Grower-shipper expands Caborca, Mexico asparagus deal

Southern Specialties, a grower, importer, processor and shipper of asparagus from Peru, expands its Caborca, Mexico asparagus deal. The company initiated a presence in the Mexican asparagus deal eight years ago with the intention of bringing additional year-round value to its retail, foodservice and club…

US: Retail prices for collard greens fall during holiday seasons even as demand rises

The market phenomenon known as “countercyclical pricing”—when retail prices decrease in times of increased consumer demand—has been documented by economists in the prices of goods such as tuna during Lent or canned soup during winter. Recent analysis by USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) provides…

European Commission

EU wholesale prices of yellow bananas produced in EU as 3-week average at €130 at the end of 2021

The average wholesale prices of ACP bananas in € per 100 kgs stood at €93 in France in the first week of this year, at €66 in the Netherlands and at €67 in Spain. EU wholesale prices of yellow bananas imported from Latin America as a 3-week average stood at approximately €92 in week 51. Click here to view…

Uzbekistan extends tax incentives for imports and sale of potatoes

On January 11, 2022, the Upper House of the Uzbek parliament approved a draft law whereby tax incentives for the imports and sale of a number of food products, including…

Second avocado processing facility opened, in state-owned Yirgalem Agro-processing Park

YBM, a private avocado oil processing company, has become operational within the state-owned Yirgalem Agro-processing Park in Southern region of Ethiopia The new factory is…

The Pickering: a new mango variety

Originally from Florida, the Pickering mango has the texture of a José mango and the appearance of an American mango. Developed by a nurseryman of Saint-Philippe on Reunion Island, this new variety without fibers is juicy with a slightly caramelized taste and it weighs between 300 and 600 grams.…

The popularity of a unique exotic fruit set to soar in Australia in coming seasons

An Australian fresh produce trading company expects the rise in popularity of the exotic fruit Jaboticaba as it gets more marketing in coming years. Produce Art, based in Brisbane, supplies the emerging tropical fruit and Director Rohan Bicknell has compared it to the feijoa, which itself has grown in…

Ellips and Elisam launch new deep learning system at Tzur Farms

Traditionally, when dates were brought from the fields to be packed, they first got separated into 4 groups: too wet, too dry, good level of moisture and culls. The dates that were good to pack were sent to the grading facility where they were sorted and packed based on size and quality. The dates that…

“By investing in the farm, we have more control of how things are done"

UK importer VitaFresh has recently invested in a farm in Honduras growing sweet potatoes to complement their imports from the US. “By investing in the farm, we have more control of how things are done and it also shortens the supply chain, keeping things simple. Our customers want to buy direct from the grower,”…

Trading update for Q4 and full year 2021

A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S has for Q4 2021 recognised preliminary unaudited financials ahead of the previous expectations with revenue of USD 18.5bn, an underlying EBITDA of USD…

Mission veteran SVP of sales and marketing retires

Mission Produce, Inc. announces the retirement of Ross Wileman, its senior vice-president of sales and marketing, after 36 years of dedication to the company. Throughout his…

Bolthouse Farms new immunity beverages provide a daily dose of immunity support

Bolthouse Farms, one of the biggest carrot growers and distributors in the U.S. and the popular brand behind delicious juices, smoothies, dressings, and more, is helping…

US vertical farm secures $150 million credit facility

Bowery Farming, a US vertical farming company, announced it has secured a $150 million credit facility led by private credit accounts managed by KKR, a global investment firm. This independent, third-party funding will accelerate the expansion of Bowery’s network of smart indoor farms beyond the East…

Weather tests already challenged British Columbia logistics

While it’s no secret that the global supply chain is under significant strain, growers and shippers in British Columbia have felt that stress acutely thanks to weather issues in late 2021 and current weather watches. As Sarah Bistritz notes, this week there’s notice from truckers that avalanche control…

Global supply chains brace for negative effects

An Omicron outbreak in China is worrying supply chain experts, with manufacturers and shippers bracing for disruption inside the world’s-biggest trading nation. In 2020 and…

UK road freight prices are highest in three years

Last December, road freight prices soared in the UK. Further disruptions of the supply chain are expected in 2022, with new EU custom checks on imports and the Omicron variant…

'Logistics infrastructure has been as close to capacity as it has ever been'

Container News went looking for the answers to the questions about global logistics: What are the reasons for the global port congestion? What has caused the record-high…

Robot lasers weeds from the fields without herbicide

Seattle autonomous robotics company Carbon Robotics aims to confront the multi-billion dollar global herbicide market with its laser-armed weed elimination robot. The machine,…

Bermuda: Farmers experience ‘rampant’ theft of crops

Farmers all over the island of Bermuda have been left counting the cost after experiencing rampant thefts from their fields. These take place during the day as well as under…

ITC reports confirm Mexican imports devastating Florida farmers

Yesterday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried made the following statement in response to reports released last week by the non-partisan U.S. International Trade…

“The main challenges we will face this year will most likely be in pricing"

As we settle down into the New Year it is difficult to predict what is in store for the fresh produce industry, but it is probably safe to say this year won’t be without its challenges. For Irish producer and importer, Donnelly Fruit and Veg, it has already had its challenges. “There has already been…

‘We have problems with not enough labor in the supply chains between the farms and the consumers’

In what seems like a repeat of spring 2020, people are sharing photos of empty shelves in stores around the US, and reports of empty shelves are coming in from Massachusetts…

Beijing and Hanoi to solidify cooperation

China and Vietnam have pledged to continue their efforts in containing the COVID-19 pandemic and improving the efficiency of border clearance to facilitate more trade and…

Freshfel Europe optimistic for 2022 to progressively fill the gap of consumption

Eurostat released a report indicating that only 12% of Europeans over the age of 15 are eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. This finding is consistent…

Taiwan offers Honduras economic incentives due to political situation

Today, Taiwan removed the tariffs on 25 goods imported from Honduras, offering an incentive ahead of this month’s inauguration of a new president who had threatened to break…

More winter strawberries harvested in Italy

The strawberry is increasingly present on the market in the winter months. From December until January and February, strawberry productions are available to European consumers…

Peruvian frozen strawberry exports increased by 50% in 2021

According to the president of the consulting firm Inform@cción, Fernando Cilloniz Benavides, in 2021 Peruvian frozen strawberry exports increased by 50% in volume over the…

“The Legend apple is also available in organic”

This year, the company Cofruid’Oc Méditerranée should reach 800 tons of Legend® apples harvested. These will be available until the end of March on the retail shelves. “We are very satisfied with the quality obtained. This year is really characterized by a good harvest, with control of the harvest launch…

Free State apple packer expects 35% increase in volumes this year

The Eastern Free State had a lot of rain during December accompanied by cool production conditions which have delayed the start of the Royal Gala harvest, usually the second week of the year, to week 3. The colour and size of the Royal Gala crop have been dampened by the hitherto unusually cool and…

PolyNatural is moving to US to be close with clients from the apple and pear organic market

Shel-Life’s organic fruit natural coating is currently collaborating with Washington State University’s Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center. Dr. Carolina A. Torres, Associate Professor and Endowed Chair in Tree Fruit Postharvest Systems' at WSU, leads the research team that is currently evaluating new…

Changing demand for fresh herbs in Sweden

Demand for herbs in Sweden is traditionally very seasonal with curly parsley, dill, and chives seeing a good demand during the summer months and the holiday season. A lot of fresh herbs are used by chefs for decorative purposes. “These days with modern and international cuisine becoming more popular…

Macfrut - bookings as expected

Spring will be full of events and fairs, but Macfrut president Renzo Piraccini is focusing on "his own event". "We are organizing our event which will take place in May, therefore there should not be any problems linked to the pandemic as there would be in winter. Of course we are keeping an eye on the situation day after day,…

The organic Nadorcott and Tango mandarin campaign starts with greater supply and prices under pressure

The area devoted to organic fruit cultivation is growing significantly every year in Spain, with citrus being one of the categories with the highest increases. The growing supply of certified organic citrus is starting to be reflected in the prices of oranges, clementines and mandarins, which are…

Three citrus farm labor contractors pay $76,000 in back wages and penalties

When three Arcadia citrus farm labor contractors failed to comply with the requirements of the federal H-2A agricultural worker visa program, they short-changed 123 employees…

January USDA citrus forecast projects fewer Florida oranges

In its January forecast, the USDA reduced its estimate for Florida Orange production while holding Florida Grapefruit production steady for the 2021-22 season. Released…

Italian Common clementines have one more month of sales left

The season of the Italian Common clementines is not over yet. "Presumably, we will end the season in the first week of February, a little earlier than in 2021. In the last 4-5 days we have seen an increase in interest from the markets. Orders have even doubled," said Gianni Martucci of Martucci Srl, a…

"Europe represents a huge export market for Dutch organic growers"

"You can't compare organic and conventional onion marketing. Organic sales involve much more long-term work," says Wouter Snippe of WeGrowOrganic. That was during the North and Central Netherlands Agricultural Fair's (LNCN) Onion Day. Most organic onions are sold to retailers. "A small part goes to…

Is healthy eating too often forgotten in the COVID debate?

How can people guard themselves better again COVID-19's effects? "The virus is so contagious that your immune system isn't enough on its own. That's why people are having to…

There was never a better time for retail technology

The past 2 years have been difficult for the retail sector. Yet, CBI research shows that the market has never looked any better for retail technology. Customer behaviour has changed dramatically, and retail technology is often both the cause and the solution. What is changing the sector?The pandemic has…

"Shelf-life extension technology keeps crops fresh for longer"

More and more southern hemisphere fruits are entering the Asian market, such as Chilean cherry nectarines, Peruvian blueberries, Ecuadorian dragon fruits, Brazilian mangoes and Mexican avocados, etc. With the arrival of the harvest season in the southern hemisphere, consumer demand for southern…

Courtesy of Campbell Soup Company.

US: The legacy of Campbell Soup’s tomato breeding program

What comes to mind when you think of Campbell Soup? You might picture cans of tomato soup or perhaps an iconic Andy Warhol print of them. You probably don’t think much about the ingredients that went into those cans. But Campbell’s did, and it bet big and early on agriculture research to grow its product…

Cold storage facility constructed for Mexico-based produce company

A M King has completed construction of a south Texas-based distribution center for Mexico-based GAB Operations, LLC (GAB). The new 45,590-sf facility will provide increased cold storage capacity for fresh produce and serve as a hub for the company’s U.S. and Canadian customers. GAB, founded more than…

Food Lion recalls two varieties of in-store prepared salad kits

Food Lion is recalling its in-store prepared Cobb and Chef’s Salad Kits because the vendor has alerted us that the product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria…

Netafim USA and Bayer partner to launch “Precise Defense” crop protection solution for almond growers

Netafim USA, a subsidiary of Netafim Ltd. a global player in the field of precision irrigation solutions, has announced it has partnered with Bayer to create the Precise…

“Our linerless Fruit Lid can help brand owners tackle the problems associated with single use plastic

Ravenwood’s Linerless Fruit Lid is fast becoming the label of choice for brand owners, retailers and packers for their fresh produce packaging. The Fruit Lid when applied to a carton board tray, forms a complete pack for the supply of fresh fruit and vegetable products. The food grade packaging concept…

Climate change endangers Florida strawberries

Florida’s strawberry harvest is currently underway. Although the growers are facing challenges due to climate change, there are researchers trying to help them adapt. Vance…