals and dotted with spuds-growing artefacts, but the local industry has little to contribute anymore to the area’s vast legacy.A shell of what it once was, Weld’s potato acreage took another hit this year as the last large-scale grower of the crop — Strohauer Farms.....

Grocers claim potato cartel fixes prices
A nationwide potato cartel - the "OPEC of potatoes" - fixes prices and production to line its own pockets, a grocers association claims in a federal antitrust complaint.Associated Wholesale Grocers sued the United Potato Growers of America (UPGA), the United Potato Growers of Idaho (UPGI) and 20 other.....

Sri Lanka: Target to produce 150,000 mt onion by 2015
Correct and recommended post harvest technology should be adopted in onion cultivation. If not, it would take a long time for the country to become self-sufficient in onions, according to agro engineering experts.It is the aim of the government to produce a minimum of 150,000 mt of onions by 2015. Currently,.....

India: PepsiCo potato growers enjoy the match
56-year old Subrata Ghosh, who has been a contract potato farmer for PepsiCo India for the last nine years, was invited to watch the IPL (Indian Premier League) match between Kolkata Knight Riders and the Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.“I have always yearned to watch a match at Eden Gardens......

Washington potato exports to benefit from Japan talks inclusion
Washington's potato industry could see an increase in export activity if Japan is formally included in ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks. Support for the inclusion of Japan in the talks has recently been voiced by the Obama administration. First, however, Japan must receive the approval of.....

Significant reduction expected in 2013 Vidalia® sweet onion crop
The Vidalia region has already seen an unexpectedly slow start to harvest which resulted from above average rainfall and unseasonably cold weather as late as Easter weekend. Now, growers have uncovered another issue with their 2013 crop. Seed stems, also referred to as “bolters,” “flower stalks,” or.....

Jac Oomen, Ommen Agro:
EU: "All reports show good final onion season"
The onion market experienced a good recovery during the last week with an increasing price per bale of about 22-24 cents currently. "The onion market certainly shows an increasing trend, but now a lot depends on how one bought. For nice, healthy quality onions for a large selling area the grower wants 18.....

could catch up weather permitting
Italy: Selenella potato planting starts late
Bad weather slowed down the sowing of 100% Italian Selenella potatoes, though it did not stop it.The same surface of 2012, i.e. 1,300 hectares, has been made available to the over 300 producers members of the Italian high-quality Potato Consortium."After a long period of bad and rainy weather, which delayed.....

Pakistan: Potato glut sees prices plunge
Pakistani potato supplies have increased significantly after temperatures rose recently. “The temperature increase has panicked potato hoarders. The situation has resulted in oversupply of the commodity in local vegetable markets, which is quite evident with its fast declining prices,” Iftikhar Hussain.....

Christine Loogman: "Test in Portugal with Dore's
"Nicola without doubt most important import potato"
At potato wholesaler A.C.Loogman in Amsterdam the import season has been going for a while. "At the moment we have Alpha's from Malta, Diamant from Cyprus and Nicola's from Israel, including small potatoes available," Christine Loogman says. "The volumes are still slightly small at the moment, because of the.....

Roberto Chiesa (Romagnoli)
Italy: Changes in the potato import-export market
Roberto Chiesa, sales manager of Romagnoli F.lli SpA in Bologna, in an interview, gave an assessment on the Italian potato market."Between the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, a series of coincidences led to fewer imports of potatoes in Italy, whereas demand remained more or less stable. First of all,.....

Luc Delabie, Onisti: "Better market for imported onions from May onwards"
Belgium: Onisti expects good Tasmanian onion season
The company Onisti bvba started selling onions for Field Fresh Tasmania (FFT) this year. Luc Delabie is the person responsible for Onisti. He has over 30 years of experience in the potato and onion trade and has been working closely with Field Fresh Tasmania (FFT) for a little more than 15 years. "Onisti has.....

Indonesia set to remove garlic import barrier
The Indonesian government has signalled a stop to the implementation of the import quota system for garlic, due to a lower national production, Indonesia's Antara reported."There will no longer be an import quota system for garlic," trade minister Gita Wirjawan said on Wednesday.He said the decision was.....

Onion breeders powerless against root rot
Dutch onion cultivation owes much of its vigour to the know-how of domestic seed companies. The Netherlands are still at the forefront in the field of onion seed, and for now there is little real competition from other countries. But all is not all a bed roses, for one of the things the industry has had to.....

India: Onion prices continue to fall
Average wholesale onion prices in various Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in the Nashik district continued to drop on Monday after the decline of 23 to 30 per cent observed in the last two weeks.The average wholesale onion prices in district APMCs, which were in the range of Rs 950 to Rs 1,051.....

Dominican Republic: The onion producers owe 240 million pesos
Onion producers from the Vallejuelo province (Dominican Republic) asked President Danilo Medina to give them a hand by starting, as soon as possible, the commercialization of onions thus preventing dozens of farmers to go bankrupt.Antonio Fermin, engineer and spokesman for the associations of horticultural.....

Vidalia onion shipping season commences
Georgia's Vidalia onion growers can now ship their product from this year's growing season.Extreme temperatures and fungal disease destroyed over a third of last year's crop.But farmers across the 20 county Vidalia growing region are hopeful about the 2013 harvest.Vidalia Onion Committee Chairman Kevin.....

Peru: Onion production will reach 40,000 tons this year
The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics of the Regional Management of Agriculture of La Libertad (Peru) estimated that this year the production of onion will be approximately 40,000 tons in more than a thousand hectares, which represents a 10% increase compared to 2012.The largest production areas are the.....

Osorno
Chile: Techniques for producing new varieties of potato
A group of farmers from Prodesal groups of the Araucanía Region, supported by the city of Temuco, visited the Regional Research Centre INIA Remehue located in the surroundings of Osorno, in the region of Los Lagos (Chile).The farmers, accompanied by the technical team of the municipality of Temuco and.....

Mike de Koster (WDK Onions):
"Onion market considerably increased"
Within the period of a week the onion priceshaveconsiderably increased. At the moment prices are between 17 and 19 cents and that is considerably more than a week earlier."There is an increasing trend.Especially Russia and Eastern Europe appear to require quite a lot of onions," Mike de Koster of sorting and.....

Tomato and onion smuggling at the Brazilian border
Draughts affecting southern Brazil over the past few weeks and Argentina's attractive prices, measured in "blue" dollars, have led to an unusual form of smuggling at the national border, where it has become common to find Brazilians trying to smuggle tomatoes and onions to their country.The phenomenon is.....

Jersey potato growers losing £2 million per week
Jersey's potato farmers are losing up to two million pounds a week in exports because the bad weather has delayed crops.Acres of fields remain covered in plastic to try and warm the soil so potatoes can be dug up.Farmers say it's been their worst season ever, but hope they will recoup their losses over the.....

Garlic price spike in Indonesia
A delay on permits for garlic imports has led to a dearth of product on the Indonesian market. Though supplies have recently been coming in, prices are still much higher than they've been in previous years.“Normally, the price of garlic is between $1,5 and $2,5 per kilogram,” said Mr. Kafi Kurnia, Managing.....

Onion producers want Government to stabilize price
The Association of Farmers Mama Tingo from the municipality of Vallejuelo (Dominican Republic), demanded the State to, in the shortest time possible, go to the rescue of onion producers in different rural communities by marketing it, at a fair price that compensates for the cost of production. They also want.....

Mallorcan potatoes latest in Tesco's seasonal loose range
The Mallorcan potatoes, supplied by Branston, the UK’s largest packer and supplier of potatoes, are specially selected Maris Peer and Lady Christl varieties, which are harvested with a fluffy skin for a fresh, delicate taste. Grown in the sunny climate of Mallorca, the crop is being bought to consumers as.....

Bulletin of 5th April 2013
CePa's analysis of national and European potato market
The CePa - Potato Documentation Centre reports that the weather is still unfavourable for potato cultivation in Europe, causing delays in sowing of the produce destined to industrial processing and fresh consumption on some of the main production areas. Operators are expecting an increase in quotations in.....

Tjerk Nagel: "Onion market more friendly, but growers hesitant with sales"
Konaxx starts project with growers to give onion quality a boost
Konaxx Trade BV from the Friesian Sint Jacobiparochie area is a sorting, packaging and export company for Dutch onions, potatoes, cabbage and carrots. "But onions are our main product," says Tjerk Nagel. Every year 25,000 tonnes of onions are sorted and packaged at Konaxx, which has been around since 1917......

Indonesia: Government admits mistake in garlic quota
Deputy Agriculture Minister Rusman Heriawan admitted on Friday that the ministry might have taken the wrong measures in limiting the importation of some horticultural products, particularly garlic, and said that they would study the most suitable import system to be applied on each of the products.Rusman.....

Canada: PEI Potato Board partners up for Burger Love 2013
Everyone knows that burgers and fries are best friends, making it an easy decision for the Prince Edward Island Potato Board to be a partner in the 2013 edition of PEI Burger Love, a month-long celebration of PEI beef. Thirty-one Island restaurants have created unique and mouth-watering burgers using 100%.....

Mondello Farms collapse leaves potato growers out of pocket
Growers have been hit hard by the collapse of one of the Australia's largest fresh potato processors.Mondello Farms was placed into receivership late last month, citing plunging potato prices back in 2011/2012 from which the company never recovered.The company employs 140 staff from South Australia and.....

AU: Victoria potato growers stung by rising costs
Western Victorian potato growers have spent about $30 a tonne more to produce a crop this season.A dry season has increased irrigation costs for growers of processing potato at Ballarat.Grower Norm Suckling says increased costs and lower yields are forcing farmers out of the industry."We're trying to produce.....

Indonesia: Government to increase garlic production
The Indonesian government announced on Wednesday it would open new garlic farms and import 60,000 tons of shallots in the latest move to curb soaring prices of the commodities.Indonesia meets 90 percent of its garlic demand from imports, as only 2,000 hectares of land are devoted to the crop, with domestic.....

UK: M&P Engineering re-launches onion peeling machines
M&P Engineering have begun production of an updated version of an onion peeling system using a technique which was developed by them in Manchester over forty years ago. The company hopes that the mk3 onion peeler will match thesuccess of the previous machines and has been updated to take advantage of.....

Pakistan: Sindh runs out of onions, imports from India
Sindh onion consumption has exceeded its production, as the province has started to depend on imports of the commodity from India.The wholesale rate of onion has surged by Rs200 while its retail price has soared to a whopping Rs55 per kilogram.According to Haji Shah Jehan, President Sabzi Mandi Saddar.....

India: Onion prices up 10% as auctions re-open
The wholesale onion markets in the Nashik district resumed auctions from Tuesday after a week's gap, with prices going up by nearly 10.52% as compared to last week.The onion auction in Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon agriculture produce market committees (APMCs), the main onion markets in the district, were closed.....

US: Large potato production leads to lower prices
Potato production in the US during 2012 reached its highest level in over a decade. The gains have been due to increased acreage and better yields, and the large supplies have caused prices to drop from those seen the previous year.According to the Vegetables and Pulses Outlook report by the US Department.....

US: Co-branded onion, potato tote boosts sales in retail trial
Category sales got a 7% boost in a trial of the “Create Mealtime Magic” tote, a collaborative project from the National Onion Association, US Potato Board and Package Containers Inc.The group worked with a Texas-based retailer for a six week trial of the bags from mid-November through December. During the.....

US: BioSafe Systems announces Mark Milenski as market segment manager for potato industry
To meet the needs of potato growers across the nation, BioSafe Systems welcomes Mark Milenski as the Market Segment Manager for the potato industry. Since 2010, Mark has been working closely with BioSafe Systems as a Distributor Representative and Crop Advisor at Simplot. Mark brings extensive Agricultural.....

Sid Staunton ends year as head of US Potato Board
Tulelake potato producer Sid Staunton has spent the last year at the top of the US Potato Board, as chairman.“It was a heck of an experience,” he said of his year of chairmanship that ended in March.Staunton did some traveling for the role, including to the World Potato Congress in the United Kingdom. In.....

US: ARS uses chemistry to help control potato cyst nematode
When left uncontrolled, this worm digs into the roots of potato plants to feed, obstructing nutrients and causing stunted growth, wilted leaves, and other symptoms that can eventually kill the plant. Severe infestations can cause yield losses of up to 80%.Currently scientists at the Agricultural Research.....

Mexico: Prices of chillies and onions skyrocket
More than 8,000 acres of planted chillies and onions are at risk in the metropolitan area because of the lack of rain.In coming days, the prices of these two important vegetables could increase because some of these crops could be lost, said Jose Manuel Agüello, Chairman of the District Council of Rural.....

Italy: Selenella thinks positive despite bad weather
During the last few days, bad weather has caused damages to many cultivations at a national level.The Italian quality Potato Consortium interrupts this "negative series".As Giacomo Accinelli, agronomic manager of the Consortium, explains: "The situation is definitely complicated: there are actual delays in.....

Low EU potato stocks a boon for Israeli growers
With high demand for potatoes in Europe driven by low supplies throughout the continent, Israeli potato growers are enjoying robust prices for their produce. Though locusts threatened the potato and carrot seasons in the region, quick action by the nation's agricultural industry dealt with the problem and.....

EU: Field Fresh Tasmania establishes Onisti for European onion representation
Field Fresh Tasmania (FFT) onions are sourced from a growing environment with unparalleled material advantages.From one of the richest regions in the Southern Hemisphere; grown in red ferrosol soil which is volcanic in origin, geographically quarantined from many plant pests and diseases, with a mild.....

UK: Produce World launches consumer-facing brand
The UK’s largest grower and supplier of fresh vegetables, Produce World, has launched a consumer-facing brand called Burgess Harvest Veg.The new brand will offer consumers the best-tasting British vegetables, grown in a seasonally simple format. Baby ruby potatoes are the first offering from the new brand,.....

"Season fits in nicely between Italy and Autralia/New Zealand"
White onions from India available at Van Ravenswaaij
The fruit and vegetable wholesaler Van Ravenswaaij from Veenendaal has received the first three containers of white onions from India. "Three years ago we started with the importof white onions from India. The season fits in nicely between the Italian season and the overseas season of Australia and New.....

APO Sicilia
Italy: Lemon prices are too low while new potato prices are too high
"Our challenge so far? Surviving! In this situation, the real challenge is to maintain the position of previous years," says Antonio Fricano, chairman of the SicilianApo Siciliaconsortium.Apo Sicila is a cooperative founded in 1996 and recognised as a PO pursuant to the EC regulation 1234/07. There are two.....

US (TX): Weather delays onions, good prices expected
The Texas onion season typically starts around the middle of March, but with weather that hasn't been very steady, some growers have seen their harvesting dates pushed back. Demand is expected to be good, and growers are hoping prices are stronger than they have been in previous years.“We've had cloudy.....

Piet van Liere: Spain, Brazil and the Far East are positive buyers
Europe: Onion market is friendlier; export to Russia still very minimal
The onion market is friendlier than it has been in a while. "The market is living through the farmers at the moment. The growers are really on top of things, but I am not seeing these efforts in the sales just yet," says Piet van Liere from the sorting and packing station Gebr. van Liere and export company.....

Dutch tend to put priority on onion price, not on quality
“Holland must change its course"
Brothers Erik and Wim Waterman grew up among onions. They are the third generation of a family that has been actively engaged in the onion trade. In 1998, Erik and Wim started their own business in the Dutch town of Emmeloord: Waterman Onions BV. Since then, the company has built quite a reputation. Waterman.....

AU: Potato processor adds value to local potatoes
A West Australian potato processor has come up with an innovative way to value-add the humble spud for use in the food service industry.Since taking over the WA Chip processing plant in Manjimup in 2002, the Bendotti family has experimented with a new cooked-chilled line.Targeting restaurants and the TV.....

Bram Werkman, Landjuweel:
Netherlands: "Potato market, planting behind schedule"
The planting of potatoes is again two weeks behind last year. "But if planting starts three weeks later, that does not mean that harvesting starts three weeks later. When the sun starts shining and there is some rain, then the new potatoes will grow like anything again," Bram Werkman of potato wholesale.....

AU: Collaborative approach extending the reach of potato industry R&D
The Potato Industry Extension Program, managed by AUSVEG, has ramped up its engagement with agronomists around Australia, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that research and development (R&D) outcomes are adopted by potato growers on-farm.“The Potato Industry Extension Program recognises the critical.....

UK: Greenvale slashes water usage 70%
Potato supplier Greenvale has reduced its water usage by 70% at its Floods Ferry site in Cambridgeshire; as well as unveiling an innovative new water efficient irrigation system.The Cascade system has been running at Greenvale’s Floods Ferry site for a year and forms part of the company’s Green15 initiative.....

US (GA): Vidalia onion harvest pushed back by weather
Cold weather over the last few days has halted the maturation process for many of Georgia's Vidalia onions. While growers anticipate that the April 15 start date set by the Georgia Agriculture Department will see onions on the market, they think it's not likely there will be much, if any, onions shipped.....

Indonesia: Government to auction 20 containers of garlic
The Indonesian government is auctioning off 20 containers of garlic that arrived in the country without the correct documentation required for legal importation. Trade Ministry director general of foreign trade Bachrul Chairi said on Tuesday that 20 containers of garlic had not met the horticultural products.....

India: Potatoes too small to eat
Though Punjab is expecting to harvest over 21 lakh metric tonnes of potato this year the Northern states might yet have to depend on other states to provide them with potatoes fit for human consumption. The situation is the result of the long spell of cold wave this year resulting in small sizes of potatoes,.....

The testimony of producers
Italy: Rainfall puts main horticultural crops at risk
Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia: the whole of North-East Italy has been affected by rainfall and bad weather.In particular, it is difficult to perform the main cultural operations such as weeding and fertilising but, above all, it is difficult to sow potatoes, onions, watermelons and melons,.....

Produce Investments record loss as wet weather hits potatoes
Potato company Produce Investments on Friday reported a loss as wet weather in 2012 impacted crops and pushed up costs.The group posted an operating loss of £0.68m for the 26 weeks to December 29th, 2012, down from the prior year’s profit of £4.76m.Chief Executive Angus Armstrong said high rainfall affected.....