FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

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Oversupply of hard squash pressures pricing

Lack of processing imports impacts Michigan apple supply

Reduced thrip pressure is beneficial side effect of retractable roof greenhouse

Agricultural company launches disability inclusion program

IFPA opens registration for The Mexico Conference 2026

New acquisitions in garlic category

Miguel Ángel Salas González, Agromel SAC:

Peru's onion season ends with good yields but low prices, affected by high U.S. production

Sourcing trip to the Netherlands identifies new premium potato varieties for U.S. market

U.S. Maritime Action Plan proposes p/kg port fee on foreign-built ships

Fresh Del Monte reports $4.32 billion in fiscal 2025 net sales

Sector | Vegetables

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Filling the space between contracts and shortages

Dutch trader bridges shortages between growers and processors

Franc Goertz expands asparagus cultivation against the trend:

“We still need to ensure sufficient asparagus for supermarkets and other customers”

Joaquín Navarro, of Sakata:

"Spanish and Portuguese Butternut squash exporters are increasingly extending the season"

Antonio Zamora, General Commercial Director of Centro Sur cooperative:

"We expect Granada's asparagus harvest to be reduced by 5-10% due to the floods"

Daniel Jung from GARTENFRISCH Jung GmbH on the situation in Portuguese contract farming:

"We have already suffered crop losses"

Daniel Badger - Vitafresh Produce:

"The weather in Spain may start to affect production, and some growers may finish earlier than expected"

"Now is the time for carrot importers to close contracts"

Sector | Bananas

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Marianela Ubilla, Agzulasa:

Increased demand from Russia and China boosts Ecuadorian banana exports

Paris court rejects enforcement of US$805 million Nicaragua pesticide ruling

Costa Rica recovers banana volumes, however, supermarkets continue to keep prices very low

Canadian retailer transitions organic banana program

Jamaica launches US$100 million banana and plantain recovery program

Smaller players compete through transparency and chain management

Dutch organic banana importer grows 25% while prioritizing quality

Ecuador confirms TR4 on banana farm in El Oro

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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Indian onion exporters prepare for pink variety shift

Christophe Vermeulen (Belgapom): 'Lower contract prices are unavoidable, but must be seen in perspective'

“Claims that the sector is on the verge of collapse and growers have earned nothing are simply untrue”

Mario Chirinos, Agroexportadora Virgen del Carmen

Peruvian onion volumes stable, despite a year of low market prices

French potatoes far cheaper than Egyptian ones in Balkans

Georgia Vidalia onion crop faces freezes and drought

Mike de Koster, WDK Onions:

"For many European countries, our onions are still too expensive"

Shipments to the EU and Gulf markets kick off this week

“Indian white onion exports are significantly more competitive after last year’s duty removal”

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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Ramadan season begins in ethnic wholesale trade:

"High demand for a wide variety of dates, early watermelons, and celery"

“The market mutation in Medjool dates happened this season”

Mexican Hass avocado seeks new markets for smaller producers

Türkiye date imports reach 67,093 tons as Ramadan demand rises

Avocado producer advances full crop utilisation and zero-waste strategy

Marie Piccone - Manbulloo:

“The U.S. is not for the faint-hearted”

European avocado sector growth and collaboration highlighted in Berlin

Sector | Company news

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Eisberg CEO Tobias Wölfe on corporate strategy and product development:

“We are seeing a certain degree of saturation in the market for plain-cut lettuce throughout the DACH region”

Family Tree Farms appoints new UK & Ireland and EMEA commercial directors

Israeli ZIM staff strike over Hapag-Lloyd takeover plans

Zespri forecasts record per hectare returns for 2025/26 season

The Giumarra Companies announces CEO and CFO appointments

Hapag-Lloyd to acquire ZIM in US$4 billion deal

Hapag-Lloyd in advanced talks to acquire Zim Integrated Shipping Services

Sector | Greenhouse

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Greenhouse complexes begin new cucumber harvest cycle in Ukraine

12-14 March, Yashobhoomi, New Delhi

Preparing European suppliers for long term entry into India

Expressions of interest open for Apex Greenhouses demonstration glasshouse facility

Supply instability and rising standards fuel investment in lit greenhouses

Geothermal greenhouse projects highlight Turkey’s growing focus on EU tomato exports

Storm Oriana's strong winds destroy greenhouses in Almeria

Indoor Ag-Con 2026 CEA Alliance keynote:

The North American retail mandate: Stability and operational discipline

Sector | Logistics

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CK Hutchison warns Maersk over Panama port takeover

WiseTech and Hapag-Lloyd trial real-time IoT container data integration

Rwanda launches direct air cargo exports for fresh produce

Fully driverless freight trucks enter daily commercial service in U.S.

MSC expands its transatlantic route, enhancing connectivity with the Americas

New 31,000 square meter logistics depot opens near Port of Manzanillo

Panama canal ports move to interim Maersk management

Sector | Machinery

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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

Ripening, quality control, and postharvest systems for fresh produce

Peach grower adopts Spectrim upgrade with AI-powered sorting intelligence

New optical sorting and AI systems demonstrated for blueberries and fruit

Sector | General fresh produce

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Tennessee bill seeks sales tax removal on fresh produce

The testimony of operators and trade associations

Unrelenting bad weather in Calabria: Flooded fields, torn greenhouses, and crops at risk

Rafael Prieto of Mayacert (Guatemala):

"If producers had to be 100% compliant with all regulations, the process would be costlier and more complex"

California accounts for over 70% of U.S. lettuce and 80% of global almonds

China to remove tariffs on most African imports from May 1

USDA launches US$1 billion assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program

Florida freeze damages crops in Everglades Agricultural Area

Sector | Management

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French distributors boycott trade negotiations monitoring committee after Annie Genevard's remarks

British Columbian court orders payout to former B.C. Tree Fruits members

U.S. ag leaders support USMCA ahead of July review

Belize partners with Taiwan to expand agro-processing capacity

U.S. senators reintroduce SWAT Act to combat spotted wing drosophila

Florida senate drops expanded farm bill clause

Tractors from across Greece rally in Athens on friday

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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Simon Easton - Wairepo Holdings:

"We need some warm days and cold nights to finish off the crop"

Furkan Karaca, Enjoy Trade Holland:

"Several trucks of Turkish vine tomatoes dispatched daily to European retailers"

Consortium for the Protection of the PGI Leonforte Peach

"From seasonal crop to year-round ambassador of Italian excellence"

"It's been an irregular persimmon season marked by the incidence of pests"

Aníbal Campos, Agrivale:

Brazil adjusts its grape export strategy after its toughest season

Luis Miguel Vegas, Provid:

Peru exports more table grapes than last season

Morocco Data Club launched at Fruit Logistica 2026

Sector | Herbs

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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"

Microgreens and in vitro cultivation pioneer reach for the skies with their vertical farm

Anthony De Ieso - Thorndon Park Produce:

"In easier to grow conditions, such as spring and summer, there are higher volumes to compete with"

Demand for Kenyan chives expected to increase as European production ends

Sector | Agenda

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Blue Whale Conference - Bruno Bertheloz

"Defending agricultural productivity is a priority for sovereignty"

"Tropical fruits from Ecuador set to enter the European and Italian markets"

Organic Produce Summit 2026 registration now open

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas

Spring Policy Summit to “bring Washington to you”

"Moldovan stone fruit attracts Swiss buyers for post-season supply"

Asia Fruit Logistica appoints Unitec as official technology partner

Fresh India Show 2026 attracts higher overseas interest amid India's FTAs

Sector | Citrus

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Florida freeze damage raises melanose risk in citrus

Unique citrus assortment creates added value

Belgian importer focuses on exclusive citrus varieties

South African agricultural exports reach US$15.1bn in 2025

No competition for Greek lemons in the Eastern European markets

Invaio Sciences and Fundecitrus partner on HLB control in Brazil

Limited edition citrus olive oil unveiled

South African agricultural exports set to exceed US$13.7 billion

Sector | Organic

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Biofach is a key event for operators specializing in organic products, such as Toñifruit

"Supplying tasty organic fruit is the best way to increase organic and biodynamic consumption in Europe"

“Exports offer an outlet for pears, but not for apples with quality differences”

“The season’s biggest challenge undoubtedly lies with organic apples”

Piura rotates its organic banana with watermelon crops

Auction at Industrial Auctions

Cleaning, weighing, and packaging line for organic products

“Newer Indian okra varieties target UK and North America”

Organic grower Pieter Vandooren expands acreage by 10%

"A short-term increase in demand for leeks, but a very challenging pumpkin market"

"The connection with the food retail sector will enable us to optimize our logistics"

EDEKA Rhein-Ruhr Stiftung & Co. KG becomes a shareholder in Naturkost West

Sector | Health

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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

Certain compounds found in garlic can increase the lifespan of mice

Italian study tests citrus and grape supplement for glucose control

Cranberry Institute updates health research guide

Sector | IT

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"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

Bradford Warner - AgroFresh

"This is valuable business intelligence for the fresh produce industry"

Sector | Innovations

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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

Enza Zaden to introduce new tomato variety

Fresh Del Monte launches robot that interacts with shoppers

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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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

"Further growth expected in convenience category"

Heemskerk refreshes Fresh & Easy brand

Australian food technology firm expands in Netherlands

U.S. Modesto fruit cannery closure impacts growers and workers

Fruit-based snack partnership targets U.S. market

Sector | Cooling

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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”

Matthias Cuvelie, Airclima:

“CO2 cooling is a strategic investment in sustainability, product quality, and operational reliability”

“The fruit is the boss, the Softripe system listens”

Sector | Food safety

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“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

U.S. compares food safety response for domestic and imported cantaloupes

Mushmoshi Enoki Mushroom recalled in British Columbia over Listeria

Egyptian fresh produce under scrutiny over MRLs

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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Australia launches macadamia retail data project in U.S., Germany, and China

U.S. almond shipments fall 9.8% as export pace slows

Jens Borchert, PALM Nuts & More:

“Walnuts are relatively inexpensive to purchase in food retail stores”

Almond Alliance appoints new members to board of directors

U.S. pistachio sector reports record crop and export growth

U.S. pecan shipments fall 13.3% in December 2025

Nuts no longer a discrete presence in Portuguese agriculture

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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Thomas Strieder from OutNature on alternative packaging materials:

"Alternative fibers are not a future scenario but can already be used today"

Cartonpack Group: "A more cautious edition in Berlin, yet with quality contacts"

Hybrid packaging, snack formats, and 'PPWR ready' solutions in the spotlight

New display-ready lidded mango carton introduced

Emissions and materials progress reported by packaging group

Special World Cup packaging for fruit and vegetable products

Argos Packaging introduces norifresh and new BOPP film

Two innovative films for fresh produce packaging

Canadian produce packaging study raises environmental questions

Sector | Retail

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Tiendas de Ahorro 3A has set a new milestone in Peruvian retail

The Fresh Grocer of Brooklyn marks the supermarket banner’s first location in New York City

Green tomatoes, soursop and cactus leaves in Tapatia Supermarkets' Greenacres store

Assaí: 5.2% sales growth in 2025

Fresh Thyme Market is extending its Price Lock initiative into the new year

Growing together with Walmart Canada: Martin’s Family Fruit Farm

Instacart: Partnership with Toast

UNFI: Five trends shaping spring & summer 2026

Whole Foods Market will open a new Holbrook store

HelloFresh Group: Preliminary results for the fiscal year 2025

Kroger Russet Potatoes $1.99 for five pounds

Upside: Full regional rollout with The Save Mart Companies

Natural Grocers plans to open its first store in Wisconsin

Ridley’s Family Markets to acquire Utah grocer Terrel's Market

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ONIONS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW AVOCADOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW APPLES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BLUEBERRIES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ORANGES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW POMEGRANATES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PAPAYA

Sector | Climate

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Florida freeze pushes up corn and green bean prices

Mexican border water scarcity challenges nearshoring

Florida winter freeze impacts citrus and vegetable crops

Truck rates strengthen in Texas following weekend cold

Logistics plans were in place ahead of snow storm that covered parts of the U.S.

Preparations underway for Southeast temperatures and snow

Citrus industry in Florida prepares for cold snap

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 | Trade War

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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.

Importers to U.S. react to lifting of Brazilian tariff

Importers react to U.S. tariff reduction on Latin American countries

Removal of tariffs on tropical fruits is a relief but not for Brazil

Trump cuts tariffs on tomatoes, bananas and other agricultural products

Border Trade Alliance prepares for first formal review of USMCA

U.S. Senate votes to overturn Trump tariffs on Brazil

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