FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW CUCUMBERS

Easter demand up for North Carolina sweet potatoes

outcomes could result in import duties

USITC: "Reasonable indication that U.S. strawberry industry is injured by Mexican import"

Increasing shipping rates could affect stable ginger pricing

New Rabbiteye blueberry variety bred to overcome limitations

Canada secures potato export access to Mexico

U.S. peach growers face uncertainty after Modesto cannery closure

Mission Produce reports US$278.6 million revenue in first quarter

Bako Sweet expands sales and marketing team

U.S. researchers develop avocado lines that survive 17°F freeze

Sector | Vegetables

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China's garlic exports rebounded, with strong market demand and slightly lower prices

Cucumber pricing to stay high for near term

Seasonal perishable products weekly update:

Cucumber and bell pepper prices rise, strawberries and tomatoes fall

“Green asparagus harvest will intensify in late March”

“Normal production and high demand for Greek white asparagus”

Senator urges USDA to include mushroom growers in relief program

Vegetable medley corned beef and cabbage kit launches for St. Patrick’s Day

Celebrating 40 years in specialty vegetables

Sector | Bananas

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UK biotech firm raises US$105 million to expand gene-edited bananas

Helge Sparsoe - Fyffes

"At the start we were very clear that it would not be an overnight success story"

Digital banana platform to exhibit at Acorbat and Abanorte in April 2026

UV-C water disinfection system keeps TR4 and Moko out of banana plantations in the Philippines and beyond

Middle East conflict heightens logistical difficulties for the worldwide banana industry

Alejandro Carandoni, Agrícola Cañas:

"Banana producers who aren't working with the soil's biological components will likely fall behind"

The suspension of routes to the Middle East affects up to 500 containers of Ecuadorian bananas

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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Philippines senate probes onion price collapse during harvest

Mark Barkworth - NFB Import Ltd

First Chilean early-season onions arrive at UK importer

U.S. lawmakers push to open Japan’s market to fresh potatoes

Sjaak Stroosnijder advises international onion peeling companies with Strooninonpeels

“You can’t escape what’s in your blood"

Reduced acreage likely for 2026 Idaho potato crop

Wilfried Rombauts (Optimum Sorting) sees changing potato market

"Sorting now goes far beyond visual inspection"

Big Idaho potato truck visited Colorado Springs

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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“Container delays, rising freight complicate Thai longan imports into India”

Brazil sends fresh produce to Cape Verde by direct cargo flight

California Dates partners with tennis player Michael Chang

Mango harvest in Côte d'Ivoire to start late March

Second half of March could see better Mexican Ataulfo volume

India’s Alphonso mango exports face uncertainty as Gulf demand slows

Higher volumes for Indian mango season

"Logistic costs are hitting us on two fronts simultaneously"

Sector | Company news

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Ben B. Schwartz & Sons brings on new national account manager

ID logistics reports 2025 revenue growth to €3.7 billion

Limoneira reports US$18.2 million revenue in fiscal first quarter

Calavo Growers reports US$122.2 million first quarter revenue

David Marguleas to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

DP World reports 22% revenue growth to US$24.4bn in 2025

After a fulfilling career in produce, Ms. Mango announces retirement

Sector | Greenhouse

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“It created some extra work, but we ended up with a much better product because of that collaboration”

Integrated design and careful planning: A collaborative path to successful CEA projects

Breedx strengthens global connections around Fruit Logistica

“The market is ready for specialties and innovation, with snack vegetables a major theme during the show”

Ontario greenhouse campaign awarded

Australian growers examine European innovation on AUSVEG 2026 Study Tour

New California-grown cucumber program launches

Little tomato with big flavor featured at Devour Culinary Classic

"India’s hydroponics supply gap demands serious commercial scale"

Sector | Logistics

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Inland cargo routes to Gulf offered via Saudi ports

Hormuz disruption could trap over 200,000 TEU capacity

Asia–North Europe shipping network updated with new rotations

Iran conflict drives air cargo rates up to US$6/kg on key trade lanes

Hormuz fertilizer chokepoint raises risk of higher global food prices

Empty container returns from Gulf ports redirected

First next-generation Snow-class reefer vessel delivered for fruit transport fleet

Sector | Machinery

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Robotic hand developed to handle fragile items such as fruit

Calderoni launches a solution on which to apply different components

Weeding - more and more space for "precision" mechanics

Marcel Beelen, FineField:

"Within 5-15 years, fresh berry harvesting will be entirely mechanized"

Troy Cleaver - Tomra:

"The 5S Blueberry is the realization of everything we learned in ten years"

Developer of ethylene generators starts 2026 with global expansion strategy and smart ripening innovation

Sorting technology applied to date quality management

Educational session Fruit Logistica Berlin

Ethylene is essential in uniform fruit ripening, but control is necessary in preventing losses

Sector | General fresh produce

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Dominique Daele and Kilian De Geyter introduce Foodguide

"Bringing producers and professional buyers together on one platform"

Shipping disruption delays fresh produce imports to Dubai

21.6% of Canadians eat fruit and vegetables five or more times a day

Spanish researchers are developing edible smart inks from citrus waste

US$531 million disaster aid approved for Georgia farmers

Week 10 Fruit Wholesale Market Report

Post-holiday demand declines, while Chilean plum prices remain low

Air raid sirens sound, but Cyprus fresh produce sector operates normally

Sector | Management

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NFU re-elects Rob Larew as president and Jeff Kippley as vice president

U.S. House agriculture committee advances 2026 farm bill

Cammack secures disaster declaration for Florida Farmers

US trade court orders tariff refunds

Florida opens US$600 million disaster aid for farmers

USDA launches unified “One Farmer, One File” record system

Transportation and food workers at the strike forefront

Nationwide strike brings Greece to a standstill on Saturday

Sector | Miscellaneous

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Second-life batteries for irrigation in Yucatán

South African rand hits 3.5-year high

For sale: Poortcamp 10, De Lier

For lease: New distribution centre at Nieuw-Reijerwaard, Ridderkerk

Fresh produce honored on Syria's new currency

$336,560 awarded by USDA through Arkansas Department of Agriculture

South Africa citrus sector mourns Deon Joubert

Sector | Fruit

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War in the Middle East has dramatically altered export routes for apples

“Containers are often discharged in Jeddah and transported overland”

Riaan Strydom – Bokmakierie Farm

Fresh Langkloof pears, apples into storage as Middle East war unfolds

Bertus Schipper, Zoutewelle:

"Eid al-Fitr boosts watermelon sales"

Italy's Assomela:

"Apple shipments are now arriving, and the main ports are fully operational"

German BLE week 10:

'Increasing South African imports are putting pressure on European pear prices'

Greek producers of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries “warm up their engines”

"Stocks are still relatively high, while sales remain slow"

Sector | Herbs

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War, rain and flight cancellations disrupt basil supply to Europe

“Uzbek herbs take on Turkey and Egypt in EU markets”

Koppert Cress understands chefs' constant demand for new flavors and surprising products

Basil demand picks up ahead of Valentine’s Day

Mixed herb packets and baby leaves

Flexible solutions for changing demand

Fresh herb demand strong and steady for holiday season

Kruiden Claus celebrates 125th anniversary

"Strong demand for ginger and turmeric plants as cultivation becomes more viable"

Sector | Agenda

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Planasa and Fall Creek

Berry breeding programs presented in southern Spain

Abrafrutas, Garden of Europe, among the global lineup

"Mumbai’s trade hub to host pavilions from 20+ countries at Fresh India Show"

Peruvian blueberry seminar examines market trends, genetics, and logistics

Viva Fresh announces education session keynote speaker

Blueberry industry leaders to gather at International Blueberries Lima 2026

IFPA’s Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference sells out for fourth year

Berry breeding programs to be presented at joint industry event in March

Sector | Citrus

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Veracruz weather conditions push lime pricing higher

Post-harvest citrus solutions to be showcased in California

Brazilian orange juice stocks increase after 2025/26 crop

Florida citrus sector faces worst drought in 25 years

Strong consumption of citrus in Canada, even when prices fluctuate

Reem El Rahmany, Egyptian citrus exporter

"We have proven that quality is our safety net"

Laser-etched limes introduced to guide slicing for beer bottles

Sector | Organic

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Luciana Zamora of Zamora Citrus:

"Organic lemon supply falls short of European demand"

U.S. Northwest organic sector grows, but processing capacity lags

Ireland sees growth in organic vegetable sales

U.S. organic produce sales reach $22.7 billion in 2025

Long-term strategy outweighs short-term economics

Dutch sauerkraut producer converts entire cabbage cultivation to organic

Gerard Kenens, VerKen Bio Deli-Vers:

"Earlier start for Natyra due to higher volumes, but you do not leave a good apple unsold"

Organic shifts from niche retail to structured programs

“Organic success depends on agreements, not ideals”

Sector | Health

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Flavonoid-rich foods associated with happiness in U.S. women

Scientists develop vitamin A-enriched tomato

Apple fiber helps fend off colon cancer and more

Moderate fruit and vegetable juice intake and its health effects

The consumption of superfoods continues to grow in France

New dietary guidelines reinforce essential role of fresh produce

Produce industry shows support of new Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Sector | IT

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"ULogs4A is more resistant to humidity and suited for long transits"

Newly launched data logger operates autonomously for up to 300 days without power

"We develop AI-based solutions for growers and nurseries"

BerryWorld live with QC app from FreshControl

“It took a next-level effort to incorporate all requirements into the inspection report”

Robotic apple harvesting

Indonesia advances digital agriculture with new farm-app deal

Johan Mostert – DiPAR Systems

Inside the architecture driving real-time fruit supply chain decisions

U.S. to turn to AI and robots to support farm production

Sector | Innovations

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UAE FoodTech Challenge win

Akorn Technology readies for expansion in Africa and South Asia

Monitoring more than one million citrus trees with the help of AI

Pop Its snack cucumbers tap into demand for true bite-sized convenience

Fruit quality meters help manage harvest timing, lot segregation, and shelf-life performance

When efficiency in blueberry harvesting becomes a necessity

Custom LED gains ground as Italian nurseries push for efficiency

Extending shelf-life of blueberries and avocados by storing and shipping under low pressure

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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Brazilian orange juice inventories rise 75.4% by end of 2025

Brazilian processor installs 30-ton-per-hour frozen potato line

Simon Matthews - AgriCoat NatureSeal

Cost-effective sulphite-free anti-browning dip for peeled, sliced, and diced potatoes

Jordanian NGO grows and exports fresh produce

Shifting trade dynamics may support Polish apple concentrate exports

Wider distribution eyed for new sugarcane juice beverage

Del Monte cannery closure disrupts California fruit processing sector

Sector | Cooling

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Cool Control expands to four cold stores with 12,000 pallet spaces in 30 years

"By offering a total package, we have grown with the foreign growers' organisations"

New 3,000-tonne freezing complex to be built in Ak-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

Year-round fruit supply in Australia depends on cold storage

“Bringing cold storage costs back to the levels of ten years ago is our principal aim”

Isolcell's vision for the future of fresh produce

"Controlled atmosphere, tailored ripening, and new global balances"

One Frio launches European cold storage platform after seven acquisitions

“The new cooling facility brings increased flexibility”

Sector | Food safety

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Canada recalls macadamia nut products over Salmonella risk

Canada recalls Dan-D nuts in over Salmonella risk

The European Commission updates the MRLs for various pesticides starting this year

“If Canada’s Destination Inspection Service closes, we destabilize the market and create long-term reputational damage”

Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans on discontinuing their produce inspection services

EU intercepts this year's first Egyptian oranges with banned residues and pesticides

EU rejections of third-country fruit and vegetable imports with unauthorized active substances rose by 6.5% in 2025

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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U.S. pistachio production rises as global demand grows

California groundwater limits force almond orchard removals

U.S. pecan receipts up 82% in January while shipments drop 35%

Flemish start-up Life is Bananas sees strong potential in the Netherlands for fruit snacks

“Freeze-drying creates healthy fruit snacks while preserving flavour and nutritional value”

Middle East shipping disruptions delay almond shipments to the UAE

Shipping rates from U.S. to Middle East spike

Partnership aims to develop U.S. chestnut market

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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Clip packaging technology targets fruit and vegetable applications

AVI Global Plast and Smart Packaging Industries collaborate on new packaging design

"Instead of functioning purely as individual packs, the trays form part of a geometric structure"

Expanded packaging option for avocados combines breathability and brand presence

Adam Chrimes - Natural Branding Australia

Laser spells end for stickers

“Bio4Life positioned for international growth as EU compostable label rules take effect”

Jonathan Harf, Cintandina:

"We've developed and are selling compostable labels for fruits"

"Grape export market is undergoing shift toward more sustainable post-harvest solutions"

Sector | Retail

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Big Y: 90 years in business

Dollar General performed well across every category during the fourth quarter

Grubhub: Historic milestone for highly automated delivery in New Jersey

JOH: Expansion of its North Central produce coverage in the upper Midwest

Natural Grocers® plans to open its first store in the Walla Walla Valley

UNFI views the lack of growth as temporary

Wakefern Food Corp.: Local Produce Supplier Summit on July 15

Kroger's Customer Appreciation Week: All bagged salads - buy one get one free

Lidl US new grocery store in Brooklyn: Fresh local produce

BJ’s is celebrating a strong fourth quarter and record year

Target plans to open more than 30 new stores in 2026, including its 2,000th location

Amazon invested more than $340bln in the U.S. in 2025

Grocery Outlet is closing 36 underperforming stores

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANDARINS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PEARS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GRAPES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ONIONS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW AVOCADOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW APPLES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BLUEBERRIES

Sector | Climate

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Catastrophic losses in greenhouses and crops in Souss-Massa, Morocco, plastic shortage

Irrigation infrastructure and crops in main agricultural valleys affected by heavy rains in Peru

Weekend blizzard stymies logistics in Northeast

Emergence from drought in Morocco restores growers' confidence

There's a chance for more flooding in Portugal by the end of the month

"At first glance, the damage is extremely heartbreaking"

Florida freeze pushes up corn and green bean prices

Mexican border water scarcity challenges nearshoring

Sector | Cartoons

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Madhya Pradesh banana farmer protests low prices with half-naked vow

North Korean forest rangers fired for turning tree nurseries into vegetable gardens

TikTok-fueled fruit ice cream craze empties freezers across New Zealand

Cows wearing e-collars help boost potato yields in P.E.I. pilot project

Domino’s seeks Vatican forgiveness for pineapple pizza

Aomori’s ‘designer apples’ turn orchards into art

Fruity overdose: The bold new trend transforming perfumery

Sector | Rwanda

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Rwanda special (last part): Evergreen Holding

"With greenhouse conditions, we can produce strawberries all year round, even for export"

Rwanda special: Kinvest

Canadian capital, Rwandan fields: Building profitable farms with social impact

Intercropping, outgrowers, and weekly flights: The operations model behind SOO Agro’s growth

Rwanda special: Kumwe Green Farms

"We have a lot to offer to European buyers"

Rwanda special: Virunga Biotech Limited

"We see a strong demand for chilies, ginger, and gherkins"

Rwanda special: Kotwidika

Promising trial for Valencia oranges

Rwanda special: Souk Farms

Rwanda advances steadily on the global fresh produce scene

Sector | Trade War

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Peruvian blueberry exporters have 180 days to claim US$ tariff refunds

Agexport, Guatemala

"Exports to the U.S. continue at 0% tariff after Supreme Court ruling"

Produce industry reacts to Supreme Court tariff ruling

South African agriculture welcomes possible 15% U.S. tariff cut

U.S. farmers divided after Supreme Court overturns Trump tariffs

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs, new 15% levy announced

Tensions have resulted in increased imports from Europe

Canada’s produce exports witness a boost due to limited supply and high prices in the U.S.