http://www.freshplaza.com en info@freshplaza.com 2/22/2012 http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93173 Mastronardi Produce has long been known as industry leaders in gourmet greenhouse produce under their SUNSET brand of products. They proudly announce that for the third year in a row they have maintained the status of One of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Company’s.“My family has been focused on growing quality,..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93169 The recent agreement between the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the European Union (EU) to harmonize organic certification programs will make it easier for US organic growers to ship produce to Europe. Although the effect of the agreement will not take effect until this summer and it's not clear the..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93196 The Joint Fruit Company, JFC, - Russia's largest importer of fruits, has filed for bankruptcy. The situation has come about as a result of the Arab Spring. An official from the company said that the company had made losses as the events in the Middle East and North Africa had disrupted business..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93172 Chilean company, Unifrutti, has announced plans to launch an exciting new product range at the ongoing Gulf Food 2012 event in Dubai. The new range includes organic fruit and vegetables, fresh fruit, sorbet, vegetable crisps and juices. This certainly helps to maintain Unifrutti's reputation as being a..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93183 In a four-minute film, two growers talk about their experiences with the use of the predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus to combat whitefly and thrips. Koppert introduced this new predatory mite in the early part of this year.Amblydromalus limonicus (marketed under the product name Limonica) has a number..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93175 Shored up by a new partnership designed for deeper market penetration, the tide has turned for the Oceanside tomato deal.When longtime Oceanside grower Harry Singh Jr.'s vine-ripe tomatoes make their much-anticipated return to the market in July, they will be backed by the sales, marketing and distribution..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93201 FINAF (First International Association Fruit) and the Association of Producers' Organizations Gruppo Mediterraneo have merged. A European fruit giant has been born, with a marketing production worth EUR 1.4 billion.The new giant includes 22 Producers' Organizations and represents 27% of the Italian..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93223 On the week of December 12, 2011, Ekland Marketing Company of California, Inc. (EMCO CAL) launched a major effort to enforce the intellectual property (IP) rights of the owners of strawberry varieties. Some growers in Egypt had produced strawberries from pirated planting stock and shipped it to buyers in..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93200 The Chilean Blueberry Committee, a division of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, has created a new brochure to promote the benefits of fresh winter blueberries. The brochure is available online at www.ChileanFruitOnline.com and contains lots of information regarding nutrition tips, facts and recipes. The..... new votes for the next calender soon http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93099 During the Fruit Logistica this year the FreshPlaza team made a series of photo's of the hostesses at the international stands. 12 of these photo's will end up on the exclusive FreshPlaza calender, which will be handed out at the next Fruit Logistica. Soon votes will open for your favourite hostess! For now you'll have to make do with the <a target="_blank" href="../calendar/FP_calendar2012_low.pdf"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2012 calender</span></a> !<br><br> <br> <img src="http://www.agf.nl/nieuws/2012/0217/kalender.jpg" border="" height="322" width="460"><br> <br> http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93097 Ariza Ltd is proudly presened a world premier at the BioFach 2012: the first organic and Fairtrade certified apple juice concentrate.The organic apple growing project is located in the province Nigxia, in the north of China. The cooperation consists of 76 growers, that grow their apples on 318 hectares. They..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93128 The 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, conducted every 5 years, is underway. The first step is National Agricultural Classification Survey (NACS) which asks landowners whether or not they are farming and for basic farm information. This information will determine who recives the census form.“We are asking..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93145 A lack of snow in the Upper Midwest has got some officials concerned about damage to agriculture unless there is some change in the dry weather before the Spring planting. Minnesota's agriculture and commerce commissioners, Dave Frederickson and Mike Rothman, demonstrated their concern by urging growers to..... Harold Schuurmans and Piet Peters of Westland Mushrooms http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93171 Earlier this year Harold Schuurmans of Westland Mushrooms mentioned that the season for wild forest mushrooms from Portugal startedvery late, but in the meantime he tells, that the season there is as good as over. "This is also the result again of the whims of mother Nature. If it does not rain soon in..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93182 Fruit Logistica 2012 marked the official launch of Lovemysalad.com, the online platform initiated by Rijk Zwaan and runner-up in the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award. Several visitors to the event were asked for their views on the social salad network’s business potential. Yasir Shaikh Marketing..... Timely warning as SP Exports goes into administration http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93191 The news, reported by FreshPlaza yesterday, that SP Exports had gone into administration has prompted Vegetables WA (western Australia) executive officer, Jim Turley, to speak up. He says growers are considering leaving the industry as increasing costs make growing less and less viable as a may to secure a..... Kees Havenaar of Frutas Luna about Spanish vegetable season http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93197 Frutas Luna is an originally Dutch company, which moved to Spain. Peppers, cucumbers, courgettes, aubergines and tomatoes are the most important products which are marketed under the Luna hallmark. About 5% of the turnover is realised in Spain and the other 95% is sold all over Europe. The group of..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93202 A baseline survey to assess the vegetable supply chain has been completed in 29 cities under a vegetable initiative for urban areas. Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, Sharad Pawar, Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries said vegetable cultivation..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93203 Tenders for the construction of an agricultural commercial complex for banana and other vegetables at Thiruchendurai, sanctioned at a cost of Rs.4 crore, has been finalised, and the work is expected to commence shortly. The foundation stone for the project, to be executed by the District Agricultural Market..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93215 Wet weather and warm temperatures have affected the quality of some vegetable lines, with prices firming on beans, broccoli, capsicums, cauliflower, Asian vegetables and celery.However, low prices are expected on carrots, sweetcorn, potato, pumpkin, onions and sweet potato.Australian asparagus is becoming..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93216 Hundreds of hectares of potato and cabbage production are partially destroyed by the lack of water and the frosts in western Portugal, where farmers are still calculating the damage, as reported last Friday by the West Professional Horticulture Association.The president of the association, António Gomes,..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93189 Professor James Dale of the Queensland University of Technology is leading a project aimed at providing bananas with enriched quantities of vitamin A, for sub Saharan Africa. A large part of the project is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. When the Gates were on holiday in Australia in..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93214 Last year, Costa Rica produced some 105 million boxes of banana (18.14kg each box), in a total of 42,650 hectares.If taken into account that the value per hectare in 2011 was $15,000, it can be concluded that banana producers received $639,840,000 for their harvest, the majority of it destined to the..... Arie van Baalen: "Production just about under our control" http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93170 Triple A Products and wholesaler Jansen Dongen have put their strengths together in a new company for the production, packing and selling of onions. The new company is called River Onions and amongst other things will take care of the sale of onions under the well-known hallmark Queeno's. "We are one of..... Bigger operations make up the shortfall http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93212 The Central Statistics Office in Ireland has revealed that the number of potato farmers in County Kerry has declined over the past decade. In 2000 there were 300 growers in the county, a figure which is considerably reduced now to 41. However, the average farm area that is under potato cultivation has..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93120 The Ministry of Agriculture in Sri Lanka says that the government is to impose import restrictions on five types of fruit: papaya, mango, pineapple, grapes and orange.The government says that Sri Lanka can grow their fruits domestically and there will be a programme implemented to encourage cultivation...... Rens Allewelt (Fruitpoint) signals increase smaller importers http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93187 Although the pineapple market normally sufferswith shortages in February there is a relativelylarge supply at the moment. According to Rens Allewelt of Fruitpoint this is the cause of difficult sales. "There are more pineapples coming from Costa Rica than expected. This is a result of the climate...... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93188 A new start up business in New York has come about with the intention of promoting an entrepreneurial new idea. BrightFarms is suggesting that supermarkets install hydroponic greenhouses on their roofs, built and operated by BrightFarms, who will then sell the produce to the stores - for less than it..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93190 Green Giant Fresh, the only fresh produce brand featuring Box Tops for Education coupons, plans to expand the program into new varieties of fruits and vegetables.Box Tops coupons, currently are featured on Green Giant Fresh branded raisins, mesh bag sweet potatoes, bagged asparagus, romaine hearts, fresh..... Good year for bananas, salad business not as healthy as desired http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93205 Chiquita Brands has released financial and operating results for 2011, reporting full-year comparable income of $38 million, and GAAP income of $57 million on net sales of $3.1 billion. Fourth quarter results improved versus 2010, resulting in a comparable loss of $6 million, versus a comparable loss of $18..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93222 A state of the art £1.6m sprout processing facility at Scottish company Drysdales, will be opened on Wednesday 29th February by MSP Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment. The new facility will improve product quality, reduce waste and is expected to result in an additional £1m..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93174 Conflict is brewing between a campaign group opposed to the construction of glasshouses on 52 acres of land in Almodington and the National Farmers' Union (NFU). The NFU is supporting the construction and has asked its members to, nationwide, to support the building project in an online poll. John..... The students are the growers http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93180 Last Saturday students of Lentiz, Holland, proudly and enthusiastically presented their vegetable units. Two units of 170 m2 are being cultivated by the students. The climate, water and lighting strategy are developed and executed by the students. The students are the growers. With 24/7 access to the climate..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93132 The seventh International Strawberry Symposium is currently taking place in Beijing (Feb 18-22). The event was founded in 1988 by the International Society for Horticultural Science and is held every four years. This is the first time an Asian nation has hosted the event.More than 100 types of strawberry are..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93103 In 2011, frozen strawberry exports grew 125.2% up to USD$12.8 million and 80.5% in volume up to 7.7 kMT. The strong export growth was explained by the increased demand from Japan (3498.6% of export volume growth), China (742.1%), Netherlands (250.9%), Belgium (104.6%), Germany (90.2%) and USA (64.4%), it..... Bert van Gelder: "First Panamanian watermelons have arrived" http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93146 CMR Holland has had a new melon programme since last week. They are from Central America. "We started with watermelons from Panama. This first few have arrived and more volumes will follow in the coming weeks," says Bart van Gelder. "They will be available in all sizes: from 3 to 6 and of the brand Green..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93185 The unpredictable nature of fresh produce prices have thrown up something of an anomaly. Foods that are traditionally associated with Summer - and experience low Winter demand - are soaring in price currently with a single cucumber costing Rs 10, or Rs 80 per kg.Pomegranate has hit new highs of Rs 180 per..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93206 The amount of business in the "green" agricultural sector in Portugal has passed the 20 million Euro mark and grows 20% per year.In a document covering the Portuguese presence in the biggest European fair of bio products - BioFach - the secretary of State for Agriculture pointed that the production..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93207 Portuguese distribution chains compromised to give preference to national producers of fruits and vegetables through a protocol made with the National Federation of Fruits and Vegetables Producers Organizations (Federação Nacional de Organizações de Produtores de Frutas e Hortalizas - FNOP).The protocol has..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93195 Growers in California have been urged to prepare for quarantine measures in commercial groves prevent the spread of psyllids, despite the fact that greening disease has not yet occurred in the state. This is a precautionary response to try and prepare for the possible impact of the disease that has reduced..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93213 24 tonnes of oranges heading to Gozo from Egypt have been withheld by the Port Health Services within the Health Inspectorate Services.The reason for the with holding of the oranges is that samples appear to show levels of the chemical ethion, greater than that allowed by the European Union in Regulation..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93208 Swedish company, Plantagon, have recently broken ground on their first vertical greenhouse project in Linköping. The project is a futuristic attempt to provide a solution for cleaner living in inner city areas, at the same time as providing food for growing urban populations.The idea is to create a vertical..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93186 The US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service has developed a new method of carrying our pasteurisation of almonds, called sequential infra-red and hot air (SIRHA). The new method, it is said, is fast, effective and relatively economical. According to the researchers, giving almonds a..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93199 Chile is focusing its efforts on expanding current trade - already high - with the UAE. The Emirates are currently the 4th biggest market for Chile, though there is broad consensus that there is scope for more.Amongst Chilean exports that are considered to have high potential are nuts and dried fruits. As..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93179 Asda, the British arm of U.S. retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc, posted a slowdown in sales growth in its fiscal fourth quarter as shoppers cut back due to rising prices, muted wages growth and an uncertain economic outlook.Chief Executive Andy Clarke said he was instinctively optimistic about prospects in 2012..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93181 Waitrose has defended itself over objections to the policy of fining grocery suppliers for late delivery. Opponents say the move is harmful to smaller businesses. Since last Summer Waitrose has deducted £60 from trading accounts for each late delivery it receives. The practice has been condemned by the Forum..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93218 Customer satisfaction with supermarkets was up 1.3% in the fourth quarter, with Publix Super Markets leading the way, according to the latest data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index.Supermarkets achieved an overall index of 76, up from 75 in the fourth quarter of 2010.Lakeland based Publix scored..... http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=93219 Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. reported a net loss of $18 million during its second quarter, an improvement from the net loss of $24 million in the same period last year.The net loss for the quarter that ended Jan. 11, 2012 was 32 cents per diluted share, down from 43 cents during the quarter that ended Jan. 12,.....