OVERVIEW GLOBAL ORANGE MARKET

The global orange market is facing a number of challenges. South African oranges, and citrus fruits in general, are troubled by problems in the ports of Durban and Port Elizabeth. In Argentina, the frost has probably caused considerable damage. Spain also suffered from the weather this season and in Italy the Tristeza virus had…

Canada: "Orri mandarins are popular when available"

Seedless mandarin arrivals into North America from the southern hemisphere are remaining steady, with no reports of any major issues or delays. Toronto-based North American Produce Buyers are currently sourcing seedless mandarins from Chile and Argentina, with arrivals expected soon from Peru and South…

Exporting Mayan fruit to the world

A relatively new company based in Mexico is aiming to bring fruit out of the primarily indigenous regions of Mexico to the world market. After several years in planning, Mayan Fruit Trading Company officially began trading in May 2019, and the company's initial line of fruits includes some of the more…

Strawberry supplies from California improving

Supplies of strawberries from California are improving after a period of stagnant production. For the past month and a half, production has been hampered by rain, cooler weather and more recently, hot weather. This resulted in growers struggling to maintain consistent volume especially of fruit that is…

Mexican limes lean on good quality supplies

Supplies of imported limes from Mexico are looking slimmer right now. “The overall supply of limes has tightened after hitting record-breaking crossings in mid-June. And it’s especially tight for bright green color fruit, which many North American consumers perceive as quality,” says Nico Giraldo,…

Greenhouse grower introduces new Procurement Manager in Mexico

NatureFresh™ Farms has announced and welcomed the newest addition, Paul Hulsbos, to their sales team as Procurement Manager based in Mexico. With over 21 years of experience…

HKW announces add-on acquisition by Fresh Direct Produce

HKW, a middle-market private equity firm focused on growth-oriented companies, today announced that its portfolio company, Fresh Direct Produce, Ltd. (“Fresh Direct Produce”),…

Tour de Fresh connects with 2019 salad bar school district recipients

Since 2014, Tour de Fresh, a four-day cycling event presented by the California Giant Foundation, has donated more than 230 salad bars across the nation to help increase children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables. This year, Tour de Fresh expects to provide at least 50 salad bars to schools across…

USApple commends H2A proposal

The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) said it is pleased that the Labor Department is proposing to improve and streamline the H-2A program. The official publication of the proposal is expected to…

Canada: 2019 potato acreage up 3.3% on 2018

Statistics Canada released their first estimate of potato acreage in Canada as a result of data obtained from their survey of potato growers in Canada. Statistics Canada has…

Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference

Dubbed Growing & Marketin g Exotic Brazilian Fruit in Hawaii, the 29th Annual Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference will bring a distinctly South American flavor…

Canada: "Orri mandarins are popular when available"

Seedless mandarin arrivals into North America from the southern hemisphere are remaining steady, with no reports of any major issues or delays. Toronto-based North American Produce Buyers are currently sourcing seedless mandarins from Chile and Argentina, with arrivals expected soon from Peru and South…

Strawberry supplies from California improving

Supplies of strawberries from California are improving after a period of stagnant production. For the past month and a half, production has been hampered by rain, cooler weather and more recently, hot weather. This resulted in growers struggling to maintain consistent volume especially of fruit that is…

Exporting Mayan fruit to the world

A relatively new company based in Mexico is aiming to bring fruit out of the primarily indigenous regions of Mexico to the world market. After several years in planning, Mayan Fruit Trading Company officially began trading in May 2019, and the company's initial line of fruits includes some of the more…

Tour de Fresh connects with 2019 salad bar school district recipients

Since 2014, Tour de Fresh, a four-day cycling event presented by the California Giant Foundation, has donated more than 230 salad bars across the nation to help increase children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables. This year, Tour de Fresh expects to provide at least 50 salad bars to schools across…

USApple commends H2A proposal

The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) said it is pleased that the Labor Department is proposing to improve and streamline the H-2A program. The official publication of the proposal is expected to…

Mexican limes lean on good quality supplies

Supplies of imported limes from Mexico are looking slimmer right now. “The overall supply of limes has tightened after hitting record-breaking crossings in mid-June. And it’s especially tight for bright green color fruit, which many North American consumers perceive as quality,” says Nico Giraldo,…

Viva Fresh scholarship program accepting applications

The first Annual Viva Fresh Scholarship Program, named in honor of Dr. Leonard Pike, is accepting applications through July 31. This new program has been established from the…

Greenhouse grower introduces new Procurement Manager in Mexico

NatureFresh™ Farms has announced and welcomed the newest addition, Paul Hulsbos, to their sales team as Procurement Manager based in Mexico. With over 21 years of experience…

Canada: 2019 potato acreage up 3.3% on 2018

Statistics Canada released their first estimate of potato acreage in Canada as a result of data obtained from their survey of potato growers in Canada. Statistics Canada has…

US: Virginia potato prices up as much as 120%

July is peak time for the Virginia potato harvest. The past few summers have been unusually tough for the crop: the most recent Annual Potato and Vegetable Review found that…

US: Avocados are almost too pricey to serve

At this moment in time in the US, restaurants and consumers alike are suffering from skyrocketing avocado prices. For the first week of July, the wholesale price of a 25-pound…

Canadian carrot prices have jumped 30% since February

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians are paying about 30 per cent more for carrots than they were in February. The same might also be true for a number of root vegetables, including potatoes and onions, which have gone up in price respectively by 10 and 20 per cent each. Food banks and the Canadians…

EPA will not ban chlorpyrifos

Last Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will not ban the use of chlorpyrifos, rejecting a request from environmental groups to prohibit the pesticide. The action came in…

HKW announces add-on acquisition by Fresh Direct Produce

HKW, a middle-market private equity firm focused on growth-oriented companies, today announced that its portfolio company, Fresh Direct Produce, Ltd. (“Fresh Direct Produce”),…

Chiquita faces Ecuadoran farm workers' pesticide poisoning lawsuit

A Delaware federal magistrate judge has denied produce company Chiquita's request to be let out of litigation concerning Ecuadorian farm workers' claims that they were poisoned from exposure to pesticides used on bananas. US magistrate judge Sherry R. Fallon of the District of Delaware denied Chiquita’s…

Ecuador plans to ask the US for help to fight the Fusarium race 4

Faced with the threat of the Fusarium race 4 plague, which was recently detected in Colombia, the Vice President of Ecuador, Otto Sonnenholzner, announced that they were…

Mexico: Proposal to increase pitahaya production in Yucatan

The Autonomous University of Chapingo has carried out a study on the viability of pitahaya cultivation in the region of the Yucatan Peninsula as an alternative to traditional…

Mexico's government blames speculators for the rising price of avocado

The head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader), Victor Villalobos, has claimed that the increase in the price of avocados is due to speculators. The…

Huancavelica, Peru's first ecological region

The Andean department of Huancavelica will become the first ecological region of Peru thanks to the support of the Commission for the Promotion of Peruvian Exports and…

Honduras pineapple exports up 8% in 2019

Honduras, the second biggest exporter of pineapples in Central America after Costa Rica, forecast it would export 81,000 tons of pineapple in 2019. This volume is 8% higher than the volume exported in 2018, which reached 75,000 tons and reported 32 million dollars. German Perez, the regional secretary of…

Costa Rica: Minister says "no" to potato imports

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Luis Felipe Arauz said no to the possibility of evaluating imports of potatoes, despite demands made by the industrial sector. He says a…

Chilean avocado season ready for take-off

The Chilean avocado season is about to take off, with the Northern region already starting production. However this season may come with some challenges, as the region has been dealing with drought, causing a drop in the total production. Tropical Republik is an importer and exporter that deals mostly in…

Union negotiates improvements for workers at Dole Ecuador

Workers at Dole’s Megabanana plantation division in Babahoyo, Los Ríos, Ecuador will see better benefits and rights than other plantation workers in the country, thanks to a…

NatureFresh™ Farms introduces new procurement manager in Mexico

NatureFresh™ Farms announces and welcomes their newest addition, Paul Hulsbos, to their sales team as Procurement Manager based in Mexico. With over 21 years of experience in…

Mexican farmers block highways protesting financial aid cuts

Thousands of farmers erected blockades at 42 locations in 14 Mexican states today to demand that the government release additional funds to support the agricultural sector. Protests started just after 8:00am on roads in the states of México, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Sinaloa, Morelos, Jalisco,…

New Elitech LogEt 8 BLE Multi-use PDF Temperature Data Logger

LogEt 8 BLE is a reusable wireless temperature data logger employed with Bluetooth Low Energy technology and a highly accurate temperature sensor that provides more precise temperature readings and complete visibility during cold chain transport. With combinations of wireless Bluetooth technology,…

Manipur airlifted 150 tonnes of organic pineapples across India in 2018

Manipur Chief Min ister N. Biren Singh said that around 150 tonnes of organic pineapples were airlifted to Delhi and other cities last year. He said this was achieved even as…

"How we obtained a foothold in the African and Egyptian markets"

In recent years, the demand for high-quality exported citrus in China has been increasing. After its success in South Africa, Reemoon began to develop the fruit sorting system market in Egypt four years ago. Reemoon is a leading international company that produces and markets fruit sorting machines.…

"South African orange prices currently at a low level in China"

“Oranges from South Africa became available in China in mid-June this year. The initial supply was limited, and the season started later than in previous years. At the moment, prices are quite low, with navels at about 120 yuan per 15kg unit and summer oranges at about 130 yuan, much lower than the range…

"Fresh walnut season in Xinjiang starts at the end of July"

In China, most producing areas start their fresh walnut seasons in August or September, but the season in Xinjiang will begin at the end of this month. “As expected, our season will begin at the end of July. Compared with last year, our production has increased and is expected to reach around 78,000…

“No matter what imports are available, Indian apples are always more popular”

India can expect a larger crop of apples this season. Last year the volumes were significantly less, so the current predictions are peaking the interest of potential buyers. One Indian trader has its priority on the apples from his own orchards, but always enriches his stock with apples from abroad. The…

Vietnamese agricultural authorities warn of massive jackfruit cultivation

The department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Mekong Delta provinces has warned farmers to be cautious about abandoning rice, sugarcane and other crops to massively shift to grow Thai variety jackfruit trees as the price of Thai jackfruit is usually volatile. The Ministry of Agriculture and…

Thailand: Lao market may need to import more fruits & vegetables

Market authorities have said that the Aussie Lao local fresh market, which is one of the largest markets in Vientiane, may have to sell more imported products. In 2018, the…

India: Supply shortage raises prices in wholesale markets of Mumbai & Delhi

Vegetables prices in the Mumbai and Delhi wholesale markets increased in July after supply fell because of poor rainfall in western India and floods in Bihar and the north-east. Hybrid tomatoes in the Mumbai wholesale market were selling at Rs 18 a kg on Wednesday--a 50 per cent rise from early this…

China's vegetable output was 700 mln tons in 2018

China's vegetable output was 700 million tons last year, up 1.2 percent year on year, according to a vegetable industry conference, held in Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's overall supply of vegetables was sufficient in 2018, with consumer demand…

Afghanistan: Helmand farmers lack market and cold storage facilities

Farmers in Helmand are expected to produce 89,000 tons of grapes this year as the harvest season starts in the southern Afghan province. Last year, the farmers produced almost…

Selecting the best for Asia

Grading and sorting solutions are key to meeting Asia’s fast-growing demand for high-quality fresh produce, and visitors to Asia Fruit Logistica will find world-leading technologies on display. Asia…

"With our devices you can control the quality of fruit and reduce losses"

Fresh-key™ is the expert temperature monitoring system provider for fruit industry. With the increasing demand for fruit in the global market, how to control quality and reduce losses is becoming more and more important. For fruits, temperature is the key to Fresh! Fresh-key™ Technology is specialized in…

Hema Fresh: Convenience is the most important trend

As one of the world leaders in online shopping, China is also leading in online sales for fresh fruits and vegetables. Hema Fresh, a large supermarket chain in China have developed their own online delivery service, as Ms. Huang Ling explained: “We made a system where we can deliver fresh fruits and…

"Our vacuum pre-cooling equipment in China has about 15% of the market"

Vacuum cooling is one of the most effective ways to pre-cool fresh produce. As Arvin Lau from Vegfor explains: "Vacuum cooling systems are fast and very effective in reducing product spoilage, because the fastest deterioration of fresh products takes place right after it has been harvested. With a vacuum…

Arson on truck in Bayhead Road, Durban Container Terminal

Late last night a truck was burned in Bayhead Road, the single entry road to Durban Container Terminal, a road infamous for its congestion and hours of waiting. At this stage it is not known who the perpetrator was nor what the motive was, but it is widely assumed to be related to months of labour unrest…

South Africa: Release of state owned land to be prioritised

Deputy President David Mabuza says the release of government-owned land will be prioritised in a push to meet the objectives of accelerated land reform. He said this when he…

Severe Klein-Karoo drought in its fourth year

The water situation looks better in the Boland and Cape Town but alas, that doesn’t tell the full story of the Western Cape: the Klein-Karoo has barely had rain or snow this winter and the dam levels are shocking: two important irrigation dams, the Kammanassie Dam and the Stompdrift Dam are 8% and 2%…

Disruption in the fresh produce supply chain

Disruption comes in many different packages and has the potential to upset the entire fresh produce supply chain every single day. Central questions posed by businesses are:…

Grant Wingrove joins Delecta as they focus on the Far East Markets

Over the last 22 years Delecta Fruit (PTY) Ltd. has shown significant growth in the South African deciduous and citrus fruit exporting industry. With the aim of further…

South African water quality and quantity reaches crisis levels

According to a water specialist, the billions of litres of raw sewage flowing into the country’s rivers daily has reached crisis levels, and poses a threat to the country’s agricultural exports. Prof Anthony Turton is a water resource management specialist, who has stated that sewage is the real crisis…

Moldovan apricots and cherries reach German market for the first time

A first batch of Moldovan apricots and cherries, delivered by Fani SRL and Farm Prod SRL, arrived in Germany on July 15. The fruit was imported by OGA / OGV NORDBADEN EG…

First Polish plums of the season, more expensive than last year

According to analysts of the EastFruit project, this week, the first plums from local orchards have hit the shelves in Poland. At the moment, only a very small volume is…

European Commission facilitates EU agricultural exports to Japan

Following the entry into force this year of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the EU has stepped up efforts to address agricultural market access interests…

Four steps to achieving successful demand forecasting

The Grocery Code Adjudicator states that suppliers to UK grocery retailers deserve to receive timely and accurate forecasts. Its Grocery Store Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP)…

Russia prevents entry of almost 27 tons of Egyptian oranges

26.88 tons of oranges, which had arrived at the Novorossiysk Sea Port from Egypt, were prevented from entering the Russian Federation, as reported by the correspondent of the…

“The bar for quality and variety choice is set higher every year”

Regarding strawberries and woody berries, Jurgen de Braekleer, Product Manager Soft Fruit for REO Veiling, has noticed that prices fluctuate a lot. He mentions that this can happen quite quickly when days have a bit more or a bit less production. “We could actually say that the more extreme the weather…

"We offered the first IQF Processing Line dedicated to IQF spinach in China"

The demand for IQF spinach and herbs has been increasing steadily over the past few years. The convenience of using the exact amount needed of ready-to-use, chopped leafy products which don’t need to be thawed, is appealing to both end-consumers as to restaurants, catering companies and ready-meals…

"Brazilian and Peruvian ginger now also in our assortment"

"It's tough on the ginger market. It's almost the fifth week of the sale prices for Chinese ginger being lower than the import prices. The import price for the 12 kilo is around € 18.50 whilst the sales prices are around € 16," says Sophie Ye of KX Food. The cause of the high import prices is the quality…

“With the right attention, mushroom consumption can be encouraged in the summer months”

One of the most popular wild mushrooms of the moment, the mini girolle, is currently widely available. “The girolles, which we now supply, come from Lithuania and Russia. Essentially, we supply girolles year-round, but this is the best time for the mushroom. Quality is very good, and the product looks…

"Good quality and quantity of French peaches, nectarines, and Charentais melons"

"The quality and quantity of this year's French stonefruit are good. My suppliers have had little trouble with hail damage. They are located along the Rhone and in Southern France," says Toon Smetsers in the Netherlands. "We are receiving an ample supply of French peaches and nectarines. There is demand,…

Onion peeling line processes 12,000 onions per hour

The video below shows an onion peeling line developed by Finis. With the aid of sensors the onions are laid out straight, so that they can be peeled by air streams. The line can process up to 12,000 onions per hour.

This is what goes on in a cruise ship's galley

"Action in the galley. No restaurant or hotel resort can achieve what cruise ships do every day - preparing 40 new dishes. And serve these anew every 7, 14, 21, or 30 days. All of this with the highest culinary credo", says Rudi Sodamin, the Holland America Line's Consultant Master Chef, on LinkedIn.

Moroccan tomato exports to Europe, at the same level as Almeria's

The Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organizations of Almería, Coexphal, has taken stock of the past season in Almería, describing it as a good campaign. It also highlights what a big competitor Morocco has become for the Andalusian tomato exporting sector. Competition According to Coexphal…

Spanish organization UPA denounces illegal sale of thousands of tons of fruit

The Union of Small Agricultural Producers and Cattle Ranchers (UPA) has reported the imbalances that are again resurfacing in the summer fruit production and distribution chain. The agrarian association denounces that the Law of the food chain is not being respected in this sector. This rule requires the…

Asturian blueberry producers join forces in a new association

Berry Blue World S.L. is a new association that brings together eleven producers of Asturian blueberries from the municipalities of Tineo, Grado, Oviedo, Villaviciosa, Nava and Salas, and through which they'll be able to market their blueberries without intermediaries. The idea of ​​joining forces came…

Czech Republic: Garlic season begins with high prices due to drought

The Czech Republic imported 4.7 million euros worth of garlic in the first five months of 2019, mostly from Spain and China, following the decline in the national harvest in…

Spain: Valencian plum campaign has so far been disastrous

As reported by LA UNIÓ de Llauradors, the plum campaign in Valencia has been "a real disaster." Plum sales have so far been poor and prices at origin have sunk in recent weeks, falling by almost 80%. Faced with this situation, LA UNIÓ has already requested an urgent meeting with the new Councilor of…

Local cherries from the orchard to the shelf within a short time

At the northern distribution company Elbe-Obst, the cherry harvest is currently in full swing. In addition to apples, cherries from protected cultivation are the main product from the Altes Land on the Elbe. After harvesting, the plump, regionally produced stone fruits are immediately processed, sorted…

"We want to actively contribute to sustainability, with our customers"

Eco Terra GmbH is a 15-year-old family business. The core business of the company is import and production in its factory in Germany. The sale of high quality raw materials for industrial customers, private label productions and the production of products under the own brand "Nutfields" are part of it.…

Colorful cauliflower now sees large summer sales

The Franconian wholesale trade knows that colorful cauliflowers are a popular item in the restaurants during the summer. At Fruchthof Stadtsteinach too, the colored cabbages are coming in more often and in all variations, says managing director Susanne Schramm. "We sell the products in the colors purple,…

'Manageable supply of new potatoes, price pressure shapes onion market'

The Austrian new potato market is showing an unusually stable outlook. The main factor for this market situation is the supply situation, which is still tight. With the…

Need for fresh office fruit is growing steadily in Germany

Many companies now offer their employees free fruit. People can organize that themselves or can employ a delivery service. These are now available in almost every town, says the Handwerksblatt . Enzio Reuß has been the proud managing director of Fruitful Office since 2011. The delivery service is based,…

Quick temperature checks en route

The new Bluetooth loggers, model “B1” from Cydiance, can be quite useful when intermediate checks are needed in the fruit logistic routes. Cydiance B1 – Bluetooth temperature logger with USB PDF report "You may now use mobile phone to access to the temperature history, without stopping or even touching…

Organic vegetables mostly wrapped in plastic

More than 80% of organic fruit and organic vegetables are offered in plastic packaging. Consumer Protection Foundation (SKS) has randomly tested 221 products - including cucumbers, hot peppers and apples - in 10 different stores in Bern and Basel. The SKS noted that the majority of products (54%) are…

Presentation of new varieties at Melon, Watermelon and Courgette Open Day

On July 9, 2019, Syngenta held an open day at its Sarrians (Vaucluse) site to present new products in its melon, courgette and watermelon ranges. Throughout the day, the Syngenta and BFP Prosem sales teams welcomed technicians, distributors, specifiers, nurseries and producers, mainly from the…

“Buddy’s” - A new name in English cherries

FGA is a grower owned business, formed in 2009 when Andrew Wallace brought together two of Chile’s most respected grower exporters, San Clemente and Gesex. Offices in the UK (Fruit Growers Alianza Ltd) and Europe (Fruit Growers Alliance BV) were formed to look after the interests of both growers and all…

UK and Central America sign continuity agreement

Yesterday, the UK government signed a trade and political continuity agreement with Central America. Trade between the UK and Central America was worth £1bn in 2018. The…

Food firm signs UK-wide deal to supply Ayrshire potatoes

The delicious Ayrshire potato - made a protected geographical food status by the EU - is available for summer salads and posh picnics throughout the British Isles this summer.…

Norovirus most often responsible for foodborne outbreaks in Finland

More than 130 foodborne outbreaks were recorded in Finland between 2014 and 2016. Data comes from a register of foodborne and waterborne outbreaks maintained by the former…

"Worldwide search for residue-free CIPC alternatives"

As of 2020, the European Commission has banned CIPC as a potato sprout inhibitor. This poses a challenge for many growers. Storage equipment company, Restrain's, Dirk Garos has been working on introducing ethylene in storage situations for 13 years already. This chemical compound halts the formation of…

Scandinavia’s major new forum to lead the sustainability debate

Award-winning international event organiser Diversified Communications UK has announced the launch of a major new sustainability conference dedicated to senior retail…

OVERVIEW GLOBAL ORANGE MARKET

The global orange market is facing a number of challenges. South African oranges, and citrus fruits in general, are troubled by problems in the ports of Durban and Port Elizabeth. In Argentina, the frost has probably caused considerable damage. Spain also suffered from the weather this season and in Italy the Tristeza virus had…

NZ: Another fruit fly discovered in Auckland

Another fruit fly has been discovered on Auckland's North Shore, bringing the number discovered since February to ten. The find could have serious consequences for New…

Up-and-coming Australian food businesses grow through Future Food program

Up-and-coming food and agriculture businesses from across South East Queensland are taking their next step through the Future Food Initiative. The FFI is an industry…

Australia: Kale enjoyed significant sales growth in 2018

Kale has enjoyed significant dollar sales growth in 2018 while riding a wave of green smoothies and superfood benefits. Kale was purchased by 13% of Australians over the 52 weeks ending 20 April 2019; this remained relatively unchanged compared to the previous year. Volume consumption, however, grew by…

FreshPlaza office will be closed 2 weeks for summer holidays

FreshPlaza is taking a Summer Break

The FreshPlaza team are taking a summer break. We will be back on Monday August 5 to bring you all latest news in the fresh produce world.

US: Avocados are almost too pricey to serve

At this moment in time in the US, restaurants and consumers alike are suffering from skyrocketing avocado prices. For the first week of July, the wholesale price of a 25-pound…